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). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lister
vs
Marella

185 cm
27
197 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
194 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dean Lister!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Santino Marella!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marella wants to clinch up but Lister keeps it at a distance.
Marella misses with a head kick.
Marella shoots in for a takedown but Lister shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Lister drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Marella tries to bench press Lister off him but Lister keeps the position.
Marella is trying to buck Lister off.

Lister stands up and beckons Marella to his feet.
Lister pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Marella shoots in and bounces Lister off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lister is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lister 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.

Lister has his foot on Marella's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marella works his way back into a safe position though.

Lister uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Lister bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lister shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marella pinned against the cage. Marella gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lister fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marella shoots in but Lister avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Lister rushes Marella and presses him up against the cage.
Lister tries to break the clinch but Marella is controlling the position.

Lister escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marella leaves Lister with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Lister. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marella closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lister circles away.
A head kick misses from Marella.
Marella takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marella with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Lister manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Marella on his heels. He'll look to pass Marella's guard now, I'm sure.
Marella wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lister working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lister won't allow Marella to sweep him here.

Marella pushes Lister off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Lister wants to clinch.
Marella shoots in looking for a takedown but Lister manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Marella's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Marella looks winded!
Lister dives in and grabs Marella's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marella pushes down on Lister's head and hops out.
Marella swats away the attempt to clinch by Lister.
Marella misses with a takedown attempt - Lister sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lister closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marella circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marella.

Lister gets a takedown into half guard.
Lister performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marella tries to kick Lister off but Lister keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
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.
Lister not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Lister dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lister fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Marella changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lister tries to avoid it but Marella manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lister to the ground. Lister escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dean Lister is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lister jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Marella scores with a takedown into Lister's guard.

Lister pushes Marella off and gets back to his feet.
Lister tries for a takedown but Marella circles away easily

and Marella counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lister is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marella really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lister. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lister tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lister is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marella must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marella trying to control the position from guard on top but Lister is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
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.
Marella fails to land the takedown.
Lister misses with a head kick.
Lister is looking to chop away at Marella's legs.
Marella shoots in for a takedown but Lister shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lister bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Marella's head.
Marella leaves Lister with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marella stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marella wants it to stay on the feet.

Marella closes the distance and clinches.
Lister tries to stall but Marella uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lister tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lister jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Marella walks away with a smile on his face. Lister gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lister shoots in for a takedown but Marella shows good takedown defense.
Marella looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Lister gets tackled into the cage by Marella. Marella maintains the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marella is trying to maintain a safe position but Lister gets an underhook and turns Marella into the cage.
Marella has Lister pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lister manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lister gets through Marella's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lister stalling in the clinch but Marella improves position.
Lister drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lister avoiding damage as Marella throws knees to the body.
Marella drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short uppercut from Marella.
Lister trying to stall but Marella improves his position.
Lister is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lister as Marella tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marella can't break the clinch.
Lister jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Marella walks away with a smile on his face. Lister gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick misses from Lister.
Marella shoots for a double leg takedown but Lister sprawls well. He's pushed Marella's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Marella closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lister is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marella's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marella's back!

Lister has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Marella is in real trouble here. Lister gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Marella is tapping out! Lister wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dean Lister!
Dean Lister retains his middleweight title!