PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Mardle (ranked 2232 p4p, 297 weight class) and Riley Oconner (ranked 3370 p4p, 439 weight class). The key to victory for Wayne Mardle has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mardle
vs
Oconner

187 cm
25
186 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wayne Mardle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Riley Oconner!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Oconner misses.
Oconner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mardle moves away.
Riley Oconner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mardle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Oconner.
Sloppy strikes from Mardle. Those never looked like landing.
Mardle closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Oconner loads up on a big right hand but Mardle slips the punch.
A jab from Oconner misses.
Mardle swings for the body but Oconner moves out of range.
Mardle swinging wildly here.
Oconner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Oconner connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mardle momentarily.
Oconner clobbers Mardle with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mardle swinging wildly here.
Oconner avoids the body shot from Mardle.
Mardle rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oconner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mardle throws a hook to the side of Oconner's head but Oconner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oconner throws a body punch but Mardle moves out of range.
Oconner has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mardle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Oconner manages to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Mardle. Those never looked like landing.
Mardle tries to move into range but Oconner moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Oconner digs a good body shot into Mardle's ribs.
Oconner connects with a body shot that sends Mardle's belly button to the back.
Oconner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Oconner connects with a crisp jab.
Oconner scores with a jab to the body.
Mardle tries to bum rush Oconner with a series of wild strikes but Oconner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It seemed like Oconner was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mardle slips a jab from Oconner.
Oconner misses the shot to the body.
Oconner lands a jab to Mardle's midsection.
Mardle misses with a wild body shot.
Oconner looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
No joy there for Mardle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Oconner looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Oconner throws a one two combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mardle misses with a wild body shot.
Oconner throws a jab when Mardle was well out of range.
Mardle throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mardle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Oconner.
Mardle swinging wildly here.
Mardle shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Oconner stuns Mardle with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Oconner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Mardle misses with a straight right.
Oconner misses with a wild body shot.
Mardle misses with a hook. Oconner ducked under it nicely.
Mardle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Oconner was well out of range. Poor timing from Mardle.
Mardle moves out of range as Oconner strikes.
Mardle misses with a combination
and Oconner counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Oconner lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Oconner throws a body punch but Mardle moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oconner lands a jab to the nose.
Mardle takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Mardle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Oconner manages to avoid it.
Mardle throws a body punch but Oconner moves out of range.
Mardle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Oconner circles away quickly and effectively.
A telegraphed right hand from Oconner misses the target.
Mardle misses with a few strikes there.
Oconner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mardle.
Mardle is looking to wear down Oconner with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Oconner lands with an overhand left.
Oconner throws the left hand but Mardle avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Mardle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mardle takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good standup being displayed there by Oconner as he connects with a hook.
Mardle misses with a few strikes there.
Mardle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Oconner takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mardle walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Oconner lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oconner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mardle.
Oconner throws out a loose jab but Mardle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mardle swings for the body but Oconner moves out of range.
Oconner swings for the body but Mardle moves out of range.
Oconner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mardle throws a hook but Oconner blocks it.
Oconner avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Mardle darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mardle misses with an uppercut. Oconner saw that one coming.
Oconner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mardle misses with a double jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oconner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mardle appears to be looking for a big counter.
Oconner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mardle manages to avoid it.
Oconner throws a hook but Mardle avoids it easily.
Mardle fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Oconner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mardle misses with a looping right.
Oconner connects with a body shot that sends Mardle's belly button to the back.
Oconner looks to land a left hand but Mardle moved out of range nicely.
Mardle throws a nice looking combination but Oconner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Oconner takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mardle lands with a right hand.
A combination from Mardle does no damage.
Oconner avoids the body shot from Mardle.
Oconner now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Oconner cracks a nice hook into Mardle's ribs.
Wayne Mardle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mardle avoids the body shot from Oconner.
Oconner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mardle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oconner lands a jab to Mardle's midsection.
Oconner bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mardle's head backwards.
A punch combination from Mardle misses.
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!
Oconner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Mardle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Oconner looks to score with a jab to the body but Mardle is just out of range.
Mardle throws a counter high kick but Oconner was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oconner takes a swing at Mardle's ribcage but misses.
Oconner lands a jab to the head.
Oconner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mardle jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mardle. Oconner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Oconner throws a poor cross that misses
and Mardle counters with a stiff right hand.
Mardle looks to score with a jab to the body but Oconner is just out of range.
Oconner throws a lazy right hand but Mardle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Oconner connects with a right hand. Mardle shakes it off.
Oconner avoids the body shot from Mardle.
Riley Oconner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Oconner.
Mardle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Oconner connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Oconner dodges the punch combination from Mardle.
Mardle fails to land with a series of punches.
Oconner misses with a hook. Mardle ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oconner digs a good hook to Mardle's body.
Oconner takes a swing at Mardle's ribcage but misses.
Mardle misses with a few strikes there.
Oconner scores with a jab. Mardle acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mardle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mardle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Oconner.
Oconner jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mardle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Oconner.
Oconner tries to counter with a clinch but Mardle shakes him off and moves away.
Mardle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mardle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Oconner looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Oconner jabs at Mardle's body.
Mardle just misses with a punch to the body.
Mardle slips a straight right by Oconner.
Mardle drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mardle throws a right and a left that both miss.
Oconner throws a counter combo.
Oconner with a hook.
We've been told by Mardle's head coaches at Island Sparring that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mardle on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Oconner slips a jab and a cross from Mardle.
Oconner looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mardle misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mardle loads up on a big right hand but Oconner slips the punch.
A left lands for Oconner.
Oconner ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Oconner lands a right hook to the body.
Oconner bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mardle's head.
Oconner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mardle manages to avoid it.
Oconner throws an overhand right that lands on Mardle's shoulder, as Mardle tries to avoid the shot.
Mardle has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mardle there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice cross by Oconner.
A punch combination from Mardle misses.
Mardle throws a series of punches but Oconner moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oconner throws a jab when Mardle was well out of range.
Oconner lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mardle slips a straight right by Oconner.
Oconner slips under a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Oconner! But no joy.
Oconner misses with a hook. Mardle ducked under it nicely.
Mardle looks to land a combination but Oconner avoids it well.
Oconner misses with a hook.
Oconner connects with a body shot that sends Mardle's belly button to the back.
Oconner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mardle at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Oconner.
Mardle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Oconner sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Oconner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mardle at a distance.
Mardle misses with a hook to the body
and Oconner counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Oconner stuns Mardle with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Oconner misses with a looping left.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oconner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mardle.
Mardle takes a swing at Oconner's ribcage but misses.
Mardle avoids the body shot from Oconner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Oconner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Oconner - just one landing.
Oconner scores with a jab.
Oconner throws a hook but Mardle blocks it.
Oconner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mardle scores with a nice strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Oconner. Mardle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mardle throws a combination that misses
and Oconner counters with a nice body shot.
Oconner misses with a straight left.
Mardle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by Mardle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Oconner. Mardle does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Mardle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Oconner misses with a right hand
and Mardle counters with a left and a right that stings Oconner.
Oconner throws a big shot that misses.
Oconner tests Mardle's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice jab there from Oconner.
Mardle fails to land with a series of punches.
Oconner connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mardle misses with a body shot.
Mardle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Oconner looks to score with a jab to the body but Mardle is just out of range.
A combination from Mardle does no damage.
Oconner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Oconner lands with an overhand left.
Mardle scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mardle misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oconner looks to score with a jab to the body but Mardle is just out of range.
Mardle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Oconner.
Mardle rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Oconner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oconner stuns Mardle with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Oconner scores with a punch to the head.
Oconner cracks Mardle with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Mardle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Oconner.
It seemed like Oconner was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mardle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Oconner cracks Mardle with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mardle throws a series of punches but Oconner moves out of range.
Mardle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Oconner connects with a nice looking jab.
A big right from Mardle misses.
Mardle takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Oconner changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Oconner takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mardle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Oconner circles away quickly and effectively.
Mardle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Oconner.
Oconner lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Oconner cracks Mardle with an open hand slap.
Oconner misses the shot to the body.
Mardle avoids the body shot from Oconner.
Oconner looks to land a right hand but Mardle moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oconner cracks Mardle with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mardle scores with a nice strike.
Oconner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mardle went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A swing and a miss from Mardle.
Mardle misses the shot to the body.
Oconner misses with a lunging right hand
and Mardle counters with a straight right hand.
Oconner scores with a jab. Mardle acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Oconner misses with a body shot.
Mardle looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Mardle throws a right and a left that Oconner avoids nicely.
Mardle connects with a body shot.
Oconner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Oconner takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mardle comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Oconner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mardle moves away.
Some wild striking there from Mardle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oconner swings for the body but Mardle moves out of range.
Mardle throwing a counter right hand but Oconner manages to avoid it.
Mardle avoids the body shot from Oconner.
Oconner looks to score with a jab to the body but Mardle is just out of range.
Oconner dodges the punch combination from Mardle.
Oconner looks to score with a jab to the body but Mardle is just out of range.
A combination from Mardle does no damage.
Mardle takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mardle drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wayne Mardle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oconner lands a nice shot to the body.
Oconner paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Oconner lands a slapping body shot.
Oconner lands the left hand.
Riley Oconner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oconner swings for the body but Mardle moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Riley Oconner.
Well Oconner has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Riley Oconner!
After the fight, Riley Oconner was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.