PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Martino Marion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sal Governale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marion's entrance music is Pockets . A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marion
vs
Governale

176 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
16
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Martino Marion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sal Governale!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Governale misses with a body shot.

Governale drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Marion is looking to stand up but Governale isn't so interested in that idea.
Marion keeping moving, preventing Governale from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Governale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Governale stops Marion from standing up.
Governale must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Governale throwing strikes from guard but Marion blocks nicely.
Governale really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marion. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Governale prevents Marion from getting back to his feet.
Governale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marion works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Governale postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marion working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Governale.
Marion on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Marion tries to get out of the position.
Governale won't allow Marion to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marion is breathing heavily.
Governale postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marion keeping moving, preventing Governale from controlling successfully.
Governale prevents Marion from getting back to his feet.
Governale throwing strikes from guard but Marion blocks nicely.
Governale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marion works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Governale won't allow Marion to get back to his feet.
Governale looking to pass the guard.
Marion wants to stand but Governale is controlling the position.
Governale cracks Marion with a solid left hand.
Governale lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marion keeping full guard, as Governale tries to pass.
Marion wants to stand but Governale is controlling the position.
Marion utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Governale trying to control but Marion is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marion wants to stand up but Governale is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Governale slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Governale won't allow Marion to get back to his feet.
Governale loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Governale with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Governale works over Marion with some ground and pound from guard.
Governale is looking to work some ground and pound but Marion has wrist control.
Governale trying to control the position from guard on top but Marion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Governale makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marion is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Governale is controlling him.
Marion being controlled here, momentarily.
Governale prevents Marion from getting back to his feet.
Governale works over Marion with some ground and pound from guard.
Governale is looking to work some ground and pound but Marion has wrist control.
Marion wants to stand but Governale is controlling the position.
Governale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marion works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Governale prevents Marion from getting back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Governale distracts Marion with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Governale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Governale trying to control the position from guard on top but Marion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sal Governale dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Governale misses with a straight right.
Marion is trying hard to land a takedown here. Governale sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marion tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Governale swivels and escapes.

Governale looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Marion is trying to stand back up but Governale is controlling him
Governale working the head and body with strikes.
Marion looks like he's trying to stand up.
Governale lands strikes from half guard.
Marion is trying to stand back up but Governale is controlling him
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Governale scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Governale trying to pass the guard but Marion defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marion avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Governale.
Governale lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Governale thows a huge punch but Marion dodges it nicely.
Governale takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Governale prevents Marion from standing back up.
Governale is nestled in close to Marion, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Marion is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Governale scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Governale.
Governale lands strikes from half guard.
Marion is not content to let Governale control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Governale lands strikes from half guard.
Governale is keen to just control but Marion is a slippery customer.
Governale throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Governale is trying to control. Marion wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sal Governale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marion is trying to stand up here but Governale is controlling him well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marion trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Governale working the head and body with strikes.
Governale prevents Marion from standing back up.
Marion keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Governale looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marion with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Governale lands with a punch from half guard.
Marion is trying to stand back up but Governale is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Governale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Marion wants to get back to his feet.
Governale wants to take a breather but Marion is having none of it.
Nice strikes from Governale there.
Governale seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marion does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Marion wants to get back to his feet.
Marion keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Marion wants to get back to his feet.
Marion has hold of Governale's hands but Governale slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Governale stops Marion from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Governale.
Marion keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Governale prevents Marion from standing back up.
Governale working over Marion with some ground and pound. Marion looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Governale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Governale wants to pass the guard but Marion is defending well.
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. Governale connects with a nice short shot to Marion's temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Governale prevents Marion from standing back up.
Marion blocking the ground and pound attempt from Governale.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Governale is nestled in close to Marion, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Governale stops Marion from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sal Governale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Governale shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Governale was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Marion is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Governale is controlling him well.
Marion takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Marion is trying to get back to his feet.
Governale in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Governale prevents Marion from escaping the position.
Governale is putting a hurting on Marion here, landing some big shots from side control.
Marion is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Governale working the ground and pound.
Marion is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Governale has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Governale is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Marion is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marion wants to get back to his feet but Governale drags him back down.
Governale working the body and head with strikes.
Governale lands a decent elbow from side control.

Governale thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Governale cracks Marion with a big elbow.
Marion is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Governale is controlling him well.
Governale lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Governale working the ground and pound.
Marion is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Governale lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Governale wants to control but Marion is keeping him busy.
Governale scoring with punches from side control.
Marion is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Check out the look on Governale's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Governale lands an elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Governale looks up at the clock and then as Marion takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Governale smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Governale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marion keeps working.
Marion is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marion seems a little lost for a moment, as Governale dominates the positioning.
Marion is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Governale asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Governale scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Marion to see if he's OK.
Marion tries to escape but Governale is in control.
Marion is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Marion takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Governale works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Marion tries to escape but Governale is in control.
Governale landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Marion wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Marion taking punishment in the form of punches.
Marion tries to escape but Governale is in control.
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!

Governale is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Marion has escaped the position, nice work there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marion is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Governale has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sal Governale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Governale has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sal Governale!
The defeated Martino Marion had this to say: 'I'd like to thank everyone who helped me for this fight, my manager and trainer, Ron Lavigne, and all of my training partners. Sorry if I disappointed, I'll get 'em next time!'.