PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marchiano Giovinazzi (ranked 3398 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beytullah Olgertpeposhi (ranked 3161 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Giovinazzi
vs
Olgertpeposhi

185 cm
25
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marchiano Giovinazzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Beytullah Olgertpeposhi!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giovinazzi goes for a double leg but Olgertpeposhi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Olgertpeposhi continues to drive forward.
Horrible takedown attempt by Giovinazzi or perhaps it was just good defense by Olgertpeposhi, which made it look bad.

Olgertpeposhi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Olgertpeposhi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Giovinazzi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Olgertpeposhi landing with the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Olgertpeposhi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giovinazzi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Olgertpeposhi stopping the sweep attempt from Giovinazzi.
Giovinazzi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Olgertpeposhi content to stall in guard here.
Giovinazzi throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovinazzi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Olgertpeposhi preventing the sweep.
Olgertpeposhi with a nice head shot there.
Olgertpeposhi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Olgertpeposhi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Giovinazzi keeping moving, preventing Olgertpeposhi from controlling successfully.
Giovinazzi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Olgertpeposhi content to stall in guard here.
Giovinazzi throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Olgertpeposhi preventing the sweep.
Giovinazzi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Olgertpeposhi manages to get himself to full guard.

Olgertpeposhi is looking to stand up but Giovinazzi isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Olgertpeposhi pulls Giovinazzi in close to his closed guard and prevents Giovinazzi from doing any damage or advancing position.

Giovinazzi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Giovinazzi stopping the sweep attempt from Olgertpeposhi.

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

Giovinazzi drops back looking for a leg! Olgertpeposhi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Olgertpeposhi manages to kick Giovinazzi off! Giovinazzi jumps back into Olgertpeposhi's guard.
Giovinazzi 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.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovinazzi advances to half guard.

Giovinazzi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Olgertpeposhi tries to get to full guard but Giovinazzi has control of the leg.

Giovinazzi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Giovinazzi seems to be looking for submissions.
Olgertpeposhi is looking to control Giovinazzi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Olgertpeposhi avoid being mounted?
Olgertpeposhi wants to get back to full guard.

Giovinazzi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Olgertpeposhi trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olgertpeposhi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Giovinazzi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Olgertpeposhi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Giovinazzi.

Giovinazzi is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Giovinazzi seems to be looking for submissions.
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 Marchiano Giovinazzi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Olgertpeposhi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Giovinazzi sprawls well initially but Olgertpeposhi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Olgertpeposhi is taking a breather. Giovinazzi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Giovinazzi missing with punches from the bottom.
Olgertpeposhi wants to free his trapped foot but Giovinazzi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Giovinazzi punching from the bottom.
Olgertpeposhi is nestled in close to Giovinazzi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Giovinazzi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Giovinazzi punching from the bottom.
Beytullah Olgertpeposhi has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Olgertpeposhi wants to pass to mount but Giovinazzi is defending the position.
Giovinazzi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Olgertpeposhi content to control rather than advance.
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. Olgertpeposhi connects with a nice short shot to Giovinazzi's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giovinazzi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Giovinazzi is not content to let Olgertpeposhi control the position.
Giovinazzi regains full guard. Nicely done.

Olgertpeposhi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Giovinazzi darts in looking for a takedown but Olgertpeposhi gets double underhooks and turns Giovinazzi into the cage.
Giovinazzi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Giovinazzi tries for a takedown but Olgertpeposhi circles away easily

and Olgertpeposhi moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marchiano Giovinazzi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Olgertpeposhi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Olgertpeposhi has closed the distance and engaged Giovinazzi in a clinch.
Olgertpeposhi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Giovinazzi walks away with a smile on his face. Olgertpeposhi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Giovinazzi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Olgertpeposhi sprawls well. Olgertpeposhi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Giovinazzi gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovinazzi has a takedown stuffed.

Olgertpeposhi darts in and clinches Giovinazzi up against the cage.

Olgertpeposhi successfully pulls guard.

Olgertpeposhi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Olgertpeposhi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Giovinazzi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Giovinazzi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Giovinazzi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Giovinazzi 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.

Giovinazzi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Giovinazzi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Olgertpeposhi is adopting a defensive guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Olgertpeposhi can do anything to dispel that myth.

Giovinazzi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Giovinazzi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Giovinazzi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Olgertpeposhi wants to sweep but no luck.

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.

Giovinazzi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Olgertpeposhi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Olgertpeposhi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Olgertpeposhi!

Giovinazzi throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Giovinazzi is not content to let Olgertpeposhi control the position.
Olgertpeposhi just content to control the position.
Giovinazzi is looking for a sweep.
Giovinazzi throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Olgertpeposhi tries to advance to mount but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Giovinazzi is looking to reverse the position.
Giovinazzi throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Giovinazzi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Olgertpeposhi's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beytullah Olgertpeposhi 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. This is the final round!

Olgertpeposhi slaps away a takedown attempt from Giovinazzi, before circling back to the center of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Giovinazzi enables Olgertpeposhi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Giovinazzi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Giovinazzi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Olgertpeposhi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Giovinazzi throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Olgertpeposhi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Giovinazzi tries to strike from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Olgertpeposhi scoring with some ground and pound.
Giovinazzi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Giovinazzi throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Olgertpeposhi wants to control from the top but Giovinazzi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olgertpeposhi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Olgertpeposhi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Giovinazzi punching from the bottom.
Giovinazzi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Giovinazzi prevents Olgertpeposhi from getting back to his feet.

Olgertpeposhi is looking for a triangle but Giovinazzi pushes his legs off easily.
Giovinazzi looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Giovinazzi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Giovinazzi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Olgertpeposhi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Olgertpeposhi looking to control.

Giovinazzi 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.
Giovinazzi pushing down on Olgertpeposhi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olgertpeposhi tries to roll over but Giovinazzi keeps him under control.

Giovinazzi is working for a kimura but Olgertpeposhi is defending it quite comfortably.

Giovinazzi is looking for a kimura but Olgertpeposhi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Giovinazzi to get the leverage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Giovinazzi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Olgertpeposhi is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Giovinazzi is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Olgertpeposhi is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marchiano Giovinazzi!