PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michele Mancinelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandro Zito (ranked 0 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.

Mancinelli
vs
Zito

185 cm
20
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
194 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

ENDLESS 152

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michele Mancinelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sandro Zito!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zito tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mancinelli swivels and escapes.
Mancinelli avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zito takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sandro Zito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zito is defended easily by Mancinelli.
Zito connects with a body shot.
Zito fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mancinelli on the side of the head.
Mancinelli gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zito counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mancinelli!

Zito is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Mancinelli can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Zito avoids the attempt from Mancinelli to control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Zito swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Mancinelli is now in Zito's guard. A big mistake from Zito there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zito escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mancinelli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mancinelli wants to pass the guard but Zito is keeping the position.

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

Zito is looking for a triangle but Mancinelli pushes his legs off easily.
Mancinelli trying to control but Zito is working from the bottom.
Mancinelli throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mancinelli trying to control but Zito is working from the bottom.
Zito has control of Mancinelli's left arm, preventing Mancinelli from doing any damage.
Zito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zito throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Zito misses.

Mancinelli rushes Zito and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Zito working hard to break the clinch.

Mancinelli breaks from the clinch.
Jab, jab by Zito - just one landing.
Zito wants to clinch.
A nice combination there by Zito.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Zito, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zito misses with a straight left.
Zito throws a series of punches but Mancinelli moves out of range.
A combination from Zito does no damage.
Zito throws a series of punches but Mancinelli avoids them all with ease.
Zito throws a series of punches but Mancinelli avoids them all with ease.
Zito misses with a takedown attempt
and Mancinelli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Michele Mancinelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandro Zito.
A head kick from Mancinelli lands but Zito takes it in his stride.
Zito walks into a stiff left hand from Mancinelli.
Zito fails to land with a series of punches.
Mancinelli misses with a body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Mancinelli as he connects with a hook.
Zito throws a series of punches but Mancinelli moves out of range.
Zito sizes up Mancinelli with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mancinelli blocks a jab.
Mancinelli throws a body kick that misses.
Zito stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zito wants it to stay on the feet.
Mancinelli stalks Zito and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zito's face. Zito staggers backwards, shaken.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mancinelli tries to clinch

and Zito counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mancinelli won't be happy with that.
Zito looks gassed!
Mancinelli wants to control but Zito postures up.
Mancinelli is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Zito off and has taken his back!
Zito has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Mancinelli.
Zito is trying to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zito can't escape the position.

Mancinelli is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Zito defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sandro Zito will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mancinelli looks to throw the jab but Zito is out of range.
Good shot there by Zito.
Mancinelli tries to clinch but Zito moves out of range.
Zito shoots and misses

and Mancinelli counters by moving into the clinch.
Mancinelli is trying to stall.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mancinelli.
Mancinelli goes for a takedown attempt but Zito pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mancinelli tries to clinch up.
Zito misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Mancinelli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito throws a nice looking combination but Mancinelli bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zito with a jab.
A punch combination from Zito misses.
Mancinelli throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Zito is breathing heavily.
Mancinelli with a poor takedown
and Zito counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zito lands a nice looking body shot.
Mancinelli slips a jab and a cross from Zito.
Zito looks to land a left hand but Mancinelli moved out of range nicely.
Zito misses with a double jab.
Michele Mancinelli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mancinelli wants to clinch
and Zito counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mancinelli moves in looking to clinch but Zito pushes him off.
Mancinelli moves away from the strike by Zito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zito throws a combination that misses
and Mancinelli counters with an inside leg kick.
Zito misses with a two punch combination.
Zito rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mancinelli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zito misses with a double jab
enabling Mancinelli to counter with a crisp jab.
Mancinelli closes the distance but Zito moves to the side

and Zito counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mancinelli!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mancinelli in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mancinelli is looking to improve his position but Zito isn't that keen on the idea.

Zito swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Mancinelli is now in Zito's guard. A big mistake from Zito there, giving up the dominant position!
Mancinelli passes Zito's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zito is staying active underneath Mancinelli, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mancinelli not doing much here.
Zito has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mancinelli is working away from the top position though.

Zito looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zito wants to get back to full guard.
Zito is trying to maintain the position but Mancinelli is very close to passing his half guard.
Zito is not content to let Mancinelli control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mancinelli is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zito!
Sandro Zito has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mancinelli wants to control the pace but Zito is squirming around nicely.
Zito taking shots to the head.
Zito tries to control the position but Mancinelli now has his back.

Zito defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Zito is really stuck here.
Zito tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zito is wriggling around trying to escape.
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 Michele Mancinelli will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zito throws a hook but Mancinelli avoids it easily.
Zito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mancinelli was well out of range. Poor timing from Zito.
Donk. Mancinelli catches Zito right on the button with a cross.
Mancinelli comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mancinelli throws a sloppy head kick and Zito moves out of range easily.
Mancinelli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zito lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Mancinelli has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zito lands a left hand.
Mancinelli scores with a hook to the body.
Mancinelli tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zito's elbow.
Zito wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mancinelli keeps control of Zito as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mancinelli trying to control the position but instead, Zito has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mancinelli into the ropes.
Zito takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancinelli trying to land knees to the body.
Mancinelli is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zito is defending well for now.
Mancinelli tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zito just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Mancinelli.
Mancinelli is trying to maintain a safe position but Zito gets an underhook and turns Mancinelli into the ropes.
Zito tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mancinelli smiles and moves away.
Mancinelli tries to clinch but Zito moves out of range.
Zito connects with a looping right hand.
Zito misses the jab.
Mancinelli moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Zito misses with a double jab
and Mancinelli counters with a thumping low kick.
Mancinelli moves away from the strike by Zito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zito swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Michele Mancinelli is winning the standup battle so far.
Mancinelli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mancinelli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zito.
Mancinelli misses with a series of wild punches.
Mancinelli misses with a double jab
and Zito counters with a left and a right that stings Mancinelli.
Zito throws a combination that misses

and Mancinelli counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Zito is trying to break free.
Mancinelli with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mancinelli trying to control the position but instead, Zito has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mancinelli into the ropes.
Zito blocks a body shot from Mancinelli.
Mancinelli scores with a shoulder strike.
Mancinelli throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zito blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Zito manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mancinelli showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zito.
Mancinelli keeps the fight on the outside.
Mancinelli slips a jab and a cross from Zito.
Zito gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mancinelli counters with a right hand to the body.
Zito misses with a hook to the body
and Mancinelli counters with a straight right hand.
Zito misses with a takedown attempt
and Mancinelli counters with a leg kick.
Michele Mancinelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandro Zito.
Mancinelli misses with a takedown attempt - Zito sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mancinelli throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zito throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mancinelli counters with a good, hard body kick but Zito shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mancinelli swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Zito counters with a single leg into guard. Mancinelli didn't expect that.
Mancinelli manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mancinelli wants to control the pace but Zito is squirming around nicely.
Zito sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Zito is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mancinelli's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mancinelli's back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zito working for a choke but Mancinelli is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zito is looking for a choke. Mancinelli gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Mancinelli manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

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 Michele Mancinelli.
I think Mancinelli has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sandro Zito!