PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Naoko Marui (ranked 2211 p4p, 2416 weight class) and Two Moons (ranked 254 p4p, 279 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.

Marui
vs
Moons

167 cm
25
150
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
165
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Naoko Marui!
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, Two Moons!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marui misses with a looping left.
Moons swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Moons avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marui closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Moons steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marui.
Moons let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Moons misses with a hook

and Marui counters by moving into the clinch.
Moons lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Marui being controlled against the cage.
Moons swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moons leaning against his opponent.
Moons throws a punch but it's blocked by Marui.
Marui tries to throw a body punch but Moons avoids it by throwing Marui back against the cage.
Marui stalling.
Marui tries to throw a body punch but Moons avoids it by throwing Marui back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moons throws a punch but it's blocked by Marui.
A nice left hand lands by Moons.
Marui misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Moons.
Marui lands with a right to the head.
Moons misses with some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Marui.
Moons misses with a short punch on the inside.
Marui blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Moons working aggressively here.
A bit of stalling here from Marui.
Moons blocks an uppercut.
Moons swings wildly with an uppercut but Marui uses good head movement to avoid it.
Moons blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marui lands with a light punch inside.
A short left from Marui.
Marui misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Marui.
Marui tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Moons's elbow.
Moons throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marui taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short right from Moons.
Marui blocks an uppercut.
Moons throws a punch but it's blocked by Marui.
Marui blocks an uppercut.
Moons misses with a hook to the ribs.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Marui blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marui is trying to break the clinch but Moons has him pressed against the cage.

Marui breaks the clinch.
Marui throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marui throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Marui throws a right hand that Moons ducks under and follows up with a left that Moons also avoids with ease.
Marui throws a nice looking combination but Moons bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Moons throws out a counter right but Marui avoids it with no problem.
Marui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moons.
Marui throws a combination that misses
and Moons counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moons was well out of range. Poor timing from Marui.
Moons takes one on the button.

Moons moves into range and clinches up with Marui.
Marui blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marui blocking some punches.
Moons lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Marui misses with a punch to the body.
Marui misses with a hook to the ribs.
Moons lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Moons throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moons fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marui goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Moons misses with a body punch.
Moons prevents a body shot from Marui.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Moons.
Marui is working Moons over against the cage.
Moons misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marui blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Naoko Marui will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A nice combination there by Marui.
Marui swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Moons counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marui misses with a lunging right hand
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Marui tries to keep at a distance but Moons has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marui slowing the pace effectively.
Marui blocking some punches.

Marui manages to break the clinch.
Moons misses with an uppercut
and Marui counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Moons tries to clinch there but Marui circles away.
Marui swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Marui ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Marui scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
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!
Marui avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marui throws a hook but Moons blocks it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Marui.
Moons displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marui throws out the jab.
Moons looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A big right from Marui misses.
Moons doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Marui misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Moons to counter with a crisp jab.
Marui moves out of range as Moons strikes.
Marui throws a body punch but Moons moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Marui scores with a four punch combination!
Marui connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Moons momentarily.

Moons is rocked!
A looping hook to the body misses from Marui. Moons does a little dance to reset his feet.
Moons is still on wobbly legs! Can Marui finish him?
A punch lands to the side of Moons 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marui misses with a lunging right hand
and Moons counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Naoko Marui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marui throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Moons counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marui on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Moons seems to have recovered his senses.
Moons bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Marui's head backwards.
Marui throws a sloppy body shot
and Moons counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marui just misses with a punch to the body.
Moons is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marui.
Marui ducks under a wild hook from Moons.
Moons might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Moons blocks a jab.
Marui lands a nice looking body shot.
Marui throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marui misses with a series of wild punches.
Moons looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marui takes one on the button.
Marui looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nice jab there from Marui.
Marui scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Moons connects with a right hand. Marui shakes it off.
Marui looks to land a left hand but Moons moved out of range nicely.
Moons scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Marui connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Moons momentarily.
Moons looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Marui misses with an uppercut
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Naoko Marui is winning the standup battle so far.
Marui lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marui misses with a lunging right hand
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moons takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Marui looks to score with a jab to the body but Moons is just out of range.
Moons throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Moons takes one to the chin there.
Marui rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Moons cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Moons throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marui seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Marui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moons.
Moons digs a good body shot into Marui's ribs.
Marui rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Moons moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Marui lands a nice shot that snaps Moons's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoko Marui dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marui misses with a shot to the body
and Moons counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Moons lands a slapping body shot.
Marui avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Moons connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marui momentarily.
Marui throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marui throws a sloppy body shot

and Moons counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Marui blocking some punches.
Marui wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moons swings wildly with an uppercut but Marui uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marui pushes Moons back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Moons misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marui doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Moons tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marui goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Moons tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Moons misses with a hook to the ribs.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Moons takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Moons misses with some punches.
Marui blocks an uppercut.
Moons has a couple of punches blocked by Marui.
Marui goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Moons swings wildly with an uppercut but Marui uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marui blocking some punches.
Moons throws a punch but it's blocked by Marui.
Moons is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Moons creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Moons tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Marui struggles to land a body shot inside as Moons controls his hands.
Two Moons seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Moons will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Marui up against the cage.
Moons throws a head punch that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Moons has a couple of punches blocked by Marui.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moons doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marui taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Marui tries to work over Moons's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marui lands a body punch.
Marui misses with a punch to the body.
Moons swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Marui.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Moons.
Marui lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Moons fails to land.
Marui lands a right hand that snaps the head of Moons backwards.

Marui breaks the clinch.
Marui lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Moons backs up against the cage.
Marui drops his hands momentarily and Moons takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moons takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Marui throws a shot from downtown. Moons moves away and avoids it.
Marui just misses with a punch to the body.
Moons tries to counter by closing the distance.
Marui tries to land a body kick
and Moons connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marui takes a swing at Moons's ribcage but misses.
Marui is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Moons.
Marui sets himself, and Moons steps forward looking for the clinch! Marui avoids it this time.
Marui throws a good cross that connects.
Two Moons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moons.
Moons slips a jab from Marui.
Moons moves away from the strike by Marui.
Marui sets himself, and Moons steps forward looking for the clinch! Marui avoids it this time.
Naoko Marui is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A shot to the body from Marui misses
and Moons counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Two Moons.
I think Marui 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Naoko Marui!
Naoko Marui bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.