PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jean Marceau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Sanavio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Marceau
vs
Sanavio

192 cm
25
195 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

188 cm
27
192 lbs
9 - 4 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Marceau!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Diego Sanavio!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marceau looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Marceau lands a head kick. Sanavio smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sanavio swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Marceau counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sanavio's knee momentarily.

Marceau gets tackled into the cage by Sanavio. Sanavio maintains the clinch.
Sanavio working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Marceau manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Marceau has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sanavio has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sanavio working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Marceau is looking for a sweep.

Sanavio tries for a kimura but Marceau is defending well.

Sanavio is trying to get an arm triangle but Marceau is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marceau gets back to half guard.
Marceau slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sanavio wants to pass the guard but Marceau is keeping the position.
Marceau is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marceau is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sanavio slips nicely into half guard.
Sanavio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Marceau is looking to improve his position.
Marceau blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sanavio.
Marceau gets back to full guard.
Marceau controls Sanavio momentarily but Sanavio frees himself.
Sanavio passes into half guard.
Marceau trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanavio wants to free his trapped foot but Marceau is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sanavio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marceau defending well though.
Sanavio thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marceau keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Marceau avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanavio.
Sanavio trying to mount his opponent but Marceau defends it.
Sanavio takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sanavio missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marceau won't allow Sanavio to pass to mount.
Marceau is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marceau won't allow Sanavio to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Marceau manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sanavio won't allow Marceau to sweep him here.
Marceau is working hard here to advance position.
Marceau manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sanavio 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.
Sanavio wants to control but Marceau is keeping busy.
Marceau trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanavio dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sanavio shoots in looking for a takedown. Marceau tries to sprawl out of it but Sanavio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marceau manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Marceau as Sanavio shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanavio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Sanavio there.
Marceau misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanavio thows a body shot but no joy.
Sanavio misses with a hook to the body
and Marceau counters with a nice body kick.
Marceau will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A low kick from Marceau misses
and Sanavio counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Marceau avoids the body shot from Sanavio.
Marceau avoids the body shot from Sanavio.
A jab from Sanavio does it's job there.
Marceau throws a nice outside leg kick.
Marceau is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanavio is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marceau.
Marceau throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Marceau throws a head kick that misses.
Jean Marceau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanavio wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marceau finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sanavio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marceau moves away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sanavio, as that shot connected.
Jean Marceau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanavio blocks a low kick nicely.
Marceau slips a straight right by Sanavio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanavio stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Marceau.
Sanavio on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A lazy body kick from Marceau
and Sanavio counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sanavio just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanavio tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Marceau keeps the fight on the outside.

Marceau scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Marceau is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sanavio is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sanavio tries to buck Marceau off but Marceau is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanavio is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Marceau's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Well, if Marceau is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sanavio moves into full guard.
Marceau wants to control from the top but Sanavio keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marceau trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marceau does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sanavio takes a swing at Marceau's ribcage but misses.
Sanavio tries to close the distance and clinch but Marceau swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marceau throws a leg kick but Sanavio moved away.
Sanavio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marceau.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanavio cracks Marceau with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Marceau misses with a body kick.
Marceau lands a leg kick that knocks Sanavio off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanavio clinches.
Marceau fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marceau working aggressively here.
Marceau tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanavio avoids it.
Sanavio is trying to drag Marceau to the mat but Marceau just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sanavio misses with some punches.
Marceau tries to stall but Sanavio uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sanavio avoiding damage as Marceau throws knees to the body.
Sanavio lands with a right to the head.
Sanavio lands a hook that snaps the head of Marceau backwards.

Marceau gets control of Sanavio's arms and successfully pulls guard. Marceau will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanavio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanavio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sanavio looks up at the clock and then as Marceau takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sanavio smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sloppy strikes there by Sanavio.
Marceau gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marceau is looking for a sweep. Sanavio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marceau is trying to control but can't.
Marceau keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanavio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marceau is looking for a sweep. Sanavio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marceau regains full guard. Nicely done.
Marceau trying to keep a closed guard but Sanavio is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanavio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marceau looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanavio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sanavio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marceau is trying to hold Sanavio in close to prevent damage but Sanavio has managed to pass into half guard.
Sanavio passes to side control.
Sanavio scores with punches from side control.
Sanavio cracks Marceau with a big elbow.
Sanavio cracks Marceau with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Marceau is trying to control Sanavio's posture but Sanavio avoids it.
Marceau is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanavio working the head and body with strikes.
Sanavio trying to control the action but Marceau is working from the bottom.

Sanavio goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Marceau rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sanavio's guard! Nice work there by Marceau!
Marceau trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Marceau got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sanavio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marceau has managed to get both his arms back between Sanavio's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanavio really dominated that round.
That's time! Marceau's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanavio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marceau, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Marceau - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sanavio lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marceau is looking to control Sanavio's arms but Sanavio gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marceau has his back to the cage.
Sanavio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marceau prevents it.
Sanavio lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Marceau or not.

Sanavio jumps guard and drags Marceau to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanavio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanavio manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Diego Sanavio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marceau sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marceau is trying to get back to full guard.
Sanavio throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sanavio prevents Marceau from improving his position.
Sanavio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanavio lands a nice short elbow.

Sanavio has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Marceau defend it? Sanavio steps over the head and cranks it - Marceau is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Sanavio!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Diego Sanavio!
Diego Sanavio is the new middleweight champion!