PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marc Gardner (ranked 7755 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Rossi (ranked 5464 p4p, 0 weight class). Rossi has chosen Genesis as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gardner
vs
Rossi

167 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marc Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donnie Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Roberts and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi swats away the attempt to clinch by Gardner.
Rossi unleashes a big counter combination but Gardner bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gardner takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rossi shoots in for a takedown but Gardner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gardner could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gardner lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Donnie Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rossi lands a head kick!

It looks like Marc Gardner has been cut.
Rossi swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy left from Rossi finds it's target.
Rossi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gardner tries to avoid it but Rossi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gardner to the ground. Gardner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gardner tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rossi manages to circle out of the way.

Rossi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gardner sprawls well initially but Rossi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rossi controlling the action here.
Rossi prevents Gardner from improving his position.
Rossi wants to pass the guard but Gardner is defending well.
Gardner manages to get to full guard.
Rossi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gardner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gardner trying to keep a closed guard but Rossi is proving a slippery customer.
Rossi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gardner is trying to keep Rossi in close.
Rossi is looking to stand up but Gardner won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi shoots for a double leg takedown but Gardner sprawls well. He's pushed Rossi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marc Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Rossi.
Gardner throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rossi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gardner is fending him off so far but Rossi persists. Nope, Gardner circles away and we're back to standing.
Gardner is looking to counter the offense by Rossi and move into the clinch.
Rossi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Rossi looks to move away, Gardner throws a big counter combo but Rossi just gets out of the way.

Rossi moves into the clinch.
Rossi wants a takedown.
Rossi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gardner after a bit of a struggle.
Rossi looks winded!
Rossi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gardner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gardner breaks from the clinch.
Rossi shoots in but no luck this time.
Rossi darts in looking for a takedown but Gardner gets double underhooks and turns Rossi into the cage.
Gardner seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gardner.
Rossi throws a push kick but Gardner slaps the foot to one side.
A counter left hand to the body from Gardner misses its target.

Gardner instigates a clinch.
Gardner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rossi missing with knees to the body.
Gardner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gardner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rossi.
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 Marc Gardner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marc Gardner's cut.
That's time! Gardner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gardner scores with a hook to the body. Rossi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gardner fails in his attempt to clinch.

Gardner gets tackled into the cage by Rossi. Rossi maintains the clinch.
Gardner tries to break the clinch but Rossi is controlling the position.
Rossi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rossi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rossi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rossi lands in his opponent's guard.

Gardner pushes Rossi off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rossi has Gardner up against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rossi.
Rossi jumps guard but Gardner turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rossi just leaning against Gardner, taking a breather.
Gardner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marc Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Rossi.
Gardner blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rossi lands a damaging elbow.
Rossi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gardner is trying to break the clinch but Rossi has him pressed against the cage.
Rossi wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is trying to break the clinch but Rossi has him pressed against the cage.
Rossi letting Gardner take a breather here.
Rossi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gardner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gardner wants to break free but Rossi has control.
A short right from Gardner.
Rossi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rossi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rossi keeps control of Gardner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rossi tries to break free but Gardner pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gardner is trying to break free.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rossi jumps guard but Gardner stands there with Rossi around his waist. Rossi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rossi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rossi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Gardner throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rossi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rossi is breathing heavily.
Gardner throws a right and a left that Rossi avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Gardner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marc Gardner's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rossi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gardner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rossi is pressing down on Gardner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gardner is holding on for now.

Rossi is working for a submission of some sort.
Gardner trying to control but Rossi postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardner is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rossi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rossi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Donnie Rossi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gardner is refusing to be controlled, as Rossi sits in half guard.
Gardner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rossi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rossi's back!
Rossi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rossi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gardner throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rossi is desperately trying to improve his position but Gardner has a good base and remains in mount.
Rossi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rossi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gardner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rossi's face.
Gardner breaks from Rossi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rossi flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Gardner lands with some strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gardner is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rossi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gardner thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Gardner breaks from Rossi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rossi can't escape the position.
Gardner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rossi hang on?
A nice elbow there by Gardner.
Rossi can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Gardner.
Rossi wants to control but Gardner is having none of it.
Gardner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rossi can do to turn this around?
Gardner moves to back control.
Rossi has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Gardner.
Gardner throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Gardner is trying to stick to Rossi's back but Rossi is turning into Gardner. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gardner's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rossi.
Gardner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rossi wants to stand but Gardner has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gardner wants to sweep here but Rossi controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gardner's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gardner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gardner being controlled here, momentarily.
Rossi wants to stand but Gardner is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gardner looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marc Gardner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gardner, 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marc Gardner!