PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between JP Mariotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neville Dando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mariotti might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Cha-la Head Cha-la. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mariotti
vs
Dando

191 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
24
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, JP Mariotti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Neville Dando!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mariotti shoots in for a takedown but Dando shows good takedown defense.
Mariotti shoots in looking for a takedown. Dando tries to sprawl out of it but Mariotti keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dando manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dando misses with a shot to the body
and Mariotti counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mariotti shoots in but Dando avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JP Mariotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mariotti doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dando counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dando.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dando scoring with some ground and pound.
Dando scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dando landing some decent shots from guard.
Dando stands up over Mariotti, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dando makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dando postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mariotti working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dando.
Dando lands a couple of elbows.
Dando is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dando scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariotti looking to control but Dando passes into half guard.
Dando has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mariotti wants to get back to his feet.
Mariotti is breathing heavily.
Dando looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mariotti with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Dando.
Dando wants to take a breather but Mariotti is having none of it.
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. Dando connects with a nice short shot to Mariotti's temple.
Dando working over Mariotti with some ground and pound. Mariotti looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dando lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dando has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Mariotti works to full guard.
Dando is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dando landing with the ground and pound.

Mariotti is rocked!
Dando working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Oh Mariotti is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dando postures up and lands a big shot to Mariotti's brow.
Dando makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dando's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dando pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mariotti is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dando's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dando trying to control the position from guard on top but Mariotti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mariotti seems to have got his legs back now.
Dando lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dando content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dando lands a couple of digs.
Dando advances position into side control!
Dando scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dando working the head and body with strikes.
Check out the look on Dando's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Dando working the ground and pound.
Dando is chipping away with strikes.
Dando tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mariotti's legs.
Mariotti taking a bit of punishment here - Dando scoring with strikes.
Dando is looking to take a break and control but Mariotti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dando lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mariotti down.
A big shot lands for Dando! That's hurt Mariotti! Will he recover? Dando fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Neville Dando!
An out of breath Neville Dando thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.