PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santino Marella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ethan Riley 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!

Marella
vs
Riley

182 cm
33
217 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

188 cm
21
215 lbs
5 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santino Marella!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ethan Riley!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley wants to clinch.
Marella slaps away a takedown attempt from Riley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Riley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riley with a poor takedown
and Marella counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Riley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marella counters with a shoot takedown. Riley fights it but they end up in guard.
Santino Marella has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Riley.
Marella trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riley looking for a sweep. Not yet Riley, not yet.
Riley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marella. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marella wants to control from the top but Riley keeps moving.
Marella throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marella slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Marella 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.
Riley taking a bit of punishment here - Marella scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Riley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Marella cracks Riley with a big elbow.
Marella lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Marella lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Riley is looking to regain half guard here but Marella keeps moving and retains side control.
Marella working the head with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Marella tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marella wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riley keeps working.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Riley can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marella has hold of Riley's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Riley seems comfortable defending it but Marella has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Riley is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Riley is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Marella couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:10 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Santino Marella!