PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriele Altini (ranked 4387 p4p, 432 weight class) and Roberto Dimateo (ranked 24892 p4p, 545 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.

Altini
vs
Dimateo

168 cm
24
156 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gabriele Altini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roberto Dimateo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Altini gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Altini tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dimateo has Altini pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Altini manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Altini is trying to maintain a safe position but Dimateo gets an underhook and turns Altini into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dimateo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Altini.
Dimateo goes for a takedown attempt but Altini pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Altini tries to clinch but Dimateo is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Altini scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Altini throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Altini is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Altini pushes Dimateo up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Altini.
Altini scores a nice knee to the body.
Altini tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dimateo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Altini fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gabriele Altini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Dimateo.
Altini throws a series of punches but Dimateo avoids them all with ease.
Altini lands with a nice body kick.
Altini shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Dimateo eats them both and turns towards Altini to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Altini tries to bum rush Dimateo with a series of wild strikes but Dimateo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dimateo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Altini dips to his left and cracks Dimateo with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altini moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters circling a little - Altini finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gabriele Altini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Altini connects with a right hand. Dimateo shakes it off.
Altini throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Dimateo keeps the fight on the outside.
Altini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dimateo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A little jabbing left from Dimateo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Altini lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Dimateo backs up against the cage.
Altini throws a right and a left that Dimateo avoids nicely.
Dimateo slips a jab and a cross from Altini.
A little jabbing left from Dimateo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gabriele Altini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dimateo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Altini.
Altini throws a combination that misses
and Dimateo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Altini moves in looking to clinch but Dimateo pushes him off.
Dimateo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Dimateo dodges the punch combination from Altini.
A little jabbing left from Dimateo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Altini throws a right and a left that Dimateo avoids nicely.
Altini throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dimateo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Altini is breathing heavily.
Dimateo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Altini regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Dimateo.
Dimateo is in close to Altini's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dimateo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Altini utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Altini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Altini is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dimateo is controlling him.
Dimateo cracks Altini with a solid left hand.
Altini wants to stand and escape but Dimateo is having none of it.
Dimateo works over Altini with some ground and pound from guard.
Dimateo throws an elbow that misses. Altini uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dimateo's guard. Nice move by Altini!

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dimateo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Altini is controlling him.
Dimateo being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriele Altini dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Altini misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gabriele Altini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Altini throws a left and a right that both miss
and Altini takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Altini lands a front kick.
Dimateo circles away from the clinch attempt.
It seemed like Dimateo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Altini moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Altini lands with a nice body kick.
Altini scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Altini moves into the clinch.
Dimateo is trying to drag Altini to the mat but Altini just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knees to the body from Altini.
Altini is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dimateo can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Altini prevents a takedown attempt there.
Altini misses with a knee strike.
Dimateo tries for a takedown but Altini manages to get underhooks.
Gabriele Altini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Dimateo.
Dimateo is breathing heavily.
Altini controlling the action here for a moment.
Stalling in the clinch from Altini.
Altini seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Altini displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dimateo up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Altini.
Altini connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dimateo's face.
Come on Altini - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Altini misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Altini fails to land.
Dimateo blocks an uppercut.
Altini lands a good knee to the midsection. Dimateo won't want to take too many of those.
Altini tries to land knees in the clinch but Dimateo avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dimateo.
Altini lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dimateo managing to block the knees to the body from Altini.
Dimateo is trying to drag Altini to the mat but Altini just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gabriele Altini has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dimateo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Altini gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dimateo blocks an uppercut.
Altini tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Altini is working Dimateo over against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Altini fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriele Altini dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Altini wants to clinch up but Dimateo keeps it at a distance.
Dimateo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Dimateo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Altini fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dimateo, pushing him back against the cage.
Dimateo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Altini avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dimateo can't get the takedown.
Altini prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gabriele Altini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Dimateo.
Altini is trying to maintain a safe position but Dimateo gets an underhook and turns Altini into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Altini landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Altini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Altini misses with a hook from the clinch.
Altini misses with a knee to the head.
Altini lands a knee to the head.
Altini throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dimateo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Altini makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Altini misses with an elbow over the top.
A short right from Altini.
Altini working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altini misses with the head strike.
Altini scores with a shoulder strike.
Altini lands a nice shot to the body.
Altini scores with a knee to the head.
Dimateo has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Altini.
Altini misses with the head strike.
Altini utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dimateo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dimateo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Altini gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dimateo managing to block the knees to the body from Altini.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dimateo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Altini pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Altini working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Altini using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dimateo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dimateo avoiding damage as Altini throws knees to the body.
Altini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dimateo avoids it.
Dimateo managing to block the knees to the body from Altini.
Altini lands a body shot.
Altini holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Altini.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Altini.
Altini lands with a light punch inside.
Altini lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Altini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dimateo avoids it.
Altini tries to land knees in the clinch but Dimateo avoids the damage to the body.
Gabriele Altini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Altini is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Roberto Dimateo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dimateo as Altini tries to tie him up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriele Altini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Altini, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:25
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriele Altini!