PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Scott Minerva (ranked 2520 p4p, 286 weight class) and John Dio (ranked 2671 p4p, 293 weight class). Minerva comes into the arena with My Pal blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Minerva
vs
Dio

183 cm
29
280 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

190 cm
32
245 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Scott Minerva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Dio!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Bruno Lombardi and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minerva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dio as he jumps to the side.
Dio misses with a wild combination.
Dio throws a body punch but Minerva moves out of range.
Scott Minerva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dio cracks Minerva with an open hand slap.
Minerva scoring well with a low kick there.
Minerva moves out of range as Dio strikes.
A big right from Minerva misses.
Dio throws a counter combo.
Dio keeps the fight on the outside.
Minerva throws a big shot that misses.

Dio gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Minerva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Minerva stopping the sweep attempt from Dio.
Dio looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Minerva has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dio keeping moving, preventing Minerva from controlling successfully.
Minerva lands a couple of digs.
Minerva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Minerva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Minerva pushes down on Dio's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Minerva takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Minerva trying to mount his opponent but Dio defends it.
Dio is trying is best to control the position here.
Minerva stalling away here and it's allowed Dio to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Dio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dio keeping full guard, as Minerva tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minerva distracts Dio with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Minerva trying to control but Dio is working from the bottom.
Minerva is stalling in the full guard.
Dio looking to control.
Minerva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Minerva won't allow Dio to sweep him here.
Minerva controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Minerva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dio keeping full guard, as Minerva tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio keeping moving, preventing Minerva from controlling successfully.
Minerva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Minerva forces his way into half guard.

Minerva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Minerva is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Minerva.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Minerva connects with a nice short shot to Dio's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Minerva is looking to take a break and control but Dio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Minerva not doing much here.
Minerva looks to land a strike but Dio avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Dio trying to keep a closed guard but Minerva is proving a slippery customer.
Minerva trying to control but Dio is working from the bottom.
Minerva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Minerva connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dio wants to stand but Minerva is controlling the position.
Minerva postures up.
Dio wants to stand and escape but Minerva is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Minerva dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Minerva lands a nice shot that snaps Dio's head back.

Minerva drives through and clinches with Dio against the cage.
Minerva fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Minerva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dio can do to turn this around?
Minerva swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Minerva tries a body shot but Dio blocks it.
Minerva throws a head punch that misses.
Minerva working aggressively here.
Dio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Minerva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Minerva lands with a light punch inside.
Dio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Minerva is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Minerva has a couple of punches blocked by Dio.
Dio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dio gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Minerva.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dio takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Dio manages to break the clinch.
Minerva looks to land a left hand but Dio moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dio scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Minerva doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dio counters with a stiff right hand.
Dio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Minerva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Minerva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Minerva circles away from the clinch attempt.

Minerva gets a takedown into half guard.

Dio kicks off Minerva and gets to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Dio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Minerva, pushing him back against the cage.
Minerva lands with a left to the head.
Minerva scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dio is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Minerva gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Scott Minerva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Dio.
Minerva blocks a body shot from Dio.
Dio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Minerva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dio bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minerva has closed the distance and engaged Dio in a clinch.
Dio tries to score a body lock takedown but Minerva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Minerva swings wildly with an uppercut but Dio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Minerva cracks Dio with a nice body shot.

Dio manages to break the clinch.

Minerva has closed the distance and engaged Dio in a clinch.
Dio wants to break free but Minerva has control.
Minerva wants to take the fight to the mat but Dio manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dio looking for a takedown.
Dio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Minerva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Minerva gets through Dio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Minerva wants to take the fight to the mat but Dio manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Minerva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Dio breaks from the clinch.
Minerva just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio checks a leg kick nicely.
Dio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Minerva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Minerva displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Minerva stuns Dio with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dio keeps the fight on the outside.
Jab from Minerva.

Dio tries to keep at a distance but Minerva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Minerva is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Minerva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like John Dio has been cut.
Minerva lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dio backwards.

Dio is rocked!
Still in the clinch, Minerva scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dio is still on wobbly legs! Can Minerva finish him?
Dio is trying to drag Minerva to the mat but Minerva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dio is breathing heavily.
Minerva misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minerva working aggressively here.
Minerva misses with a punch on the inside.
Dio is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dio blocking some punches.
Minerva misses with some punches.

Minerva has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dio uses from the top position.
Minerva is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Minerva keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.

Dio got a little sloppy there for a moment and Minerva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dio has managed to get both his arms back between Minerva's legs - danger averted.
Dio landing with the ground and pound.

Minerva is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Dio rolls with it to try and escape but Minerva cranks on the arm and Dio is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Scott Minerva!
Our winner, Scott Minerva, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.