PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Varai Andrew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Marsallis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Andrew
vs
Marsallis

194 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Pure Fight Science
Nemesis Cage Clothing

Pure Fight Science

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Varai Andrew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Giovanni Marsallis!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Andrew feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Andrew wants to control from the top but Marsallis keeps moving.
Andrew advances position into side control!
Andrew tries to advance to mount but Marsallis denies him.
Marsallis tries to bench press Andrew off him but Andrew keeps the position.
Andrew wants to stand but Marsallis has his arm trapped.
Marsallis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marsallis defending against the ground and pound.
Marsallis prevents Andrew from improving position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Andrew throws a front kick that sends Marsallis stumbling back into the cage.

Marsallis changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Andrew looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Andrew is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Marsallis off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsallis trying to control the hands but Andrew breaks the grip.
Marsallis looks gassed!
Andrew keeps control of the position as Marsallis tries to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Andrew working for the choke.
Andrew trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Marsallis holding both Andrew 's hands and preventing any damage.
Marsallis tries to escape but Andrew has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Marsallis is keeping busy.
Andrew struggling to land strikes to the head as Marsallis covers up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Andrew is hanging on to Marsallis's back as he tries to escape.
Marsallis prevents Andrew from getting a body triangle.
Andrew throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Andrew tries to get the hooks in deep but Marsallis pushed the leg off.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Marsallis rolls, trying to escape but Andrew keeps control of the position.
Marsallis trying to control the action but Andrew just sinks the hooks in.
Marsallis turns into Andrew and is now in his guard.
Marsallis sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Marsallis darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Marsallis is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsallis winds up and cracks Andrew with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Marsallis is taking a breather. Andrew says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Marsallis is keen to just control but Andrew is a slippery customer.

Andrew is defending against the submission attempts here by Marsallis.
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. Marsallis connects with a nice short shot to Andrew's temple.

Marsallis is trying to work for a kimura but Andrew is defending well.
Andrew trying to control from the bottom.
Andrew is looking for a sweep. Marsallis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andrew is looking to control Marsallis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Andrew avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marsallis wants to pass to mount but Andrew is defending the position.

Andrew kicks Marsallis off and gets back to his feet.

Andrew has closed the distance and engaged Marsallis in a clinch.
Marsallis tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marsallis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Andrew gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Marsallis.
Varai Andrew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Marsallis.
Andrew is looking to control Marsallis's arms but Marsallis gets an underhook and turns him. Now Andrew has his back to the cage.
Marsallis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Andrew pulls his leg out and moves away.
Andrew with a poor takedown

and Marsallis counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Andrew being controlled here, momentarily.
Andrew working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Marsallis dominated that 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.

Andrew doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marsallis counters with a single leg into guard. Andrew didn't expect that.
Marsallis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Andrew is keeping the position for now.
Giovanni Marsallis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marsallis postures up.
Andrew 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.
Andrew is looking to stand back up but Marsallis counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Andrew.
Andrew tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marsallis cracks Andrew with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Marsallis working the ground and pound.

Marsallis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Marsallis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Andrew can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsallis is looking to take a break and control but Andrew is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Andrew is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Marsallis is looking to take a break and control but Andrew is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marsallis advances to mount.
Marsallis scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Marsallis with good strikes from the mount here!
Andrew tries to lock up and control but Marsallis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Andrew taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andrew tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marsallis looking to control but Andrew is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Andrew tries to lock up and control but Marsallis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Andrew is trying to escape the mount.

Marsallis working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Andrew trying desperately to get to his feet.

Marsallis looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Andrew working to try and regain half guard.
Andrew sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsallis tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Marsallis trying to control the action but Andrew is working from the bottom.
Marsallis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Andrew is looking to escape.
Marsallis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Marsallis wants to control but Andrew is keeping him busy.
Andrew trying to control here.

Marsallis is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Andrew is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Giovanni Marsallis!