PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Scholes (ranked 2857 p4p, 4213 weight class) and Marcus King (ranked 322 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Scholes
vs
King

178 cm
23
185
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
190
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Scholes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marcus King!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
King tries to stand and escape but Scholes is controlling the position.
King trying to mount his opponent but Scholes defends it.
King controlling the action here.
Scholes is trying to control but King manages to pass to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King lands a big shot there that rocks Scholes but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scholes tries to hold on but King pushes him away.
King punching from mount but Scholes doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King controlling from mount.

King swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Scholes is now in King's guard. A big mistake from King there, giving up the dominant position!
Scholes wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
Scholes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Scholes preventing the sweep.
Scholes trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
King wants to sweep here but Scholes controlling him for the moment.

King is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Scholes is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King controlling Scholes's posture.

King is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
King misses with a leg kick.
Scholes is looking to counter punch.
King wants to clinch up but Scholes keeps it at a distance.
Scholes is looking to counter punch.

King closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Scholes did well to prevent King getting side control.
Scholes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Scholes tries to get out of the position.
King thows a huge punch but Scholes dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scholes is refusing to be controlled, as King sits in half guard.
Scholes is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
King seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

King shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Scholes napping and manages to drive through into side control!
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Scholes keeps working.
King misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An elbow from King crashes against the mat.
Scholes prevents King from improving position.
Scholes is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scholes avoids any damage from the ground and pound of King.

King tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The referee asks King politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. King prefers to stall for the moment though.
Scholes takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Marcus King has got the better of the ground game so far.
Scholes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but King wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

King decides to take the fight back to the feet.
King has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Scholes blocks a head kick by King.
Scholes appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Paul Scholes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Scholes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
King throws a sloppy head kick and Scholes moves out of range easily.
A little feinted left hand from Scholes on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The fight stays on the outside here - King looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Scholes throwing a counter right hand but King manages to avoid it.
King tries a head kick but it misses.
Scholes is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King moves in looking to clinch but Scholes pushes him off.

Scholes tries to sprawl but King drives through with a takedown into half guard.
King seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Scholes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Scholes trying to hold on to King's head to control him but King postures up.
King throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
King has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Scholes is trying to maintain the position but King is very close to passing his half guard.
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Scholes keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is thwarting Scholes's attempts to control the position.
Scholes is trying to control but King passes into side control!
Scholes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for King on the ground.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Scholes avoids any damage from the ground and pound of King.

King looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

King gets a takedown into half guard.
King controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scholes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King wants to control but Scholes is keeping him busy.
Scholes preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
King looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Well, if King is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Paul Scholes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
King shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Scholes is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

King drives through with a takedown into guard.
King stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Scholes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Scholes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
King passes easily into side control. Nice work.
King is looking to take a break and control but Scholes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
King tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Scholes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
King trying to control the action but Scholes is working from the bottom.
King passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Scholes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
King throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Scholes is desperately trying to improve his position but King has a good base and remains in mount.
King sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
King takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Scholes holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as King tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
King throws some wild stikes that Scholes manages to avoid easily.
Marcus King is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Scholes holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as King tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well King 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 James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 26:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus King!