PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnson Goodluck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Marella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marella has chosen "La Vittoria è Mia (Victory Is Mine)" by Jim Johnston as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Goodluck
vs
Marella

170 cm
21
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

166 cm
22
165 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johnson Goodluck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Giovanni Marella!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goodluck tries to close the distance and clinch but Marella swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Goodluck gets tackled into the cage by Marella. Marella maintains the clinch.
Goodluck drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Goodluck is trying to maintain a safe position but Marella gets an underhook and turns Goodluck into the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Goodluck.
Goodluck has been working on his balance at Storm Mtn Fighting Studios, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Marella.
Marella should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Marella wants a takedown but no success here.
Goodluck pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodluck is trying to stall.
Goodluck is looking for a takedown.

Marella breaks the clinch.
Goodluck shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marella defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnson Goodluck. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goodluck tries to clinch up

and Marella counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Goodluck!
Goodluck wants to get back to his feet but Marella is dominant here and he's now got Goodluck's back!
Goodluck trying to control the position but Marella manages to sink in the hooks.
Marella connects with a big shot to the side of Goodluck's head.
Goodluck is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marella controlling the position well here. Goodluck rolled but Marella kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Goodluck is really stuck here.
Our spies down at at Cozad The Island inform us that Marella has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Goodluck trying to control the hands but Marella breaks the grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goodluck breaks Marella's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marella keeping moving, preventing Goodluck from controlling successfully.
Marella keeping full guard, as Goodluck tries to pass.
Goodluck wants to control from the top but Marella keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goodluck is really struggling to control Marella but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Marella is pulling down on Goodluck's head. It's preventing any offense from Goodluck, at least for the moment.
Goodluck tries to free his leg and advance position but Marella is retaining full guard.
Marella keeping moving, preventing Goodluck from controlling successfully.
Marella looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Goodluck scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Goodluck missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Goodluck working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Goodluck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Goodluck moves to clinch but Marella breaks away

and Marella counters with a nice double leg into side control. Goodluck won't be happy with that.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goodluck is trying to get back to half guard.
Marella working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Giovanni Marella will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marella avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Goodluck tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marella manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson Goodluck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goodluck tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marella swivels and escapes.
Marella stuffs the takedown.
Marella drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Goodluck defends it well.
Goodluck wants to clinch

and Marella counters with a shoot takedown. Goodluck fights it but they end up in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marella pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goodluck is keeping the position for now.

Goodluck had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marella defends it easily.
Goodluck is trying to control the position but Marella postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marella slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Goodluck.
Giovanni Marella has got the better of the ground game so far.
Still in half guard, Marella seems content to control.
Marella frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Marella takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marella raining down hammerfists from mount.
Goodluck is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goodluck gets back to half guard.
Marella has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marella seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Marella prevents Goodluck from improving his position.

Goodluck kicks off Marella and gets to his feet.
Marella avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Goodluck works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marella scores with a leg kick.

Marella shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Marella was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Goodluck is trying to control Marella's posture but Marella avoids it.
A lull in the action here as Marella stalls from top position.
Let's hope that Marella has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Marella wants to take a breather but Goodluck manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Marella.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marella trying to control but Goodluck is working from the bottom.
Goodluck controlling Marella's posture.
Goodluck is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marella tries to stand but Goodluck is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Marella showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Marella blocks a head kick by Goodluck.

Marella looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Goodluck is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Marella dives into side control.

Marella in side control lands a decent elbow.
Goodluck is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goodluck is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Goodluck's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Goodluck is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marella taking a breather here.
Goodluck is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Marella's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Marella wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goodluck keeps working.
Goodluck wants to control but Marella is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Marella seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Marella wants to stand up but Goodluck has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Goodluck tries to get to full guard but Marella has control of the leg.
Marella wants to advance to full mount but Goodluck doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Goodluck looking for subs off his back but Marella has passed one foot through into half guard.
Goodluck moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marella wants to control from the top but Goodluck keeps moving.
Goodluck wants to sweep here but Marella controlling him for the moment.
Marella must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marella scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Goodluck wants to sweep here but Marella controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Marella on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Goodluck shoots in and bounces Marella off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Goodluck wants to control from the top but Marella keeps moving.
Marella is adopting a defensive guard.
Johnson Goodluck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marella keeping moving, preventing Goodluck from controlling successfully.
Giovanni Marella is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marella seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johnson Goodluck.
I think Marella 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovanni Marella!
Giovanni Marella thanked the fans post fight for their support.