PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Osmany Pizziconi (ranked 1915 p4p, 1709 weight class) and Nori Voluspa (ranked 276 p4p, 244 weight class). Osmany Pizziconi has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pizziconi
vs
Voluspa

186 cm
19
180
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
20
170
2 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Osmany Pizziconi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nori Voluspa!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Voluspa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pizziconi's guard.
Voluspa trying to control the position from guard on top but Pizziconi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pizziconi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Voluspa trying to control but Pizziconi is working from the bottom.
Voluspa looking to pass the guard.
Pizziconi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Voluspa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voluspa trying to control but Pizziconi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pizziconi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Pizziconi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voluspa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pizziconi defends it nicely.
Voluspa shoots in but no luck this time.

Voluspa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Voluspa lands in his opponent's guard.
Pizziconi controls Voluspa momentarily but Voluspa frees himself.
Voluspa told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Pizziconi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pizziconi wants to hit a sweep here but Voluspa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Pizziconi there!
Voluspa thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pizziconi avoids a strike by Voluspa and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Voluspa's guard! Fantastic escape!
Pizziconi preventing the sweep.
Pizziconi content to stall in guard here.
Voluspa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Voluspa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Voluspa keeping moving, preventing Pizziconi from controlling successfully.
Pizziconi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voluspa tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Pizziconi is thwarting Voluspa's attempts to control the position.

Pizziconi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Voluspa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pizziconi.
Pizziconi drops an elbow to the side of Voluspa's head.

Pizziconi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pizziconi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Voluspa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pizziconi blocks the strikes from Voluspa.
Pizziconi trying to mount his opponent but Voluspa defends it.
Voluspa wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Voluspa is trying to maintain the position but Pizziconi is very close to passing his half guard.
Voluspa is not content to let Pizziconi control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Voluspa tries to clinch but Pizziconi is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nori Voluspa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horrible takedown attempt by Pizziconi or perhaps it was just good defense by Voluspa, which made it look bad.
Voluspa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Voluspa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pizziconi looks for a takedown but Voluspa sprawls well.
Voluspa tries to clinch there but Pizziconi circles away.
Pizziconi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Voluspa as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Osmany Pizziconi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Voluspa dives in and scores a takedown into Pizziconi's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pizziconi is on top in guard.

Pizziconi scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voluspa pulls Pizziconi in close to prevent any damage.
Pizziconi connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pizziconi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Voluspa trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pizziconi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Voluspa tries to strike from the bottom.
Pizziconi landing some decent shots from guard.
Pizziconi trying to control the position from guard on top but Voluspa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Voluspa doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Pizziconi trying to control but Voluspa is working from the bottom.
Voluspa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pizziconi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two 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.
Pizziconi distracts Voluspa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Voluspa wants to sweep but no luck.
Pizziconi works over Voluspa with some ground and pound from guard.
Pizziconi trying to control but Voluspa is working from the bottom.
Voluspa throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
We've been hearing that Pizziconi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Voluspa keeping full guard, as Pizziconi tries to pass.
Voluspa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Pizziconi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pizziconi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pizziconi working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pizziconi landing strikes.
Pizziconi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Pizziconi trying to control the action but Voluspa is working from the bottom.
Osmany Pizziconi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pizziconi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pizziconi wants to control but Voluspa is keeping him busy.
Voluspa is trying to improve his position.
Voluspa misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pizziconi cracks Voluspa with a big elbow.
Pizziconi cracks Voluspa with a big elbow.
Pizziconi is looking to take a break and control but Voluspa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Voluspa tries to bench press Pizziconi off him but Pizziconi keeps the position.
Voluspa being controlled for a moment.
Pizziconi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pizziconi cracks Voluspa with a big right hand but Voluspa just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Osmany Pizziconi dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Voluspa has Pizziconi up against the cage in a clinch.

Voluspa jumps into guard, dragging Pizziconi to the mat.
Pizziconi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pizziconi is working Voluspa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Voluspa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pizziconi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pizziconi working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pizziconi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pizziconi trying to control but Voluspa is working from the bottom.
Voluspa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pizziconi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pizziconi working some strikes from top position.

Voluspa has his foot on Pizziconi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pizziconi works his way back into a safe position though.
Pizziconi trying to control the position from guard on top but Voluspa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pizziconi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Voluspa can do to turn this around?
Pizziconi works over Voluspa with some ground and pound from guard.
Pizziconi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Voluspa looking for a sweep. Not yet Voluspa, not yet.
Pizziconi 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.
Pizziconi content to stall in guard here.
Pizziconi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pizziconi is working Voluspa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Voluspa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pizziconi is one step ahead there.
Voluspa trying to control the position.
Pizziconi trying to control the position from guard on top but Voluspa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pizziconi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Voluspa manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Voluspa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pizziconi has Voluspa pulled in close to control his posture.
Voluspa throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pizziconi is pulling down on Voluspa's head. It's preventing any offense from Voluspa, at least for the moment.
Voluspa pushing down on Pizziconi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Voluspa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Voluspa landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Voluspa is looking to stall here but Pizziconi recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pizziconi keeping moving, preventing Voluspa from controlling successfully.
Voluspa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Voluspa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Voluspa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pizziconi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nori Voluspa.
I think Voluspa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nori Voluspa!
Nori Voluspa took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.