PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rosendo Newman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ori Fanta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Newman
vs
Fanta

195 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Rosendo Newman!
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, Ori Fanta!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fanta doesn't seem bothered though.
Fanta throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Newman counters by clinching up.

Newman has hold of one of Fanta's legs. Fanta is fighting the takedown attempt but Newman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Newman is looking to stand up but Fanta won't let him.

Fanta has his foot on Newman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Newman works his way back into a safe position though.
Newman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Newman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fanta, up you get!
Ori Fanta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Newman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Fanta scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fanta wants to control but Newman is keeping him busy.
Newman controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Newman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman tries to roll over but Fanta keeps him under control.
Newman trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Newman tries to hold on but Fanta pushes him away.

Fanta is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Newman has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Newman tries to hold on but Fanta pushes him away.
Newman is working to get back to half guard.
Fanta is looking to stand but Newman has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Newman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Newman throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanta thows a huge punch but Newman dodges it nicely.
Newman preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Newman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fanta wants to control but Newman is keeping him busy.
Newman gets back to full guard.
Fanta preventing the sweep.
Newman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fanta wants to get up but he can't break Newman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Newman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fanta looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanta trying to control the position from guard on top but Newman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Newman clinches.

Newman has clasped his hands together around Fanta's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fanta regains half guard.
Fanta tries to roll over but Newman keeps him under control.
Fanta is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Newman scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanta wants to improve his position but Newman is controlling well.
Newman is thwarting Fanta's attempts to control the position.
Fanta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fanta manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fanta throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Newman tries to stand but Fanta is controlling from the bottom.
Fanta wants to get back to his feet but Newman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rosendo Newman will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fanta wants to clinch.

Fanta throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Newman was covering up waiting for the punch and Fanta finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Newman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newman pulls Fanta in close to his closed guard and prevents Fanta from doing any damage or advancing position.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Fanta from controlling successfully.
Newman has Fanta pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Newman is keeping the position for now.
Fanta wants to control from the top but Newman keeps moving.
Newman is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice body punch from Newman.

Fanta gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newman manages to get back to half guard.
Newman trying to hold on to Fanta's head to control him but Fanta postures up.
Newman is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Fanta is trying to control. Newman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Newman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Newman gets back to full guard.
Fanta wants to control from the top but Newman keeps moving.
Ori Fanta has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman is pulling down on Fanta's head. It's preventing any offense from Fanta, at least for the moment.
Fanta wants to control from the top but Newman keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fanta uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Newman.
Ori Fanta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Newman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Newman keeping full guard, as Fanta tries to pass.
Fanta trying to control the position from guard on top but Newman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman pulls Fanta in close to prevent any damage.
Newman wants to sweep but no luck.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Newman holds on and takes a little breather.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Fanta from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newman is controlling Fanta's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fanta throws a quick inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ori Fanta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fanta looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Newman!
You can see the frustration on Newman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Newman is trying to work for a sweep but Fanta has mounted him!
Newman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Newman moves into full guard.
Fanta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Newman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newman trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fanta trying to control but Newman is working from the bottom.
Newman striking from his own guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fanta being controlled here momentarily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Newman misses with a hook.
Fanta lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Fanta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Newman appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Fanta closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Newman's guard.
Newman trying to keep a closed guard but Fanta is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Newman is pulling down on Fanta's head to control his posture.
Newman trying to keep a closed guard but Fanta is proving a slippery customer.
Fanta throws a big right hand that misses.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Fanta from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanta advances position into side control!
Fanta tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Newman can't do much from the bottom here.
Newman throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Fanta wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Newman, who protects the arm well.
Fanta trying to control the action but Newman is working from the bottom.
Newman regains half guard there - taking advantage of Fanta's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Newman preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Newman is not content to let Fanta control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Newman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newman keeping moving, preventing Fanta from controlling successfully.
Fanta trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ori Fanta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fanta has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ori Fanta!