PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marco Natta (ranked 2202 p4p, 2821 weight class) and Zirko Merinashvili (ranked 196 p4p, 257 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Natta
vs
Merinashvili

170 cm
25
145
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
150
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marco Natta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zirko Merinashvili!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Natta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Natta tries to keep at a distance but Merinashvili has taken the fight into the clinch.
Natta has a couple of punches blocked by Merinashvili.
Merinashvili blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Merinashvili pulls guard successfully.

Merinashvili escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Natta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Natta wants to control from the top but Merinashvili keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Natta showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Merinashvili looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merinashvili keeping moving, preventing Natta from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Merinashvili working for a triangle but Natta defends it easily.
Merinashvili is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Natta trying to control the position from guard on top but Merinashvili is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Natta preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.
Merinashvili trying to keep a closed guard but Natta is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Merinashvili clinches up with Natta and pushes him back against the cage.
Merinashvili is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Natta to keep the fight standing.
Natta misses with a punch on the inside.
Natta is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Merinashvili pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Natta throws a punch but it's blocked by Merinashvili.
Merinashvili tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Natta just stands there and leans against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Natta.
Merinashvili tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Natta smiles and moves away.
Marco Natta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zirko Merinashvili.
Natta misses with a wild body shot.

Merinashvili has closed the distance and engaged Natta in a clinch.
Merinashvili is trying to pull guard but Natta turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Natta pulls guard successfully.
Natta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Natta wants to sweep here but Merinashvili controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Merinashvili works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merinashvili is thwarting Natta's attempts to control the position.
Natta is trying to control but Merinashvili passes into side control!
Natta tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Merinashvili wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Merinashvili controls the position.
Merinashvili wants to take a breather but Natta manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Merinashvili.
Merinashvili slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merinashvili wants to free his trapped foot but Natta is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Merinashvili is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Natta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Merinashvili defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merinashvili controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zirko Merinashvili will probably get the nod.
That's time! Natta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Natta misses the shot to the body.
Merinashvili fails with an attempt to clinch.
Merinashvili fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merinashvili uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Natta.
Merinashvili tries to clinch there but Natta circles away.
Merinashvili is looking to clinch.

Natta gets tackled into the cage by Merinashvili. Merinashvili maintains the clinch.
Merinashvili tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Natta tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Merinashvili tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Natta just stands there and leans against the cage.
Merinashvili prevents the takedown attempt.

Merinashvili ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Merinashvili no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Merinashvili keeping moving, preventing Natta from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merinashvili can't keep his opponent in guard - Natta advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Natta is looking to take a break and control but Merinashvili is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natta is really struggling to control Merinashvili but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merinashvili wants to improve his position but Natta is controlling well.

Natta is trying to work for a kimura but Merinashvili is defending well.
Merinashvili is trying to maintain the position but Natta is very close to passing his half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Natta's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Natta sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Natta passes to side control.

Natta tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Natta has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Merinashvili is being controlled here.
Natta trying to control the action but Merinashvili is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natta taking a breather here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Merinashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Natta paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Natta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merinashvili ducks under a wild hook from Natta.
Merinashvili ducks under a wild hook from Natta.
Merinashvili tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Natta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Merinashvili moves in looking to clinch but Natta pushes him off.
Merinashvili moves in looking to clinch but Natta pushes him off.
Natta misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merinashvili wants to clinch.

Merinashvili closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Natta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Natta jumps guard.
Natta wants to sweep but no luck.
Natta trying to control the position here.
Marco Natta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Merinashvili looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Natta can't keep his opponent in guard - Merinashvili advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Natta dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Merinashvili blocks a jab.
Natta looks for a takedown but Merinashvili sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Natta is defended easily by Merinashvili.
Natta shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Merinashvili as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Natta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merinashvili wants to clinch.
Natta missing with a left hand there. Merinashvili was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Natta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Merinashvili was well out of range. Poor timing from Natta.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Natta swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Merinashvili ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Merinashvili no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Natta looking to sit in guard and control but Merinashvili gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merinashvili stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Natta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Natta keeping moving, preventing Merinashvili from controlling successfully.
Merinashvili tries to free his leg and advance position but Natta is retaining full guard.
Merinashvili trying to control the position from guard on top but Natta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Natta looking for a sweep. Not yet Natta, not yet.

Merinashvili avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Merinashvili content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Natta has locked up a guillotine! Natta's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Merinashvili is holding on here and Natta must be using up a lot of energy. Merinashvili has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Natta gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Marco Natta!
Marco Natta retains his featherweight title!
A relieved looking Marco Natta thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.