PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Dann (ranked 3254 p4p, 367 weight class) and Bruno Italo (ranked 3171 p4p, 361 weight class). Bruno Italo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dann
vs
Italo

182 cm
31
196 lbs
9 - 10 - 1

185 cm
32
185 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian Dann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Italo!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dann shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Italo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dann taking a breather here.
Italo is looking to reverse the position.
Dann cracks Italo with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Dann looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Italo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Italo actively working from the bottom here.

Italo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dann winds up and cracks Italo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Italo pushes Dann off looking to stand but Dann dives back in and keeps control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Dann in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Italo with the active half guard here but Dann passes nicely into side control.

Italo throws Dann to one side and escapes!

Dann gets a double leg takedown into Italo's guard.
Dann 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.
Dann has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Italo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dann wants to control from the top but Italo keeps moving.

Italo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dann wants to control from the top but Italo keeps moving.
Dann is really struggling to control Italo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dann slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Dann tries for a kimura but Italo is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Italo's face as Dann controls the position.

Dann is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Italo has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Italo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Dann is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Italo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dann tries to pass the half guard into mount. Italo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Dann stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Italo to get to his feet.

Italo tries to sprawl but Dann drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Italo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Italo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dann slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Italo actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Dann dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dann fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Italo, pushing him back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dann.
Dann is pushing Italo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Dann tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Italo just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Italo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dann has Italo pressed against the cage.
Italo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dann is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Italo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dann pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Brian Dann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Italo.
Dann is stalling here.

Dann's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dann looking to score a takedown here. Italo is defending well but Dann drives through and ends up in Italo's guard.
Italo is wriggling around but Dann manages to pass to half guard.

Dann is trying to control. Italo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Italo looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dann lands a nice short elbow.
Italo wants to get back to his feet.
Dann is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Italo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Italo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dann defends well.
Brian Dann overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dann trying to stand up but can't free himself from Italo's guard.
Dann is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Italo can do to turn this around?
Dann sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dann pushing down on Italo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Italo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dann trying to control from half guard but Italo is working away.

Dann decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
No joy there for Dann, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Brian Dann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dann doesn't manage to clinch there - Italo circles away.

Dann shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dann is just content to waste time from the top position. Italo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Dann wants to control from the top but Italo keeps moving.
Dann is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Italo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dann would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Italo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dann is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Dann dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dann scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dann is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Italo is not content to let Dann control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dann tries to move into full mount but can't pass Italo's legs.
Italo is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dann lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Italo down.
Dann trying to control the action but Italo is working from the bottom.
Italo is looking for a sweep.
Dann wants to control but Italo is keeping him busy.
Italo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Dann asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Dann lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dann wants to control but Italo is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Italo tries to improve position but can't.
Italo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dann perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dann scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Italo looking for submissions off his back.

Dann decides to return to a standing position.
Dann throws out a powerful jab.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dann or perhaps it was just good defense by Italo, which made it look bad.
Italo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dann has closed the distance and engaged Italo in a clinch.

Dann pulls guard.
Dann wants to sweep but no luck.
Dann looking to control.

Italo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Italo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Italo wants to pass the guard but Dann is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Italo drops back looking for a leg! Dann is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dann manages to kick Italo off! Italo jumps back into Dann's guard.
Italo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dann on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dann tries to get out of the position.
Dann not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dann keeping full guard, as Italo tries to pass.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Italo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Italo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Dann showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dann has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Dann!