PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between William Wallace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rony Mariano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mariano has chosen So Far Away as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wallace
vs
Mariano

168 cm
26
152 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

$10

5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, William Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rony Mariano !
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Columbo Gatti and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wallace looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mariano !
Mariano tries to reverse the position but Wallace maintains control.
Mariano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Wallace looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Wallace looking for a guillotine from mount but Mariano is having none of it.
Mariano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wallace unloads with some shots from mount but Mariano bucks and avoids them well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mariano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wallace fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Mariano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Wallace looking for a guillotine from mount but Mariano is having none of it.
Mariano is desperately trying to improve his position but Wallace has a good base and remains in mount.
Mariano wants to control but Wallace is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Mariano is trying desperately to improve position.
Mariano is in a horrible position here. Wallace smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Wallace jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mariano manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Wallace is chipping away with strikes.
Wallace cracks Mariano with a big elbow.
Mariano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mariano is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Mariano manages to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wallace throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Wallace is working for a kimura but Mariano is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariano manages to get to full guard.
Wallace postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Mariano looking for a guillotine here but Wallace defends easily.
Mariano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wallace manages to get himself to full guard.
Mariano trying to control but Wallace is working from the bottom.

Wallace has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mariano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mariano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wallace swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wallace looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wallace keeping full guard, as Mariano tries to pass.

Wallace is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mariano is aware though and is defending well.
Mariano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Wallace's guard.
Wallace is looking to improve his position.
Mariano frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wallace tries to reverse the position but Mariano maintains control.
Mariano trying to control but Wallace is having none of it.
Wallace is looking to get to half guard.
Wallace throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace is looking to improve his position but Mariano isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mariano looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Mariano looking for a guillotine from mount but Wallace is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wallace is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mariano lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Wallace throwing hammer fists to the chest of Mariano . What's that going to do exactly?
Mariano trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Mariano working for a guillotine from mount but Wallace is in no mood to give up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wallace really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
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 William Wallace will probably get the nod.
That's time! Wallace's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wallace shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wallace was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mariano is trying to escape the mount.
Wallace knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mariano on the ground.
Mariano tries to lock up and control but Wallace gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
William Wallace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wallace unloading with bombs!

Wallace is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mariano is surviving well by controlling Wallace's body position as best he can.
Mariano manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Mariano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mariano is defending against the submission attempts here by Wallace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Wallace is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mariano wants to improve his position but Wallace is controlling well.

Wallace is looking for a kimura here.

Wallace is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mariano is just riding it out for now. Wallace eventually gives up the hold.

Mariano is defending against the submission attempts here by Wallace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariano is looking to escape.
Mariano makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mariano .
Wallace preventing the sweep.

Mariano working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wallace doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wallace manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wallace trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wallace throwing strikes but missing.
Mariano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariano is trying to control. Wallace wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Wallace looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wallace has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mariano is working away from the top position though.
Mariano passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Wallace!

Mariano has control of Wallace's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Wallace regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Wallace is trying desperately to improve position.

Mariano jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Wallace manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Wallace is refusing to be controlled, as Mariano sits in half guard.
Mariano frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wallace tries to reverse the position but Mariano maintains control.

Mariano has control of Wallace's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Wallace regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Mariano is breathing heavily.
Wallace is looking to improve his position but Mariano isn't that keen on the idea.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mariano lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Wallace hang on?
Wallace slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rony Mariano will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mariano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mariano fails with the takedown

and Wallace counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mariano 's guard now.

Wallace 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.
Wallace wants to pass the guard but Mariano is keeping the position.

Mariano is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

Mariano had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wallace defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariano keeping full guard, as Wallace tries to pass.

Mariano is looking for a triangle here but Wallace uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mariano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wallace cracks Mariano with a big elbow.
Mariano is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Wallace off and has taken his back!

Wallace is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Wallace trying to control but not successfully.
Mariano doesn't have the hooks in and Wallace manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mariano manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wallace is trying to escape the mount.
Wallace throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wallace tries to lock up and control but Mariano gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wallace bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mariano manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wallace can't escape the position.
Mariano wants to control the pace but Wallace is squirming around nicely.
Wallace tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariano has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Wallace's face.

Mariano looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Wallace manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mariano wants to free his trapped foot but Wallace is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Wallace actively working from the bottom here.
Wallace is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wallace is positioning himself well to prevent Mariano advancing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mariano uses his free foot to push down on Wallace's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Wallace.
Mariano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Wallace is working to get back to half guard.

Mariano is working for a guillotine from mount but Wallace frees his head quite easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mariano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You get the feeling that Wallace really doesn't like being in this position too much.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rony Mariano .
I think Mariano has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rony Mariano !
An out of breath Rony Mariano thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.