PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Bianchi (ranked 4843 p4p, 379 weight class) and Pete Za (ranked 7773 p4p, 463 weight class). Bianchi comes into the arena with Die Antwoord - Pitbull Terrier blaring out of the sound system. Pete Za will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bianchi
vs
Za

174 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Alessio Bianchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pete Za!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Za.
Za with the counter takedown but Bianchi avoids it easily.

Za dives in and scores a takedown into Bianchi's guard.
Bianchi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bianchi is on top in guard.

Za is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bianchi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Za makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Za postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bianchi wants to control but Za passes easily into half guard.
Za thows a huge punch but Bianchi dodges it nicely.
Bianchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Za.
Bianchi is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bianchi is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Za throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Za missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bianchi is looking to control Za's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bianchi avoid being mounted?
Bianchi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bianchi.
Za postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bianchi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bianchi tries to get out of the position.
Za postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Za won't allow Bianchi to sweep him here.
Bianchi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bianchi is on top in guard.

Bianchi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi stopping the sweep attempt from Za.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bianchi postures up.
Za wants to sweep but no luck.
Za can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bianchi controls the pace.
Bianchi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Za keeping full guard, as Bianchi tries to pass.
Bianchi slips nicely into half guard.
Za is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bianchi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Za works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bianchi won't allow Za to sweep him here.
Bianchi looking to pass the guard.
Bianchi lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Za working for submissions but it's allowed Bianchi to get to half guard.
Za wants to improve his position but Bianchi is controlling well.
Za is trying to maintain the position but Bianchi is very close to passing his half guard.
Za works his way to full guard. Good work.
Za looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bianchi lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Za manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bianchi manages to get himself to full guard.

Bianchi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Za tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bianchi works over Za with some ground and pound from guard.
Bianchi lands a couple of digs.
Bianchi postures up.
Bianchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Za swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bianchi stands up over Za, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Za being controlled here, momentarily.
Bianchi won't allow Za to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alessio Bianchi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Za misses with a jab to the body

and Bianchi counters with a single leg into guard. Za didn't expect that.
Za controlling the position.
Za looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alessio Bianchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bianchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Za is keeping the position for now.
Za is trying to hold Bianchi in close to prevent damage but Bianchi has managed to pass into half guard.
Za trying to control but Bianchi postures up.
Za is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bianchi slips a nice elbow through Za's hands, connecting with Za's forehead.
Za is trying to maintain the position but Bianchi is very close to passing his half guard.
Bianchi is trying to control. Za wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Za moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bianchi works over Za with some ground and pound from guard.
Bianchi trying to control but Za is working from the bottom.

Bianchi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Za wants to sweep but no luck.
Bianchi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Za's guard.
Bianchi is trying to control. Za wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Za tries to get to full guard but Bianchi has control of the leg.
Bianchi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi wants to take a breather but Za is having none of it.
Za wants to get back to full guard.
Bianchi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Za does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bianchi is nestled in close to Za, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Za is not content to let Bianchi control the position.
Za tries to roll over but Bianchi keeps him under control.
Bianchi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bianchi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Za keeps working.
Za is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Za holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Bianchi is trying to control the action in half guard but Za is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bianchi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Za wants to improve his position but Bianchi is controlling well.
Bianchi content to control rather than advance.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Za felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Za is looking for a sweep. Bianchi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bianchi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Za is not content to let Bianchi control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bianchi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Za is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bianchi controlling the action here.
Bianchi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Za wants to get back to full guard.
Bianchi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bianchi not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Za is refusing to be controlled, as Bianchi sits in half guard.
Bianchi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessio Bianchi dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Za looks to score with a jab to the body but Bianchi is just out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Za is defended easily by Bianchi.
Za listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Za misses.
Bianchi seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Za misses with a looping right.
Bianchi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Za thows a left - swing and a miss!
Za misses with an uppercut. Bianchi saw that one coming.
An inside leg kick from Bianchi misses.
Za feints the counter takedown.
Za connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bianchi. Bianchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bianchi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bianchi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Za sprawls well. Za wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bianchi gets slowly back to his feet.
Pete Za has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Za misses with a hook

and Bianchi counters with a takedown into side control.
Bianchi wants to control but Za is keeping him busy.
Za is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bianchi looks up at the clock and then as Za takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bianchi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Bianchi scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Za to see if he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bianchi is looking to take a break and control but Za is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Za tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bianchi presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Za working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi unloading with bombs!
Bianchi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Za tries to reverse the position but Bianchi maintains control.
Bianchi controlling the pace for now.
Bianchi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Alessio Bianchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bianchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Za can do to turn this around?
Za is trying desperately to improve position.
Bianchi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Za for as long as he can get away with.
Za really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bianchi content just to control the position here.
Za is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alessio Bianchi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bianchi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alessio Bianchi!
A determined Alessio Bianchi didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!