PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Giordani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wojtek Samiec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giordani comes to the cage accompanied by "Assassin" by Muse. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Giordani
vs
Samiec

175 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raphael Giordani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wojtek Samiec!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samiec changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Giordani tries to avoid it but Samiec manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Giordani to the ground. Giordani escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Giordani fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Giordani throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Samiec was covering up waiting for the punch and Giordani finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Giordani stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Samiec swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Giordani throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Samiec works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giordani postures up.

Samiec looking for a guillotine here but Giordani defends easily.

Giordani drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Giordani jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Giordani has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Samiec throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two 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.
Giordani passes into half guard.
Giordani is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Giordani swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Samiec is now in Giordani's guard. A big mistake from Giordani there, giving up the dominant position!
Giordani wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Samiec is now in half guard.

Giordani actively working from the bottom here.
Giordani is looking for a sweep. Samiec is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Giordani is breathing heavily.
Giordani is trying to control but can't.

Giordani looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Giordani is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Samiec is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Giordani has managed to free his arm - good work.
Giordani pushes Samiec off looking to stand but Samiec dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Samiec lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Samiec throws a right and a left that Giordani avoids nicely.

Giordani closes the distance and pushes Samiec back into the cage.
Giordani scores with a knee to the head.

Giordani pulls guard.

Giordani looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Samiec passes into half guard.
Samiec thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Giordani's head.
Giordani tries to roll over but Samiec keeps him under control.

Samiec wants to work for an arm triangle but Giordani is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Samiec looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samiec has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Giordani looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

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.
Samiec is not going to allow Giordani to sit and survive in this position.

Samiec is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Giordani defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Giordani tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Giordani preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Samiec.
Samiec not allowing Giordani to control his hands.
Giordani is in bad spot here.

Giordani is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Samiec gets his way!

Samiec looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giordani trying to control the hands but Samiec breaks the grip.
Giordani turns into Samiec and is now in his guard.
Giordani sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Samiec's guard.
Giordani takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wojtek Samiec showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Samiec dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Giordani. That did some damage!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Samiec fails with an attempt to clinch.
Giordani is looking to land body kicks.
Giordani shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Samiec as he jumps to the side.
Giordani tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Samiec was well out of range. Poor timing from Giordani.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Giordani with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giordani scores with a jab to the body.
Samiec throws a series of punches but Giordani avoids them all with ease.
Giordani tries to clinch but Samiec is having none of it.
Samiec with a poor takedown

and Giordani counters by clinching up.

Giordani breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Giordani throws a push kick but Samiec slaps the foot to one side.

That's two 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.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Samiec!

Giordani scores a takedown into full mount!
Samiec sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Giordani is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Samiec is not content to let Giordani control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samiec is pressing down on Giordani's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Samiec has his foot on Giordani's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Giordani works his way back into a safe position though.

Giordani gets to his feet. Samiec looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samiec displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Samiec tries to clinch but Giordani is having none of it.
Giordani showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Samiec.
Raphael Giordani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samiec wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Samiec shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Giordani pinned against the cage. Giordani gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raphael Giordani.
I think Samiec 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Wojtek Samiec!