PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cliff Marcelian (ranked 24141 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Rinaldi (ranked 5383 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Rinaldi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marcelian
vs
Rinaldi

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

187 cm
24
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cliff Marcelian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rinaldi slaps away a takedown attempt from Marcelian, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rinaldi has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Sam Rinaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rinaldi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Marcelian's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcelian wants to get back to his feet but Rinaldi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcelian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcelian is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rinaldi is controlling him.
Rinaldi trying to control but Marcelian is working from the bottom.
Rinaldi throws a strike but Marcelian rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rinaldi can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinaldi keeping moving, preventing Marcelian from controlling successfully.
Marcelian showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marcelian trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelian throwing strikes from guard but Rinaldi blocks nicely.
Marcelian stopping the sweep attempt from Rinaldi.
Marcelian connects with a couple of short punches.
Marcelian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marcelian controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Marcelian trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcelian controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Marcelian seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rinaldi for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rinaldi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marcelian shoots for a double leg takedown but Rinaldi sprawls well. He's pushed Marcelian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rinaldi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Marcelian defends well and Rinaldi ends up having to push Marcelian into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Marcelian gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rinaldi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rinaldi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rinaldi trying to control but Marcelian is working from the bottom.
Marcelian is looking to stand up but Rinaldi isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi is looking to work some ground and pound but Marcelian has wrist control.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcelian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcelian keeping full guard, as Rinaldi tries to pass.
Marcelian is looking to stand up but Rinaldi isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Rinaldi scores with a takedown into Marcelian's guard.
Rinaldi won't allow Marcelian to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rinaldi throws an elbow that misses. Marcelian uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rinaldi's guard. Nice move by Marcelian!

Marcelian trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcelian preventing the sweep.
Marcelian sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rinaldi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marcelian is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rinaldi wants to sweep here but Marcelian controlling him for the moment.
Marcelian controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sam Rinaldi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rinaldi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Marcelian drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Marcelian trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcelian stands and throws Rinaldi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rinaldi holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Marcelian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rinaldi keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Rinaldi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee asks Marcelian politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Marcelian prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelian trying to control the position but Rinaldi is working away.
Marcelian working the ground and pound.
Marcelian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rinaldi keeps working.
Marcelian working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Marcelian slows the pace down.
Marcelian is looking to take a break and control but Rinaldi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marcelian is staying tight to Rinaldi's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rinaldi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Marcelian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rinaldi keeps working.
Rinaldi trying his best to control but Marcelian has mounted him.
Rinaldi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Marcelian trying to control but Rinaldi is having none of it.
Rinaldi wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Marcelian.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rinaldi wants to hold on but Marcelian pushes him away.
Marcelian throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rinaldi because Marcelian loaded up on that one.
Marcelian wants to control the pace but Rinaldi is squirming around nicely.
Marcelian is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rinaldi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcelian looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Marcelian takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marcelian scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rinaldi?
Rinaldi is looking to get to half guard.
Rinaldi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rinaldi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Marcelian tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Marcelian avoids the attempt from Rinaldi to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Marcelian dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rinaldi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rinaldi tests Marcelian's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Marcelian shoots for a takedown but Rinaldi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rinaldi gets a takedown into half guard.
Marcelian is trying to stand up here but Rinaldi is controlling him well.
Rinaldi content to control rather than advance.
Marcelian is trying to stand up here but Rinaldi is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Rinaldi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Marcelian is looking to escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marcelian fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rinaldi throws out a powerful jab.
Marcelian throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rinaldi's waist but Rinaldi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marcelian off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cliff Marcelian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marcelian showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rinaldi.
Rinaldi connects with a single shot there.

Marcelian is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rinaldi closes the distance looking for a takedown. Marcelian stuffs it but Rinaldi still has hold of him. Rinaldi picks Marcelian up in a fireman's lift! The crowd roars in approval. Rinaldi slams Marcelian to the floor and that's really hurt Marcelian - he doesn't know where he is! Rinaldi throws a couple of strikes and the referee steps in to save him! This one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:06 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Rinaldi!