PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Harris Ayala (ranked 24244 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Giovannelli (ranked 6099 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ayala
vs
Giovannelli

180 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

170 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Harris Ayala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Giovannelli!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giovannelli is looking to score with low kicks.
Giovannelli bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Giovannelli lands with a slapping head kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Giovannelli.
Giovannelli lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Antonio Giovannelli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giovannelli misses with a head kick.
Giovannelli throws a head kick that misses

and Ayala counters by clinching up.

Giovannelli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Giovannelli looks to land a body kick but Ayala moved away.
Ayala tries to counter by clinching up but Giovannelli breaks away and moves out of range.
Giovannelli swinging wildly here.
Ayala changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Giovannelli misses with a head kick.
Giovannelli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Giovannelli lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ayala avoids the head kick by Giovannelli.
Ayala is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Giovannelli.
Ayala shoots for a takedown but Giovannelli saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Giovannelli stalks Ayala and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ayala's face. Ayala staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayala shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Giovannelli pinned against the cage. Giovannelli gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Giovannelli lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ayala backs up against the cage.
Giovannelli misses with a combination

and Ayala counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ayala missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ayala throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Giovannelli works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Giovannelli wants to stand but Ayala is controlling the position.
Ayala loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ayala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ayala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Giovannelli swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ayala counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Giovannelli looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ayala throwing shots but Giovannelli is blocking nicely.
Ayala thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Giovannelli blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ayala.
Giovannelli avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ayala.
Ayala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Giovannelli defending well though.
Ayala missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ayala throws a strike but Giovannelli avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Ayala has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ayala is looking to work some ground and pound but Giovannelli has wrist control.
Ayala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ayala controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ayala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ayala dodges the punch combination from Giovannelli.
Ayala moves out of range of the body kick.
Ayala shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Giovannelli but Giovannelli pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harris Ayala. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Giovannelli.
Giovannelli pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ayala back to the cage. Giovannelli follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A head kick by Giovannelli misses

and Ayala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Giovannelli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ayala throws a sloppy head kick and Giovannelli moves out of range easily.
Giovannelli tries a head kick but it misses.
Ayala moves out of range of the body kick.
Giovannelli tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Giovannelli tries to get set, Ayala tries to push him back and clinch up but Giovannelli manages to avoid the attempt.
Ayala blocks a head kick by Giovannelli.

Ayala has managed to clinch.
Ayala drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Giovannelli gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Giovannelli has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Giovannelli dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ayala closes the distance and clinches.
Giovannelli has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Giovannelli is looking to break free of the clinch but Ayala has double underhooks.

Ayala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Giovannelli throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Giovannelli throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ayala wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ayala tries to close the distance and clinch but Giovannelli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Giovannelli is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nice body kick there by Ayala.
Giovannelli throws a head kick that misses

and Ayala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ayala prevents Giovannelli from breaking the clinch.

Ayala gets control of Giovannelli's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ayala will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Giovannelli looking to sit in guard and control but Ayala gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ayala lands a couple of digs.
Giovannelli is breathing heavily.
Ayala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayala controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ayala is in close to Giovannelli's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ayala throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Giovannelli works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ayala trying to control but Giovannelli is working from the bottom.
Ayala throws a strike but Giovannelli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ayala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Giovannelli wants to control from the top but Ayala keeps moving.
Ayala thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Ayala is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Giovannelli defends well.
Giovannelli trying to control but Ayala is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovannelli looking to pass the guard.
Giovannelli content to stall in guard here.

Ayala had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Giovannelli defends it easily.
Giovannelli showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ayala looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovannelli swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Giovannelli throws a push kick but Ayala slaps the foot to one side.
Ayala takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Giovannelli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ayala half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Giovannelli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Giovannelli looks to throw a body kick

and Ayala counters with a single leg into guard. Giovannelli didn't expect that.
Ayala working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Giovannelli's head.
Ayala throws a big right hand that misses.
Ayala throwing strikes but missing.
Ayala lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ayala stands up over Giovannelli, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ayala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ayala throwing strikes from guard but Giovannelli blocks nicely.
Ayala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ayala's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ayala lands a couple of digs.
Ayala throws a big right hand that misses.
Ayala with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harris Ayala dominated that second round.
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!

Giovannelli misses with a kick to the body

and Ayala counters by moving into the clinch.

Ayala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Giovannelli scores with a spinning back kick!
Giovannelli scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Giovannelli throws a head kick that misses.
Ayala avoids the head kick by Giovannelli.
Ayala wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Giovannelli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ayala darts in looking for a takedown but Giovannelli gets double underhooks and turns Ayala into the cage.
Giovannelli lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ayala avoids the head kick by Giovannelli.
Ayala appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ayala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Giovannelli misses with a head kick.
Giovannelli stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Giovannelli wants it to stay on the feet.
Giovannelli has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Giovannelli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ayala.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harris Ayala. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovannelli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ayala avoids the head kick by Giovannelli.
Giovannelli looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ayala shoots in for a takedown but Giovannelli shows good takedown defense.

Ayala gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ayala lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Giovannelli backwards.
Giovannelli wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ayala has him pressed against the cage.

Ayala breaks the clinch.
Ayala moves out of range as Giovannelli throws a body kick.
A head kick by Giovannelli misses

and Ayala counters with a takedown into side control.
Ayala working the ground and pound but Giovannelli is defending the strikes.
Ayala controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovannelli pushes Ayala away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ayala gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ayala throws an elbow but Giovannelli slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ayala throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ayala creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Giovannelli sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ayala postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ayala wants to clinch up but Giovannelli keeps it at a distance.
Giovannelli throws out a leg kick but Ayala moves out of range and Giovannelli only half commits.
Ayala shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Giovannelli but Giovannelli pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ayala shoots in for a takedown but Giovannelli shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovannelli lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ayala chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Giovannelli can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Giovannelli.
A head kick by Giovannelli misses
and Ayala counters with a thumping low kick.
Giovannelli misses with a jab, cross combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ayala pressing his opponent against the cage.
Giovannelli tries to circle away but Ayala has him pinned against the cage.

Ayala jumps guard and drags Giovannelli to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Giovannelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Ayala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ayala looking for a sweep. Not yet Ayala, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ayala is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Giovannelli avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ayala.
Ayala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ayala content to control rather than advance.
Ayala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ayala thows a huge punch but Giovannelli dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antonio Giovannelli.
I think Giovannelli 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Giovannelli!