PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zess Mavrokordatos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marrio Marselli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mavrokordatos
vs
Marselli

169 cm
28
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zess Mavrokordatos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marrio Marselli !
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marselli throws a lazy head kick
and Mavrokordatos counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Marselli is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Marselli throws a body punch but Mavrokordatos moves out of range.

Marselli fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mavrokordatos to the ground. Marselli is now in Mavrokordatos's guard.
Mavrokordatos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mavrokordatos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marselli .

Marselli drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mavrokordatos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mavrokordatos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mavrokordatos!
Mavrokordatos wants to stand but Marselli has his arm trapped.
Marselli wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Marselli has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marselli holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Marselli sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mavrokordatos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Marselli wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marselli looking for submissions off his back.
Mavrokordatos is thwarting Marselli 's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mavrokordatos passes into side control, despite Marselli 's attempt to control the position.
Marselli is trying to control Mavrokordatos's posture but Mavrokordatos avoids it.
Marselli is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Marselli trying his best to control but Mavrokordatos has mounted him.
Marselli sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Marselli is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marselli might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mavrokordatos haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Mavrokordatos decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Marrio Marselli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mavrokordatos is looking to slow Marselli down with leg kicks.
Mavrokordatos swings for the body but Marselli moves out of range.
Marselli blocks a head kick by Mavrokordatos.
Marselli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mavrokordatos as he jumps to the side.

Marselli tries to keep at a distance but Mavrokordatos has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marselli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Marselli darts in and clinches Mavrokordatos up against the cage.
Mavrokordatos lands an uppercut.

Marselli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mavrokordatos throws a lazy uppercut

and Marselli counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Marselli goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mavrokordatos rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Marselli 's guard! Nice work there by Mavrokordatos!
Marselli 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marselli keeping moving, preventing Mavrokordatos from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marrio Marselli dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mavrokordatos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marselli .

Marselli closes the distance and pushes Mavrokordatos back into the cage.
Mavrokordatos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mavrokordatos lands a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Mavrokordatos as the two fighters clinch.
Marselli looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mavrokordatos tries to throw a body punch but Marselli avoids it by throwing Mavrokordatos back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos lands a left hand.
Marselli wants to get back to striking at distance but Mavrokordatos won't allow it.
Marselli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Mavrokordatos.
Marselli is trying to pull guard but Mavrokordatos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mavrokordatos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marselli swings wildly with an uppercut but Mavrokordatos uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos misses with some punches.
Marselli missing with knees to the body.
Marselli takes a shot to the head.
Mavrokordatos lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Marselli pulls guard successfully.
Marselli wants to sweep but no luck.
Marselli is trying to control the position but Mavrokordatos postures up.
Marselli has a closed guard, preventing Mavrokordatos from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Marselli throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Marselli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mavrokordatos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marselli trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Marselli keeping moving, preventing Mavrokordatos from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marselli controls Mavrokordatos momentarily but Mavrokordatos frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mavrokordatos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marselli throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Mavrokordatos gets tackled into the cage by Marselli . Marselli maintains the clinch.
A body shot lands from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Marselli missing with knees to the body.
Marselli wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mavrokordatos has him pressed against the cage.
Marselli jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mavrokordatos walks away with a smile on his face. Marselli gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mavrokordatos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marselli looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mavrokordatos is fending him off so far but Marselli persists. Nope, Mavrokordatos circles away and we're back to standing.
Zess Mavrokordatos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marrio Marselli .
Mavrokordatos lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mavrokordatos is looking to score with low kicks.
Mavrokordatos just misses with a punch to the body.
Marselli fails with a takedown attempt.
Marselli shoots in and drives through. Mavrokordatos sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mavrokordatos tries to keep at a distance but Marselli has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mavrokordatos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zess Mavrokordatos will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Mavrokordatos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Mavrokordatos has managed to clinch.
Nice body punch from Mavrokordatos.
A hook to the body from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos struggles to land a body shot inside as Marselli controls his hands.
Mavrokordatos working aggressively here.
Mavrokordatos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mavrokordatos.
Marselli tries to pull guard but Mavrokordatos forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Marselli blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mavrokordatos.
Marselli prevents a body shot from Mavrokordatos.
Marselli prevents a body shot from Mavrokordatos.

Marselli manages to break the clinch.

Marselli clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos misses with a punch to the body.
Mavrokordatos tries to work over Marselli 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marselli blocks a body shot from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos struggles to land a body shot inside as Marselli controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marselli .
Mavrokordatos scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mavrokordatos misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marselli is trying to pull guard but Mavrokordatos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Marselli blocks a body shot from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mavrokordatos throws a punch but it's blocked by Marselli .
Marselli blocks a body shot from Mavrokordatos.
Marselli changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mavrokordatos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zess Mavrokordatos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marrio Marselli .

Mavrokordatos rushes Marselli and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zess Mavrokordatos has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marselli tries to stall but Mavrokordatos uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Marselli working aggressively here.

Marselli breaks from the clinch.
Marselli keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos slips a jab and a cross from Marselli .
Mavrokordatos lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
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!

Mavrokordatos has Marselli up against the cage in a clinch.
Mavrokordatos misses with a punch to the body.
Marselli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mavrokordatos can't find room to land a body shot as Marselli controls the action.
Mavrokordatos lands a left hand that snaps the head of Marselli backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marselli tries a knee to the head but Mavrokordatos blocks it.
Mavrokordatos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Marselli is trying to pull guard but Mavrokordatos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos scores with a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Mavrokordatos.
Marselli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mavrokordatos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marselli goes for a takedown attempt but Mavrokordatos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marselli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mavrokordatos pinned against the cage. Mavrokordatos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Mavrokordatos clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mavrokordatos pushes Marselli back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Mavrokordatos.
Mavrokordatos lands with a right to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Marselli gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mavrokordatos regains guard.
Marselli being controlled here momentarily.
Marselli wants to control from the top but Mavrokordatos keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mavrokordatos working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zess Mavrokordatos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mavrokordatos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zess Mavrokordatos!