PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emil Marinov (ranked 182 p4p, 276 weight class) and Shen Po (ranked 23 p4p, 38 weight class). Po is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ei-tetsu Hayashi & 木下伸市. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marinov
vs
Po

192 cm
39
195
37 - 20 - 1

177 cm
27
193
14 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Altitude Clothing

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 37 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Emil Marinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shen Po!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marinov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marinov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Marinov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Marinov throws a head kick that misses.
Po throws a body punch but Marinov moves out of range.
Marinov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The fighters circle momentarily. Marinov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Po fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marinov manages to avoid it.
Marinov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Po misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marinov.

Po clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Po lands an uppercut.
Po misses with a body punch.
Po misses with the head strike.
Po struggles to land a body shot inside as Marinov controls his hands.
Marinov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marinov.
A short uppercut from Po.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marinov misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinov tries a body shot but Po blocks it.
A right handed body shot lands from Marinov.
Po lands with a short shot to the head.
Po misses with the head strike.
Po can't find room to land a body shot as Marinov controls the action.
Po softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Po.
Marinov is looking to break free of the clinch but Po has double underhooks.

Marinov breaks the clinch.
Po throws an overhand right that lands on Marinov's shoulder, as Marinov tries to avoid the shot.
Po keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Good shot there by Marinov.
A combination from Po does no damage.
Po moves in looking to clinch but Marinov pushes him off.
Po closes the distance but Marinov moves to the side
and Marinov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Marinov looks to land a body kick but Po moved away.
Po takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marinov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marinov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Marinov slips under a jab from Po.
Po moves out of range of the body kick.
Po's coach down at Chakuriki LA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Po's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Po scores with a hook to the body. Marinov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Marinov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Marinov connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Po. Marinov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marinov tried to score with a low kick but Po checks it.
Marinov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Po.
Marinov throws a quick counter head kick but Po was just out of range.
Marinov thuds his right hand into Po's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Po throws out a loose jab but Marinov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marinov tried to counter with a leg kick but Po avoided it.
Marinov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Marinov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Marinov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Po on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marinov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Po.
A counter left hand to the body from Marinov misses its target.
The fighters circling - Marinov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Po closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Po moves out of range of the body kick from Marinov.
Po feints the counter takedown.
Marinov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A jab from Po finds it's way through Marinov's defenses.
Po blocks a jab.
Po is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Marinov with a body shot.
Po shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Marinov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Marinov lands a glancing blow to the side of Po's head.
Po blocks a jab.
Po throws a leg kick
and Marinov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marinov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A punch lands to the side of Po 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Po throws a body punch but Marinov moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marinov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Po has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Po loads up on a big right hand but Marinov slips the punch.
Marinov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Po shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marinov but Marinov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Emil Marinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shen Po.
An inside leg kick from Marinov misses.
Po throws a big shot that misses.
Marinov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Marinov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Po looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An inside leg kick from Marinov misses.
Marinov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Marinov throws a leg kick
and Po cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Po clinches with his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Po tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Po throws out a loose jab but Marinov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marinov lands with a shot to the body.
Po has a takedown stuffed.
Marinov is looking to slow Po down with leg kicks.
Marinov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Po has time to react.
Po looks to score with a jab to the body but Marinov is just out of range.
Marinov throws a head kick but Po moves out of range.
Marinov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Po with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marinov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marinov looks to score with a jab to the body but Po is just out of range.
Marinov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Po can do to turn this around?
Marinov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Po.
Emil Marinov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Po throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinov throws a jab when Po was well out of range.
Po doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Marinov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Po moves away.
Marinov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Emil Marinov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Po shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Po tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marinov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marinov trying to control here.

Po is trying to work for a kimura but Marinov is defending well.
Po wants to free his trapped foot but Marinov is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Po keeps trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Po is looking to take a break and control but Marinov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Po looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Po is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Marinov defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marinov trying to hold on to Po's head to control him but Po postures up.
Po controlling the action here.
Po is trying to control the action in half guard but Marinov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Po not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Po wants to control but Marinov is keeping him busy.
Marinov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Po on the ground.
Marinov wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marinov throws a head kick but Po moves out of range.
Marinov lands a jab to the nose.
Marinov connects with the punch.
Po throws out a loose jab but Marinov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marinov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Marinov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Marinov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Po takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A slapping body kick lands there for Marinov.
Po looks for a takedown but Marinov sprawls well.
Marinov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Marinov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Po has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Po and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emil Marinov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Po scores with the left hand. Marinov knows he should have avoided that one.
Po lands a nice looking body shot.
Po takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Marinov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Po throws out the jab.
Marinov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Po has time to react.
Po jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Po is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Po throws an overhand right that lands on Marinov's shoulder, as Marinov tries to avoid the shot.
Marinov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marinov slips a straight right by Po.
Po throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marinov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Po throws out a powerful jab.
Marinov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Po on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinov punishes Po's body with a nice straight punch.
Marinov throws a head kick that misses

and Po counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Po lands a body punch in the clinch.
Marinov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Marinov tries to work over Po's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Marinov breaks the clinch.
Marinov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Po uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice body kick there by Marinov.
A swing and a miss from Po.
Marinov throws the left hand but Po avoids the punch easily.
Marinov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Po scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Marinov clobbers Po with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Marinov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A slow jab from Po misses its intended target.
Shen Po has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emil Marinov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marinov throws a right hand that misses
and Po counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Marinov misses with a looping left.
Po swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Po is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marinov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Po avoids the body shot from Marinov.
Po takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Marinov misses with a straight left.
Marinov missing with a left hand there. Po was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Po misses with a straight right.
Po misses the shot to the body.
Marinov slips a straight right by Po.
Po fails with an attempt to clinch.
Po is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marinov.
Marinov misses with a two punch combination.
Po throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marinov scores with a sloppy right hand. Po should have avoided that one.
Po lands a jab to the nose.
Marinov lands a front kick.
Marinov tests Po's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Po takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Marinov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Po.
Nice uppercut there from Marinov.
A low kick lands for Marinov.
Po misses with a left hand
and Marinov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Po moves out of range of the strikes.
Marinov lands the left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marinov avoids the body shot from Po.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marinov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marinov connects with a looping right hand.
Marinov with a nice cross.
Marinov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A jab from Po misses.
Marinov lands a nice shot that snaps Po's head back.
Po throws the left hand but Marinov avoids the punch easily.
Marinov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Marinov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Po's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Marinov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marinov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marinov scores with a push kick.
Marinov digs a good body shot into Po's ribs.
That kick from Marinov tenderised Po's leg. Po is trying to keep his angry face on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emil Marinov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marinov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emil Marinov!
In his post fight interview, Emil Marinov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.