PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mono Loco (ranked 1721 p4p, 2161 weight class) and Naoko Marui (ranked 192 p4p, 227 weight class). Naoko Marui will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Loco
vs
Marui

168 cm
34
152
14 - 16 - 0

167 cm
28
158
12 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Glomco Nutrition

Knock Out Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mono Loco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Naoko Marui!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Loco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marui.
Marui stuffs the takedown.
Loco takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Marui wants to clinch.
Loco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marui swivels and escapes.
Loco looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mono Loco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Loco has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loco throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marui's waist but Marui gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Loco off to one side.
Marui throws a one two combo.
Marui rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Loco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Loco half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Marui lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
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 right hand that Loco ducks under and follows up with a left that Loco also avoids with ease.
Naoko Marui is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loco fails with the takedown.
Loco closes the distance and clinches up with Marui, looking for a takedown. Loco pushes Marui against the cage but Marui circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marui throws a right and a left that both miss.
Loco drops down looking for a counter takedown but Marui sprawls and moves away.
Marui lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Loco circles away quickly and effectively.
Marui throws the left hand but Loco avoids the punch easily.
Marui moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Marui swinging wildly here.
Loco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marui sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marui swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Naoko Marui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Loco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Loco looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Marui lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Loco circles away quickly and effectively.
Loco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marui has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marui throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Marui clinches up with Loco and pushes him back against the cage.
Marui struggles to land a body shot inside as Loco controls his hands.
Marui is leaning against Loco and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Marui goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marui content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Loco changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Marui fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Some wild striking there from Marui.
Marui connects with a looping right hand.
Loco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marui sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Loco takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Marui looks to score with a jab to the body but Loco is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marui sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marui throws a looping overhand right but Loco ducks down to avoid it.

Marui fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Loco, pushing him back against the cage.
Marui tries a body shot but Loco blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Loco creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Loco is looking to control Marui's arms but Marui gets an underhook and turns him. Now Loco has his back to the cage.

Loco breaks from the clinch.
Marui throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Loco on the side of the head.
Marui throws a lazy right hand but Loco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Loco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marui sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Loco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marui circles away.

Marui drives through and clinches with Loco against the cage.
Marui has Loco pressed against the cage, preventing Loco from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Loco tries to pull guard but Marui won't allow it.
Marui makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Loco is trying to break the clinch but Marui is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loco is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marui to keep the fight standing.
Marui lands with a light punch inside.
Loco fails to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Loco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marui comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Marui bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Loco's head backwards.
A cross from Marui lands.

Marui fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Loco, pushing him back against the cage.

Loco breaks from the clinch.
Loco takes one to the side of the head.

Loco closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Marui quickly recovers to half guard.
Marui wants to get back to full guard but Loco has mounted him!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marui can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marui tries to improve his position but instead Loco has taken his back!
Loco controlling from the back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Naoko Marui dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marui throws a looping overhand right but Loco ducks down to avoid it.
Marui throws a series of punches but Loco avoids them all with ease.
Marui throws a nice looking combination but Loco bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Marui moves into the clinch.

Loco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marui lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Loco circles away quickly and effectively.
Loco shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marui as he avoids it easily.
A big right from Marui misses.
Marui lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Loco at a distance.
Loco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Marui has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loco moves away from the strike by Marui.
Loco shoots in for a takedown but Marui shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mono Loco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Loco shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Marui connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Marui scores with a four punch combination!
Marui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Loco was well out of range. Poor timing from Marui.
Loco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marui as he jumps to the side.
Loco with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Marui to score with a decent uppercut.
Marui lands with a shot to the body.
Marui lands a head shot.

Marui lands a left and a right that send Loco crashing to the mat, dazed. Marui thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Loco is rocked!

It looks like Mono Loco has been cut.
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 swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Oh Loco is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Marui lands a big right hand and follows it up with an uppercut. Oh and another big punch and a knee - Loco can't take much more of this! Another big shot to the jaw from Marui and Loco drops to the floor. Beaten and bloodied - he had enough there. A vicious beatdown by Marui.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Naoko Marui!
Naoko Marui was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.