PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mariano Neal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezekial Early (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezekial Early has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Neal
vs
Early

150 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

168 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mariano Neal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ezekial Early!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Neal.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Neal.
Early tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Neal tries to close the distance and clinch but Early swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Early changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Early stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Early wants it to stay on the feet.
Early feints the counter takedown.
Jab from Neal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neal tries for a takedown but Early sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mariano Neal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Neal.
Mariano Neal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neal smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Neal cracks Early with an open hand slap.
Neal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Neal tries to clinch but Early is having none of it.
Neal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Early's waist but Early gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Neal off to one side.
Neal really is a fat lump.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Early takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Early ducks right into an uppercut from Neal.
Neal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Early sprawls well. Early wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Neal gets slowly back to his feet.
Early with the counter takedown but Neal avoids it easily.
Neal is looking to clinch.
Neal shoots in for a takedown but Early shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Early drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Neal defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Early has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Neal finds it's way round the side to connect with Early's head.
Neal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Early swivels and escapes.
Early drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Neal defends it well.
Early swats away the attempt to clinch by Neal.

Neal has Early up against the cage in a clinch.
Early is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neal is struggling to control the position.

Early tightens his grip and picks Neal up, before dumping him to the ground. Neal manages to land in guard.
Early pushes down on Neal's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Early is trying to work for a kimura but Neal is defending well.

Early is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Early looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Early seems to be working for a kimura but Neal defends the submission attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Early is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Neal defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezekial Early dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Neal wants to clinch.
Neal fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Neal shoots in but Early avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Early changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neal closes the distance looking to clinch

and Early counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Early passes into half guard.
Early perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Early tries to pass the half guard into mount. Neal knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Early seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Neal is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ezekial Early!