PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Khali Ali (ranked 4582 p4p, 4941 weight class) and Todd Ianuzzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ali
vs
Ianuzzi

163 cm
19
135
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
142
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khali Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Todd Ianuzzi!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ianuzzi misses with a body shot.
Ianuzzi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ali manages to avoid it.
Ali half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ali tries to clinch there but Ianuzzi circles away.
Ali tries to clinch up.
Ianuzzi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Ianuzzi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ali is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ianuzzi scores with a couple of nice shots.

Ianuzzi is working for a kimura but Ali is defending it quite comfortably.
Ianuzzi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali tries to roll over but Ianuzzi keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ali manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ianuzzi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Ali tries to stall but Ianuzzi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ali pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ali is trying to pull guard but Ianuzzi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ali is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ali is trying to pull guard but Ianuzzi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khali Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ali escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ali misses with a two punch combination.
Ianuzzi is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ali misses with a takedown attempt - Ianuzzi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ali fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ianuzzi avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ianuzzi circles away.
Ali shoots in and drives through. Ianuzzi sprawls well.
Ali is breathing heavily.
Ali will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ianuzzi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ali tries to kick Ianuzzi off in order to stand up. Ianuzzi Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Ianuzzi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ali is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Check out the look on Ianuzzi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ianuzzi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ianuzzi is looking to take a break and control but Ali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ianuzzi lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ali down.
Ianuzzi advances to full mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ianuzzi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ali looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ianuzzi raining down shots from the mount!
Ali knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ianuzzi on the ground.
Ianuzzi lands a big shot there that rocks Ali but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Ianuzzi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ali is looking to improve his position but Ianuzzi isn't that keen on the idea.
Ianuzzi landing strikes from the mount.
Ianuzzi lands a couple of good shots and Ali has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ianuzzi has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Ali! Can he survive? No! He's out! Ianuzzi gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Todd Ianuzzi!
Todd Ianuzzi thanked the fans post fight for their support.