PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Mandella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonard Marucio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mandella
vs
Marucio

168 cm
25
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
132 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chuck Mandella!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonard Marucio!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marucio tries to bum rush Mandella with a series of wild strikes but Mandella uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marucio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marucio tries a head kick but it misses.
Marucio throws a head kick but Mandella moves out of range.
Mandella fails with a takedown attempt.

Mandella shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marucio is trying to defend but Mandella finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mandella prevents Marucio from standing back up.
Mandella working the head and body with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mandella lands a nice short elbow.
Mandella wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marucio keeps working.

Mandella escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mandella showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marucio.
Marucio tries to clinch up but Mandella circles away and keeps his distance.
Marucio tries to bum rush Mandella with a series of wild strikes but Mandella uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marucio tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Marucio misses.

Mandella looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Marucio!

Mandella stands up.
Marucio misses with a kick to the body.
Mandella shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marucio as he avoids it easily.
Mandella shoots for a takedown but Marucio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Mandella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marucio throws a right hand that Mandella ducks under and follows up with a left that Mandella also avoids with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mandella.
Leonard Marucio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mandella fails with a takedown attempt.
Mandella is breathing heavily.
A head kick from Marucio lands but Mandella takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marucio scores with a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Marucio.
Mandella defending well as Marucio loads up on a big left hand.
A right-left combo lands from Marucio.
Mandella lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mandella dodges the punch combination from Marucio.
Marucio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marucio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marucio fails to land with a series of punches.
Mandella keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mandella fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Marucio to the ground. Mandella is now in Marucio's guard.

Mandella stands and steps away. Marucio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A head kick misses from Marucio.
Mandella avoids the head kick by Marucio.
Mandella digs a good body shot into Marucio's ribs.

Mandella moves into the clinch successfully.
Marucio working hard to break the clinch.
Marucio wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mandella has him pressed against the cage.

Mandella breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mandella looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Marucio!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mandella lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Marucio is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Marucio is looking to get back to his feet here but Mandella is keeping cool and he's managed to take Marucio's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marucio looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Mandella has Marucio flattened out and is raining down punches.

Mandella is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Marucio knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Marucio for a finish.

Marucio is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Mandella off. It looks like it's working - Mandella slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Marucio displaying calm under pressure there.
Mandella misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marucio throws a right hand that misses

and Mandella counters by moving into the clinch.

Mandella gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Mandella stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Marucio to get to his feet.
Marucio misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Mandella dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mandella darts in and clinches Marucio up against the cage.
Marucio wants to get back to striking at distance but Mandella won't allow it.

Mandella breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mandella changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marucio looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marucio is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mandella has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Mandella decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mandella closes the distance and clinches up with Marucio, looking for a takedown. Mandella pushes Marucio against the cage but Marucio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mandella showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marucio.
Marucio looks to land a combination but Mandella avoids it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marucio lands with a nice combination. Mandella backs away looking to recover.
Marucio throws a head kick that misses.
Mandella looks for a takedown but Marucio sprawls well.
Marucio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Marucio. No joy for Mandella on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Mandella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mandella is defended easily by Marucio.
Chuck Mandella is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marucio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marucio tries to bum rush Mandella with a series of wild strikes but Mandella uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mandella dives in for a single leg takedown but Marucio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Marucio tries to circle away but Mandella has him pinned against the cage.
Marucio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Mandella breaks from the clinch.
Marucio moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mandella shoots in looking for a takedown but Marucio manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mandella's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Marucio both land. Nice combination.

Mandella feints and as Marucio raises his hands in defense, Mandella changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mandella gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Mandella drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mandella stops Marucio from standing up.

Mandella stands up from Marucio's guard - Mandella perhaps looking for a knockout.
Marucio throws a head kick but Mandella moves out of range.
Marucio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mandella fails with the takedown.
Marucio misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandella jabs Marucio right on the nose. Marucio blinks but takes it well.
Marucio throws a series of punches but Mandella avoids them all with ease.
Mandella dives in and grabs Marucio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marucio pushes down on Mandella's head and hops out.
Marucio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marucio scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Marucio misses with a few strikes there.
Mandella fails to land the takedown.
Marucio misses with a double jab.
Marucio scores with a one two! Mandella had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Marucio.
A punch combination from Marucio misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mandella gets the takedown into side control.
Mandella lands a decent elbow from side control.
You can see the frustration on Marucio's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mandella stands up and we're back to a striking position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marucio looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mandella connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Marucio throws a nice looking combination but Mandella bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mandella shoots in for a takedown but Marucio shows good takedown defense.
Marucio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marucio tries to bum rush Mandella with a series of wild strikes but Mandella uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mandella shoots for a double leg takedown but Marucio sprawls well. He's pushed Mandella's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Mandella dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mandella fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Marucio does no damage.
Marucio tries to bum rush Mandella with a series of wild strikes but Mandella uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marucio takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marucio misses with a two punch combination.
Marucio lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Marucio.
Marucio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marucio is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mandella.
Mandella ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marucio moves away.
Mandella throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marucio.
Mandella dives in and grabs Marucio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marucio pushes down on Mandella's head and hops out.
Marucio scores with a head kick.
No joy there for Marucio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marucio is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marucio looks to land a combination but Mandella avoids it well.
Nice takedown defense from Marucio. No joy for Mandella on that attempt.
Mandella avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mandella scores with a one two! Marucio had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Leonard Marucio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marucio lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Marucio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mandella counters by clinching up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marucio.

Mandella's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marucio misses with a head kick.

Mandella pushes Marucio up against the cage in a clinch.
Marucio wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mandella has him pressed against the cage.

Mandella escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marucio misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marucio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mandella.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Mandella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mandella avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marucio throws a nice looking combination but Mandella bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mandella looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marucio misses with a double jab.
Mandella looks to land a combination but Marucio avoids it well.
Marucio misses with a double jab.
Marucio takes one to the chin there.
Marucio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marucio tries to clinch but Mandella moves away
and Mandella counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marucio misses with a double jab.
Marucio keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mandella throws a right and a left that Marucio avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Marucio misses.
Mandella misses with a series of wild punches.
Marucio misses with a few strikes there.
Mandella tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Marucio defends well and Mandella ends up having to push Marucio into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Marucio is trying to break free.

Mandella breaks the clinch.
Mandella fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Marucio as he connects with a hook.
Leonard Marucio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marucio connects with a high kick.
Marucio throws a sloppy head kick and Mandella moves out of range easily.
Mandella misses with a wild combination.
Marucio moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mandella avoids the head kick by Marucio.
Marucio misses with a series of wild punches.
Marucio leaves Mandella with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Chuck Mandella is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mandella dodges the punch combination from Marucio.
Leonard Marucio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mandella is defended easily by Marucio.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonard Marucio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mandella has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Mandella!