PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zach Didion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Mazzanati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Didion
vs
Mazzanati

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zach Didion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Giovanni Mazzanati!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Didion closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mazzanati to the mat! Mazzanati manages to get full guard.
Didion trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Didion stands up from Mazzanati's guard - Didion perhaps looking for a knockout.

Didion dives in and scores a takedown into Mazzanati's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Didion stays in close to Mazzanati's body and controls the position.
Mazzanati avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Didion pushes down on Mazzanati's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Didion looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Didion seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zach Didion wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Didion dives in and scores a takedown into Mazzanati's guard.
Didion controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Didion has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Didion stops Mazzanati from standing up.
Didion forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Didion is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mazzanati scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Didion manages to mount him!
Didion with shots to the head and body - Mazzanati looks very uncomfortable down there.

Didion stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Didion instigates a clinch.
Mazzanati tries to land a knee to the head but Didion blocks with his arms.
Mazzanati tries a knee to the head but Didion blocks it.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Didion has clasped his hands together around Mazzanati's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Didion prevents Mazzanati from escaping the position.
Mazzanati looks gassed!

Didion thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Didion has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Didion rushes Mazzanati and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Didion 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.

Mazzanati tries to clinch but Didion moves away

and Didion counters with a shoot takedown. Mazzanati fights it but they end up in guard.
Didion slips nicely into half guard.
Didion missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Didion controlling the pace.

Didion decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Didion moves into the clinch.
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!
Didion scores with a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Didion lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mazzanati taking some punishment here, with Didion in his half guard.
Didion controlling the action here.

Mazzanati is defending against the submission attempts here by Didion.
Didion not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Didion wants to work for an arm triangle but Mazzanati is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mazzanati is trying to stand up here but Didion is controlling him well.

Didion decides to stand and escape the position.
Mazzanati tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Didion counters by moving into the clinch.

Didion gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Didion escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mazzanati tries to clinch but Didion moves away

and Didion counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mazzanati's guard now.
Didion is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mazzanati can do to turn this around?
Didion won't allow Mazzanati to get back to his feet.
Didion wants to control from the top but Mazzanati keeps moving.

Didion drops back looking for a leg! Mazzanati is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mazzanati manages to kick Didion off! Didion jumps back into Mazzanati's guard.
Zach Didion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Didion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mazzanati swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mazzanati really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Didion. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Didion postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Didion controls from within his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zach Didion just wasn't active enough.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mazzanati enables Didion to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mazzanati manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mazzanati is wriggling around but Didion manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Didion dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mazzanati looks to clinch

and Didion counters with a takedown into side control.
Didion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mazzanati keeps working.

Didion has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mazzanati darts in trying to clinch

and Didion counters by clinching up.
Mazzanati with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mazzanati with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Didion pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Didion circles away from the clinch attempt
and Didion counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mazzanati takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Didion is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mazzanati's half guard.

Didion is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Didion takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mazzanati is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Didion scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Didion passes to full mount!
Didion takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Didion pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Didion fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Didion cracks Mazzanati with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Didion controlling from the full mount.

Didion working for a guillotine from mount but Mazzanati is in no mood to give up.
Mazzanati trying desperately to get to his feet.
Mazzanati is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Didion has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Didion is riding his opponent, not letting Mazzanati buck him off.
Mazzanati trying to get back to his feet but Didion is in full control for now.
Giovanni Mazzanati has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Didion is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Mazzanati is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zach Didion!
A victorious Zach Didion thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.