PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Marella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marella has chosen "La Vittoria è Mia (Victory Is Mine)" by Jim Johnston as his entrance music. Luiz Diaz has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Diaz
vs
Marella

178 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

166 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Luiz Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Giovanni Marella!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Diaz.

Diaz fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Marella sprawls well initially but Diaz persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Diaz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marella doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Diaz.
Marella regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Diaz.
Diaz has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Diaz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Marella should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Diaz postures up in Marella's guard and throws a big left but Marella blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marella keeping moving, preventing Diaz from controlling successfully.
Diaz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Marella's head.
Diaz postures up in Marella's guard and throws a big left but Marella blocks it.
Marella really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaz. 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 one minute gone in the round.
Diaz preventing the sweep.
Marella working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
Diaz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Marella's head.
Marella avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Marella is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marella works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diaz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Diaz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Marella is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marella can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Diaz controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marella seems keen to control Diaz's posture.

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

Marella has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marella has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Diaz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Marella is trying to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling him.

Diaz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Diaz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Diaz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Marella taking some punishment here, with Diaz in his half guard.
Marella keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Diaz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marella defending well though.
Diaz working the head and body with strikes.

Diaz has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Marella defend it? Diaz steps over the head and cranks it - Marella is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Diaz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Luiz Diaz!
A victorious Luiz Diaz thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Giovanni Marella was interviewed post fight and said 'This isn't the end of the Italian Sensation!'.