PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arron Monroe (ranked 7137 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Giordano (ranked 5393 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.

Monroe
vs
Giordano

199 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Arron Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mario Giordano!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Giordano closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Giordano controls the position.
Giordano tries to stand but Monroe is controlling his head.
Monroe is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Giordano has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Giordano controlling the position.
Giordano wants to control but Monroe is keeping him busy.
Giordano wants to stand but Monroe is controlling his arm.
Giordano is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Monroe's shoulder. That is not cool.
Giordano working away.
Giordano trying to control the position but Monroe is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe is trying to get back to half guard.
Monroe tries to escape but Giordano is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giordano working away.
Monroe is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Giordano asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Monroe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Giordano wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Monroe, who protects the arm well.
Giordano controls the position.
Monroe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Giordano wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Giordano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Monroe keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Monroe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Giordano is looking to take a break and control but Monroe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Giordano tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Giordano has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giordano tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Giordano 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.

Giordano wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Monroe, who protects the arm well.
Monroe wants to control but Giordano postures up.
Monroe wants to get back to his feet but Giordano drags him back down.
Giordano tries to stand but Monroe is controlling his head.
Giordano tries to move to mount but Monroe blocks the move with his legs.
Monroe is not content to let Giordano control the position.
Monroe is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Giordano is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giordano tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Monroe is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Monroe manages to get back to half guard.
Monroe is looking to control Giordano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Monroe avoid being mounted?
Monroe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Giordano on the ground.
Monroe works his way to full guard. Good work.
Monroe throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Monroe working for submissions but it's allowed Giordano to get to half guard.
Giordano is looking to take a break and control but Monroe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Monroe is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monroe actively working from the bottom here.
Monroe is breathing heavily.

Giordano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Monroe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Giordano.
Well, if Giordano is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Monroe wants to get back to full guard but Giordano has mounted him!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Giordano controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Giordano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Giordano 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.

Giordano looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mario Giordano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Giordano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Giordano wants to control from the top but Monroe keeps moving.
Monroe wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Giordano is now in half guard.
Giordano tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Monroe.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monroe throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Giordano passes to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Giordano gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Giordano is looking to clinch.
Giordano is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Giordano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giordano is looking to chop away at Monroe's legs.
Giordano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Giordano drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Monroe wants to control but Giordano postures up.
Monroe manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Giordano is trying to get back to full guard.
Giordano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Monroe throwing shots but Giordano is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Giordano looking for submissions off his back.
Giordano is breathing heavily.
Giordano wants to control but Monroe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Monroe will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Giordano has hold of Monroe's hands but Monroe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Giordano wants to control but Monroe is keeping busy.
Giordano is pressing down on Monroe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giordano wants to improve his position but instead Monroe has moved into half guard.
Giordano trying to control from the bottom.
Monroe looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Giordano with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Monroe slows the pace down in half guard.
Giordano wants to control but Monroe is keeping busy.
Giordano pushes Monroe off looking to stand but Monroe dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Monroe lands a nice short elbow.
Monroe prevents Giordano from improving his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Giordano leaves Monroe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Giordano closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Giordano stops Monroe from getting back to his feet.

Giordano wants to work for an arm triangle but Monroe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Monroe is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Giordano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Monroe closes the distance and clinches.
Giordano tries to pull guard but Monroe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Monroe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Giordano just stands there and leans against the cage.
Monroe can't get the takedown.
Giordano goes for a takedown attempt but Monroe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Giordano moves into range and clinches up with Monroe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giordano goes for a takedown attempt but Monroe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Arron Monroe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Giordano.
Giordano fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Monroe has managed to clinch.
Giordano is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Monroe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Giordano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Monroe.

Giordano breaks from the clinch.

Monroe moves into the clinch.
Monroe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Giordano to keep the fight standing.
Giordano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Giordano has Monroe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Monroe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Giordano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giordano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Giordano will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Monroe up against the cage.

Monroe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Monroe.
Giordano lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Monroe tries for a takedown but Giordano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Monroe gets a double leg takedown into Giordano's guard.
Giordano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Giordano looking for a sweep. Not yet Giordano, not yet.
Monroe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giordano wants to stand but Monroe is controlling the position.

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

Giordano has his foot on Monroe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Monroe works his way back into a safe position though.
Monroe prevents Giordano from getting back to his feet.
Giordano working a defensive guard but Monroe passes into half guard.
Giordano moves into full guard.
Giordano controls Monroe momentarily but Monroe frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Giordano will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Giordano is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Giordano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Monroe's waist but Monroe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Giordano off to one side.

Giordano shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Monroe is trying to defend but Giordano finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monroe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Arron Monroe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mario Giordano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Monroe misses with some strikes from the bottom.

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 Arron Monroe.
I think Giordano 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Giordano!