PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Verginelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Oliveto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabricio Oliveto told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Verginelli
vs
Oliveto

184 cm
20
189 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

190 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Verginelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabricio Oliveto!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verginelli moves out of range as Oliveto throws a body kick.
Oliveto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Verginelli.
Nice combo by Oliveto! Oh, that's hurt him - Verginelli falls to the canvas and Oliveto follows him into side control.

It looks like Mike Verginelli has been cut.
Oliveto tries to stand but Verginelli is controlling his head.
Verginelli manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Oliveto wants to get back to full guard.

Verginelli is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Oliveto is just riding it out for now. Verginelli eventually gives up the hold.
Verginelli prevents Oliveto from standing back up.
Oliveto landing rabbit punches to the side of Verginelli's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

Verginelli is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Oliveto has managed to free his arm - good work.
Verginelli is breathing heavily.
Verginelli prevents Oliveto from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verginelli seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Oliveto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Oliveto tries to roll over but Verginelli keeps him under control.
Oliveto is trying to stand back up but Verginelli is controlling him

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Verginelli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Oliveto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Verginelli walks forward, straight into a front kick from Oliveto.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Verginelli crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Oliveto - the referee stops the clock and Verginelli gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Oliveto. Verginelli manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A solid body kick from Oliveto.
Oliveto throws the kick towards the body but Verginelli avoids it.
A punch combination from Oliveto misses.
Verginelli lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Verginelli.
Oliveto tries to bum rush Verginelli with a series of wild strikes but Verginelli uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Verginelli throws a right and a left that Oliveto avoids nicely.
Oliveto tries to bum rush Verginelli with a series of wild strikes but Verginelli uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oliveto tries to land a front kick but Verginelli steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Verginelli lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Verginelli.
Verginelli is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oliveto throws a series of punches but Verginelli avoids them all with ease.
Verginelli tries to bum rush Oliveto with a series of wild strikes but Oliveto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Oliveto misses with a two punch combination.
Verginelli goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Oliveto lets loose with a powerful body kick. Verginelli will feel that in the morning.
Verginelli checks a leg kick.
Verginelli sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Oliveto. That's going to slow Verginelli down.
Oliveto motions for Verginelli to come forward. Oliveto throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Verginelli moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Oliveto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Verginelli takes a step back to recover.
Oliveto fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verginelli throws a series of punches but Oliveto moves out of range.
Oliveto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Verginelli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oliveto misses with an attempted mid kick.
Oliveto scoring well with a low kick there.
Oliveto gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Verginelli throws a right and a left that both miss.
Verginelli will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Oliveto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Verginelli misses with a double jab
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Oliveto counters with a nice leg kick.
Oliveto misses with a few strikes there.
Oliveto throws out a loose jab but Verginelli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Verginelli scores with a nice body kick.
No joy there for Oliveto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Oliveto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Verginelli throws a series of punches but Oliveto moves out of range.
Fabricio Oliveto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oliveto throws a right and a left that Verginelli avoids nicely.
Verginelli misses with a series of wild punches.

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.
Verginelli shoots and misses
and Oliveto counters with a stiff right hand.
Verginelli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Oliveto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Oliveto throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Verginelli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Oliveto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verginelli counters with a three punch combo that has Oliveto backing up. Oliveto nods at Verginelli to acknowledge the strikes.
Oliveto throws a lazy right hand but Verginelli sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Oliveto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Verginelli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Oliveto.
Oliveto throws the kick towards the body but Verginelli avoids it.
Oliveto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Oliveto tries to land a front kick but Verginelli steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
No joy there for Oliveto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Oliveto misses with a wild combination.
Oliveto looks to land a combination but Verginelli avoids it well.
Oliveto slips a jab and a cross from Verginelli.
Oliveto looks to land a body kick but Verginelli moved away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Oliveto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Verginelli's cut.
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.

Verginelli checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Oliveto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A lazy body kick from Verginelli
and Oliveto makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Verginelli really felt that one!
Verginelli takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Oliveto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Verginelli throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Oliveto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Oliveto dodges the punch combination from Verginelli.
Verginelli slips a jab and a cross from Oliveto.
Oliveto looks to land a left hand but Verginelli moved out of range nicely.
Oliveto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Oliveto walks into a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliveto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Verginelli misses with the combination.
Verginelli blocks the body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oliveto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Verginelli counters with a one-two to the body.
Verginelli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Oliveto circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Verginelli counters with a nice uppercut.
Oliveto throws a head kick but Verginelli moves out of range.
Oliveto lands a jab-cross combination.
Verginelli showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Oliveto.
Verginelli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Oliveto looks to land a combination but Verginelli avoids it well.
Oliveto scores with a three punch combo!
Verginelli falls off balance throwing a combination
and Oliveto counters with a left to the body.
Oliveto misses with a double jab

and Verginelli counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Oliveto punching from the bottom.
Verginelli tries to pass to full mount but Oliveto defends it.
Verginelli is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Oliveto wants to hold on but Verginelli pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Verginelli with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Verginelli stands up from mount. Strange move.
Verginelli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Oliveto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Verginelli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Verginelli shoots in for a double leg but Oliveto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Oliveto throws a right and a left that Verginelli avoids nicely.
Oliveto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Verginelli ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Verginelli shoots in for a double leg but Oliveto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Verginelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Verginelli tries to clinch up
and Oliveto counters with a one-two to the body.
Verginelli fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Oliveto is out of range.
Oliveto throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verginelli swinging wilding here.
Verginelli throws a nice inside leg kick.
Oliveto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Verginelli takes a step back to recover.
Oliveto misses with a few strikes there.
Oliveto misses the jab.
Verginelli avoids the head kick by Oliveto.
Oliveto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Verginelli feints and then cracks Oliveto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Oliveto down.
Oliveto looks to score with a jab to the body but Verginelli is just out of range.
Oliveto throws a combination. Verginelli tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Verginelli lands a with a good body shot.
Oliveto throws a push kick but Verginelli slaps the foot to one side.
Verginelli looks to land a body kick but Oliveto moved away.
Verginelli moves out of range as Oliveto throws a body kick.
Verginelli pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Verginelli ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Verginelli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oliveto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oliveto slips a jab and a cross from Verginelli.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Oliveto.
Verginelli moves out of range of the body kick from Oliveto.
Some wild striking there from Oliveto.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Oliveto.
Verginelli throws a series of strikes that have Oliveto backpedaling.
Oliveto goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Verginelli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fabricio Oliveto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Verginelli throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Oliveto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Oliveto throws a low kick, looking for Verginelli's leg but Verginelli calmly moves out of range.
Verginelli misses with a takedown attempt - Oliveto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Oliveto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verginelli makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Verginelli blocks a head kick by Oliveto.

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

Verginelli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Oliveto defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Verginelli dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Verginelli's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Oliveto misses with the combination.
Oliveto misses with a straight right.
Verginelli works over Oliveto's head and body with a nice combination.
Verginelli lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Verginelli throws a combination. Oliveto tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Oliveto misses with a head kick.
Verginelli wants to clinch.
Oliveto misses with a double jab
and Verginelli counters with a left and a right that stings Oliveto.
Verginelli throws a left and a right that both miss
and Oliveto makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Verginelli really felt that one!
Oliveto takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Verginelli scores with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Verginelli.
Oliveto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Verginelli is working the combinations to good effect here.
Oliveto thows a body kick. Verginelli tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Verginelli tries to clinch there but Oliveto circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verginelli counters with a nice body kick.
Verginelli throws a combination. Oliveto tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
No joy there for Verginelli, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Oliveto looks to throw a body kick
and Verginelli counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Oliveto looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Oliveto misses with a few strikes there.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Oliveto.
Verginelli shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Oliveto as he avoids it easily.
Oliveto scores with a three punch combo!
Oliveto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Verginelli counters with a series of strikes. Oliveto will be more careful next time no doubt.
No joy there for Verginelli, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Oliveto keeps the fight on the outside.
Oliveto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verginelli counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Oliveto tries to bum rush Verginelli with a series of wild strikes but Verginelli uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Oliveto is looking to land body kicks.
Verginelli connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Oliveto momentarily.
Oliveto dodges the punch combination from Verginelli.
Oliveto misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Oliveto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Verginelli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Verginelli fails to land with a series of punches.
Oliveto thows a body kick. Verginelli tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Oliveto misses with a body kick.
Oliveto throws out a powerful jab.
Verginelli wants to clinch but Oliveto slips to the side
and Oliveto counters with a one-two to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Verginelli.
Oliveto scores with a kick to the midsection.
Verginelli misses with a double jab.
Verginelli looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oliveto is fending him off so far but Verginelli persists. Nope, Oliveto circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Verginelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oliveto misses with a double jab

and Verginelli counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Verginelli 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.
Verginelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Oliveto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveto is trying to control the position but Verginelli postures up.
Verginelli pushes down on Oliveto's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Verginelli wants to work for an arm triangle but Oliveto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Oliveto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Oliveto is trying to stand up here but Verginelli is controlling him well.

Oliveto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Verginelli is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Oliveto is just riding it out for now. Verginelli eventually gives up the hold.
Oliveto wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Oliveto looks like he's trying to stand up.
Verginelli is looking to take a break and control but Oliveto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Verginelli seems to be looking for submissions.
Oliveto wants to control but Verginelli is keeping busy.
Verginelli seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Oliveto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Verginelli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Oliveto defends it well.
Verginelli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oliveto keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Oliveto's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Oliveto duly obliges.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Verginelli showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Verginelli has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Verginelli!