PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gray Mayrand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Marella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mayrand comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Jones ~ She's a Lady. Marella has chosen "La Vittoria è Mia (Victory Is Mine)" by Jim Johnston as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Giovanni Marella enters the cage!

Mayrand
vs
Marella

172 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 5 - 1

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gray Mayrand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Giovanni Marella!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mayrand gets a clinch.

Mayrand gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Marella regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marella pulls Mayrand in close to prevent any damage.
Marella avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mayrand throws an elbow that misses. Marella uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mayrand's guard. Nice move by Marella!

Marella wants to control from the top but Mayrand keeps moving.
Mayrand is looking to stand up but Marella isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mayrand has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Marella is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Mayrand is looking for a takedown.
Mayrand working hard to break the clinch.
Mayrand is working for takedown but Marella is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mayrand has picked Marella up - he's going for a ride! Mayrand dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Mayrand prevents Marella from improving his position.
Mayrand sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marella defending well though.
Mayrand throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marella regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mayrand throws a strike but Marella rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Marella working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mayrand has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Marella has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Mayrand has clasped his hands together around Marella's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
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!
Mayrand throws an elbow but Marella slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mayrand is trying to ground and pound but Marella uses the momentary lack of control by Mayrand to regain half guard.
Mayrand throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayrand looks to land a strike but Marella avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mayrand is in close to Marella's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marella is pulling down on Mayrand's head to control his posture.
Mayrand missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mayrand has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Marella is pulling down on Mayrand's head to control his posture.
Mayrand throwing strikes but missing.
Marella preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marella wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Marella is looking for a triangle but Mayrand pushes his legs off easily.
Mayrand missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marella preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mayrand in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mayrand throws a big elbow that misses.
Marella utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mayrand trying to control the position from guard on top but Marella is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mayrand looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gray Mayrand. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayrand fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mayrand fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marella drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mayrand defends it well.
Mayrand shoots in but Marella avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mayrand misses with a head kick.

Mayrand moves into range and clinches up with Marella.
Mayrand tries for a takedown but Marella manages to get underhooks.
Mayrand is breathing heavily.

Marella has hold of one of Mayrand's legs. Mayrand is fighting the takedown attempt but Marella gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mayrand manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Mayrand dominated that round.
That's time! Mayrand's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mayrand darts in and clinches Marella up against the cage.
Mayrand wants a takedown.
Mayrand wants a takedown.
Marella wants a takedown.
Marella has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mayrand after a bit of a struggle.
Marella goes for a takedown attempt but Mayrand pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gray Mayrand has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Marella.

Mayrand clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marella breaks the clinch.
Marella tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mayrand swivels and escapes.
Marella avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marella with the counter takedown but Mayrand avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayrand throws a sloppy head kick and Marella moves out of range easily.
Mayrand stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mayrand wants it to stay on the feet.
Mayrand has his takedown stuffed

and Marella counters by moving into the clinch.
Mayrand has Marella pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Marella manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Mayrand drags the fight down to the ground.

Mayrand is looking for a triangle here but Marella uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Gray Mayrand overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mayrand is looking for a sweep.
Marella wants to stand but Mayrand has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayrand wants to get back to his feet but Marella drags him back down.
Marella tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Mayrand looking for a sweep but Marella has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Mayrand is desperately trying to improve his position but Marella has a good base and remains in mount.
Mayrand is working hard here to advance position.
Mayrand is squirming around, avoiding Marella's attempts to control the action.
Mayrand can't escape the position.
Mayrand on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mayrand tries to get out of the position.
Marella controlling the pace for now.
Mayrand trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayrand is trying desperately to improve position.
Marella working the ground and pound effectively.
Mayrand is squirming around, avoiding Marella's attempts to control the action.
Mayrand regains half guard.
Mayrand wants to stand back up but Marella manages to pass into side control.
Mayrand is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Marella is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marella wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mayrand keeps working.
Mayrand is looking for a sweep.
Marella scoring with punches from side control.
Marella advances nicely into full mount.
Marella trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mayrand is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mayrand is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Mayrand is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Giovanni Marella will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mayrand tries to clinch but Marella moves out of range.
Mayrand tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mayrand looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Marella!
Marella is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mayrand's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Marella is controlling Mayrand's trapped leg to prevent Mayrand from advancing to side control.
Marella regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Mayrand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mayrand throws a strike but Marella rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marella controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Mayrand has an active guard here but Marella has managed to pass into half guard.

Mayrand kicks Marella off and gets back to his feet.
Mayrand throws a half hearted mid kick.
Marella shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mayrand sprawls well. Mayrand wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Marella gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayrand throws a front kick aimed at Marella's knee but Marella avoids it well.
Marella with the counter takedown but Mayrand avoids it easily.

Mayrand clinches up against the cage.

Marella has Mayrand pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Marella pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mayrand tumbling to the mat - Marella dives into Mayrand's guard.
Mayrand is looking to sweep but instead, Marella has passed into half guard.
Marella wants to control but Mayrand is keeping him busy.
Mayrand tries to kick Marella off in order to stand up. Marella Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Mayrand is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayrand is not content to let Marella control the position.
Mayrand is looking to reverse the position.
Mayrand tries to escape but Marella is in control.
Marella trying to control the action but Mayrand is working from the bottom.
Marella controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mayrand bucks up and tries to throw Marella off but instead Marella has got his back!

Marella working for the choke.
Mayrand is trying to stand back up.

Mayrand tries to escape but he's let his defenses down in doing so and Marella has slipped in the rear naked choke! Oh, that's tiiiiiiiiight! Mayrand is tapping! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Giovanni Marella!
During a confident post fight interview, Giovanni Marella thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.