PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Randy Marsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santa Clause (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Marsh
vs
Clause

171 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 London, Randy Marsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Santa Clause!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clause fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Marsh gets a takedown into half guard.
Marsh passes the guard and advances to mount!
Clause is desperately trying to improve his position but Marsh has a good base and remains in mount.
Marsh wants to control the pace but Clause is squirming around nicely.
Marsh in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Marsh has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Marsh punishing his opponent with strikes.
Marsh unloading with bombs!
Clause is looking to improve his position but Marsh isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Clause is looking to escape.
Marsh raining down shots from the mount!
Clause tries to hold on but Marsh pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Marsh cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Marsh has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Clause's face.

Marsh is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Clause has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Marsh cracks Clause with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh landing punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Marsh goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Clause is on top in guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Clause wants to pass the guard but Marsh is keeping the position.
Marsh is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marsh is breathing heavily.
Clause stands and throws Marsh's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Marsh is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsh regains half guard.
Marsh wants to get back to full guard but Clause has passed into side control.
Marsh avoids a series of strikes thrown by Clause.
Marsh wants to hold on but Clause pushes him away.
Marsh is squirming around, avoiding Clause's attempts to control the action.
Clause thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Clause can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Marsh is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marsh wants to control but Clause is having none of it.

Clause looking to secure an arm triangle but Marsh defends it well.

Clause moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Marsh has worked his arm free - good work by Marsh!
Clause working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Marsh dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Clause with a poor takedown

and Marsh counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Marsh wants to control from the top but Clause keeps moving.
Marsh lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marsh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Marsh thows a big elbow that misses.
Marsh throwing strikes but missing.

Clause is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marsh defends well.
Marsh wants to control from the top but Clause keeps moving.
Randy Marsh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clause working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marsh working some strikes from top position.
Marsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Clause is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Clause clinches but Marsh breaks the clinch

and Marsh counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Marsh prevents Clause from improving his position.
Clause regains full guard. Nicely done.
Clause working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marsh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clause keeping moving, preventing Marsh from controlling successfully.

Clause looking for a guillotine here but Marsh defends easily.
Marsh looking to sit in guard and control but Clause gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Clause trying to stand up but can't free himself from Marsh's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clause passes Marsh's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Clause trying to control the action but Marsh is working from the bottom.
Marsh tries to roll over but Clause keeps him under control.
Marsh trying to control from the bottom.
Marsh keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Marsh is refusing to be controlled, as Clause sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Clause is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Marsh punching from the bottom.

Marsh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Clause tries for a takedown but Marsh circles away easily

and Marsh counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Marsh.
Marsh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Clause works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Clause is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marsh throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Marsh dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Clause doesn't manage to clinch there - Marsh circles away.

Marsh drives through with a takedown into guard.
Clause working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marsh.

Clause working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marsh doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marsh manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marsh throws a strike but Clause rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Marsh looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Clause has picked Marsh up and slammed him! Marsh can't keep hold of the triangle and Clause manages to pass to side control!
Clause trying to control the action but Marsh is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Clause seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Marsh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Marsh tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Clause trying to control the action but Marsh is working from the bottom.
Marsh can't do much from the bottom here.

Clause tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Marsh is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Clause off and has taken his back!
Clause turns into Marsh and is now in his guard.
Marsh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Clause pushes down on Marsh's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Clause trying to pass the guard but Marsh defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Clause is trying to work for a kimura but Marsh is defending well.
Clause prevents Marsh from improving his position.
Marsh trying to control but Clause postures up.
Clause passes to full mount!
Clause thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Marsh is bucking up trying to escape but Clause cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Clause tries to control but Marsh wriggling away.
Marsh wants to control but Clause is having none of it.
Marsh is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Clause jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Marsh manages to avoid the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santa Clause comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marsh has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Atkins scores the fight for Randy Marsh!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Randy Marsh!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Randy Marsh!

Randy Marsh wins by unanimous decision!