PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dean Lister (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santino Marella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lister
vs
Marella

185 cm
25
196 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dean Lister!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santino Marella!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lister drives through with a takedown into Marella's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marella working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lister.

Marella working for a triangle but Lister defends it easily.
Lister wants to control from the top but Marella keeps moving.
Marella trying to control the position here.
Marella is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marella keeping moving, preventing Lister from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lister.
Lister stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lister wants it to stay on the feet.
Lister swats away the attempt to clinch by Marella.
Lister tries to score a power double leg takedown but Marella sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lister somewhat.
Marella thuds his shin into the meat of Lister's side.
Lister looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marella is fending him off so far but Lister persists. Nope, Marella circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Lister. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marella circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marella throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lister's waist but Lister gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marella off to one side.
Lister has a takedown stuffed.
Lister throws a lazy head kick

and Marella counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Lister has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Marella clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Marella preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lister.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lister just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Marella is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Marella is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Lister.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marella preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lister.
Marella wants to control his opponent's hands but Lister gets his hands free.
Marella covering up well under a series of strikes from Lister.
Marella wants to control his opponent's hands but Lister gets his hands free.
Lister wants to control but Marella is keeping busy.
Marella is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Lister is hanging on to Marella's back as he tries to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marella just trying to survive but Lister is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Marella covering up well under a series of strikes from Lister.
Lister softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Marella is trying to break free.
Lister lands a shot to the body.
Marella covers up after that shot from Lister.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Lister's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marella trying to control but not successfully.
Marella covers up after that shot from Lister.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lister throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marella.
Dean Lister is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marella misses with a kick to the body.
Marella fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Marella or perhaps it was just good defense by Lister which made him look bad.
Marella swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lister shoots in for a takedown but Marella shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marella fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dean Lister has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santino Marella.
Lister avoids the head kick by Marella.

Lister gets the takedown into side control.
Lister is looking to take a break and control but Marella is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dean Lister overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lister has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Marella tries to lock up and control but Lister gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lister looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lister trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Marella is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lister lands with some strikes.
Lister lands with some strikes.
Marella is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lister lands a big elbow.
Lister controlling from mount.
Marella is bucking up trying to escape but Lister cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lister fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Marella working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lister is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Marella to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Marella shrugs it off.
Lister 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.
Marella tries to lock up and control but Lister gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marella is trying desperately to improve position.
Lister controlling from the full mount.
Marella just holding on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marella is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lister can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Marella is looking to escape.
Marella can't escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
BOOM! Lister connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Lister fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lister goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Marella is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Lister dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Marella moves into the clinch successfully.
Marella on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Marella changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lister fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lister shoots in but Marella avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No joy there for Lister, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marella is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lister sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Marella gets caught flat footed, as Lister shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Marella wants to sweep here but Lister controlling him for the moment.

Marella has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lister can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marella takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lister passes into half guard.
Marella is trying to control but Lister manages to pass to mount!
Lister tries to control but Marella wriggling away.
Lister working Marella over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lister in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Marella in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Lister lands with some strikes.
Marella is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lister lands a big elbow.
Lister content just to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marella can't escape the position.
Lister landing shots from mount.

Lister is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Lister or perhaps it was just good defense by Marella which made him look bad.
Lister swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lister closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marella circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Lister. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lister closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Marella dives in and scores a takedown into Lister's guard.
Marella tries to free his leg and advance position but Lister is retaining full guard.

Lister kicks Marella off and gets to his feet.
Marella scores with a three punch combo!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lister is defended easily by Marella.

Marella clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marella stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lister goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marella prevents it.
Lister wants a takedown.
Lister has had enough of the clinch but Marella keeps him there for the moment.
Lister takes a knee right on the jaw!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Marella turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Marella thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Santino Marella has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dean Lister is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marella throws an elbow but Lister slips to the side and avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Lister showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lister, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Lister!