PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marchiano Giovinazzi (ranked 5642 p4p, 487 weight class) and Akhmatbek Zholdoshev (ranked 6623 p4p, 527 weight class). Marchiano Giovinazzi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Giovinazzi
vs
Zholdoshev

185 cm
25
160 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Marchiano Giovinazzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akhmatbek Zholdoshev!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zholdoshev pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zholdoshev throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Giovinazzi stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Zholdoshev follows into mount!

Giovinazzi is rocked!

It looks like Marchiano Giovinazzi has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Giovinazzi is looking to improve his position but Zholdoshev isn't that keen on the idea.
Oh Giovinazzi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zholdoshev wants to control the pace but Giovinazzi is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Giovinazzi gets back to half guard.
Giovinazzi missing with punches from the bottom.
Giovinazzi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
It looks like Zholdoshev is going to stand back up.
Giovinazzi seems to have got his legs back now.
Giovinazzi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Zholdoshev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Giovinazzi's guard.
Giovinazzi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Giovinazzi striking off his back.
Giovinazzi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Zholdoshev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Giovinazzi's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Giovinazzi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Giovinazzi striking off his back but it's not causing Zholdoshev any problems.
Zholdoshev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Giovinazzi throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Giovinazzi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Giovinazzi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zholdoshev pushes Giovinazzi off looking to stand but Giovinazzi dives back in and keeps control.

Giovinazzi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zholdoshev wants to get back to his feet.

Giovinazzi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Giovinazzi seems to be looking for submissions.
Zholdoshev wants to get back to his feet.

Giovinazzi is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Zholdoshev is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marchiano Giovinazzi!