PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donatello Giovanni (ranked 24586 p4p, 425 weight class) and Alex Hadley (ranked 24281 p4p, 429 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Giovanni
vs
Hadley

187 cm
26
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donatello Giovanni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Hadley!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hadley misses with a straight right.
A punch lands to the side of Hadley 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice cross by Giovanni.
Giovanni lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Giovanni gets caught napping as Hadley dives in and scores a takedown. Giovanni manages to retain guard.
Hadley stops Giovanni from standing up.

Hadley postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Giovanni is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hadley, into his guard.

Hadley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hadley wants to stand but Giovanni is controlling the position.
Hadley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hadley is keen to just control but Giovanni is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hadley is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Giovanni is just riding it out for now. Hadley eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hadley not doing much here.
Hadley is looking to take a break and control but Giovanni is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hadley is working for a kimura but Giovanni is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Giovanni has hold of Hadley's hands but Hadley slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hadley working Giovanni over with strikes.
Hadley uses his free foot to push down on Giovanni's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Giovanni.
Giovanni bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Giovanni got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hadley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Giovanni has managed to get both his arms back between Hadley's legs - danger averted.
Hadley wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadley throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hadley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Giovanni knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hadley on the ground.
Hadley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Giovanni scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hadley has momentary wrist control but Giovanni slips an elbow through the middle.
Giovanni is looking to stand up but Hadley won't let him.

Hadley is working an open guard so Giovanni takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hadley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Giovanni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Donatello Giovanni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hadley throws a wild body kick that Giovanni sees coming a mile off.
A counter left hand to the body from Giovanni misses its target.
Giovanni connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hadley. Hadley circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Hadley is rocked!

It looks like Alex Hadley has been cut.

Giovanni gets the takedown into side control.

Hadley sneaks out the side door and pushes Giovanni away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Hadley is still on wobbly legs! Can Giovanni finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Giovanni keeps the fight on the outside.
Hadley seems to have recovered his senses.

Giovanni looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni postures up and lands a big shot to Hadley's brow.
Giovanni with a flurry of punches that miss.
Giovanni makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hadley controls Giovanni momentarily but Giovanni frees himself.
Hadley looking for a sweep. Not yet Hadley, not yet.
Giovanni throws a strike but Hadley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Giovanni wants to stand and escape but Hadley is having none of it.
Giovanni really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hadley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hadley scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Donatello Giovanni will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alex Hadley's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hadley on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Jab by Giovanni.
Giovanni throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Giovanni gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hadley to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Giovanni striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Giovanni is looking to stand back up but Hadley counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Giovanni.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giovanni slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Alex Hadley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hadley lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hadley works over Giovanni with some ground and pound from guard.
Giovanni looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hadley works over Giovanni with some ground and pound from guard.

Giovanni wriggles free and stands up.
Hadley misses with a body kick.

Giovanni gets a clinch.

Hadley drags the fight down to the ground.
Giovanni wanted to stand there but Hadley had control of the position.
Hadley trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Giovanni avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Giovanni throws a strike but Hadley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hadley stops Giovanni from standing up.
Hadley landing some decent shots from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hadley is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Giovanni looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hadley is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Giovanni working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hadley doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hadley manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hadley content to stall in guard here.
Giovanni wants to stand up but Hadley is controlling him.
Giovanni looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.

Hadley gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nice uppercut lands for Giovanni. That snapped Hadley's head back.

Hadley drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Giovanni is looking for a sweep.
Hadley landing strikes.
Giovanni tries to buck Hadley off but Hadley is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Donatello Giovanni will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alex Hadley's cut.
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!

Hadley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Giovanni.
Donk. Giovanni catches Hadley right on the button with a cross.

Giovanni gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hadley passes Giovanni's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hadley takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hadley is trying to control the action in half guard but Giovanni is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hadley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Giovanni is trying to stand up here but Hadley is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hadley is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Giovanni has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hadley scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Giovanni tries to kick Hadley off but Hadley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hadley trying to control from half guard but Giovanni is working away.
Hadley is looking to stall here but Giovanni recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Hadley from controlling successfully.
Giovanni on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Giovanni tries to get out of the position.
Hadley lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Giovanni keeping moving, preventing Hadley from controlling successfully.
Hadley is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Giovanni fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hadley looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hadley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Alex Hadley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hadley throws a head kick that misses
letting Giovanni counter with a right hand.

Hadley closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Giovanni's guard.

Giovanni scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hadley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Giovanni scores with a takedown into Hadley's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hadley has momentary wrist control but Giovanni slips an elbow through the middle.
Giovanni stands up over Hadley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hadley throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Giovanni would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hadley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hadley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Giovanni stands up over Hadley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Giovanni wants to stand but Hadley is controlling his posture from full guard.
Giovanni has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Giovanni lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hadley pulls Giovanni in close to prevent any damage.

Giovanni stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Donatello Giovanni is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Donatello Giovanni is winning the standup battle so far.
Hadley takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Giovanni throws a one two combo.
Alex Hadley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Giovanni works the jab nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donatello Giovanni showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Giovanni, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Donatello Giovanni!
A relieved looking Donatello Giovanni thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.