PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gregory O Connor (ranked 4894 p4p, 492 weight class) and Sesto D Ippolito (ranked 2426 p4p, 263 weight class). D Ippolito has chosen Squeeze- Cool for Cats as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

O Connor
vs
D Ippolito

175 cm
23
164 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

180 cm
25
167 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gregory O Connor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sesto D Ippolito!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from O Connor. D Ippolito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts D Ippolito, as that shot connected.
O Connor throws a lazy right hand but D Ippolito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
D Ippolito swings for the body but O Connor moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from O Connor misses its target.
O Connor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
O Connor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
D Ippolito steps to the side to avoid the strikes from O Connor.
D Ippolito looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? O Connor is fending him off so far but D Ippolito persists. Nope, O Connor circles away and we're back to standing.
O Connor is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
O Connor feints and then cracks D Ippolito's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow D Ippolito down.
D Ippolito throws a shot from downtown. O Connor moves away and avoids it.
D Ippolito throws a body punch but O Connor moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Connor throws a lazy right hand but D Ippolito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
D Ippolito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Connor.
O Connor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from D Ippolito.
A slow jab from O Connor misses its intended target.
O Connor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
D Ippolito defending well as O Connor loads up on a big left hand.

D Ippolito dives in and scores a takedown into O Connor's guard.
My spies in soundcloud.com/spinmanfinn inform me that D Ippolito has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
D Ippolito is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
O Connor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
D Ippolito in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
D Ippolito wants to pass the guard but O Connor is keeping the position.
O Connor controls D Ippolito momentarily but D Ippolito frees himself.
D Ippolito is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
D Ippolito with a flurry of punches that miss.
D Ippolito is in close to O Connor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
D Ippolito looking to pass the guard.
O Connor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
D Ippolito looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

D Ippolito thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
D Ippolito working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
O Connor trying to control the position.
O Connor wants to sweep here but D Ippolito controlling him for the moment.

D Ippolito is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! O Connor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! O Connor has escaped and now he's on top!

D Ippolito is looking for a triangle but O Connor pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Connor preventing the sweep.

D Ippolito is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
O Connor looking to pass the guard.
D Ippolito keeping moving, preventing O Connor from controlling successfully.

D Ippolito working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. O Connor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. O Connor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

D Ippolito has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but O Connor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

O Connor got a little sloppy there for a moment and D Ippolito has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, O Connor has managed to get both his arms back between D Ippolito's legs - danger averted.
O Connor throwing strikes from guard but D Ippolito blocks nicely.
O Connor trying to control the position from guard on top but D Ippolito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
D Ippolito keeping full guard, as O Connor tries to pass.
D Ippolito looking for a sweep. Not yet D Ippolito, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sesto D Ippolito dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

O Connor takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
O Connor throws a solid leg kick but D Ippolito takes the impact on his shin and smiles at O Connor.

D Ippolito rushes O Connor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

D Ippolito gets control of O Connor's arms and successfully pulls guard. D Ippolito will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

O Connor is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but D Ippolito has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. O Connor is looking to defend but D Ippolito has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for O Connor! D Ippolito pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, O Connor taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Sesto D Ippolito!
Post fight, an emotional Sesto D Ippolito said 'check my bosses' music- soundcloud.com/spinmanfinn'.