PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vitaly Smirnoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Marduk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marduk has chosen Imperial March as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bryan Marduk has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Smirnoff
vs
Marduk

180 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

168 cm
22
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitaly Smirnoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bryan Marduk!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnoff goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Marduk misses with an uppercut. Smirnoff saw that one coming.
Marduk keeps the fight on the outside.
Marduk misses with an uppercut.
Smirnoff throws a head kick that half lands.
Marduk lands with a shot to the body.
Smirnoff ducks under a wild hook from Marduk.
Marduk scores with a hook to the body. Smirnoff takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smirnoff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marduk as he jumps to the side.
Good exchange - Marduk coming out on top.
A telegraphed right hand from Marduk misses the target.
Smirnoff slips a jab from Marduk.
Marduk connects with the punch.
Marduk throws a right hand that Smirnoff ducks under and follows up with a left that Smirnoff also avoids with ease.
Marduk tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smirnoff was well out of range. Poor timing from Marduk.
A telegraphed right hand from Marduk misses the target.
Good shot there by Marduk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marduk misses with a double jab.
Marduk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marduk misses with a straight left.
Marduk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Marduk scores with a nice head shot.
Marduk misses with a straight left.
Smirnoff scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marduk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Marduk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Marduk looks to throw the jab but Smirnoff is out of range.
Marduk takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Smirnoff uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marduk.
Marduk throws an overhand right that lands on Smirnoff's shoulder, as Smirnoff tries to avoid the shot.
Marduk digs a good hook to Smirnoff's body.
Marduk lands a jab-cross combination.
Smirnoff wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnoff drops his hands momentarily and Marduk takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Marduk looks to land a right hand but Smirnoff moved out of range.
Marduk throws a big shot that misses.
Smirnoff avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Smirnoff closes the distance and clinches.
Smirnoff fails to pull guard.
Smirnoff tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaly Smirnoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Marduk.
Marduk presses Smirnoff against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Marduk gets through Smirnoff's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Marduk.
Smirnoff fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smirnoff fails to pull guard.
Marduk lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Smirnoff tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marduk scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smirnoff looking for a takedown.
Marduk lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Marduk lands a nice shot to the body.
Smirnoff is working for takedown but Marduk is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Marduk.
Marduk has Smirnoff pressed against the cage, preventing Smirnoff from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A nice left hand lands by Marduk.
Smirnoff is working for takedown but Marduk is calmly controlling the position for now.
Smirnoff fails to pull guard.
A head punch on the inside from Marduk fails to land.
Marduk lands a body punch.
Smirnoff is breathing heavily.
Smirnoff tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marduk smiles and moves away.
Marduk looks to land a left hand but Smirnoff moved out of range nicely.
Marduk lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bryan Marduk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smirnoff lands an overhand right.
Smirnoff uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marduk.
Marduk looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marduk lands a jab-cross combination.
Smirnoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smirnoff takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Marduk throws a body punch but Smirnoff moves out of range.
Bryan Marduk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marduk throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smirnoff moves out of range of the strikes.
Marduk lands a right hook to the body.
Marduk throws a nice looking combination but Smirnoff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Marduk misses.
Smirnoff bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marduk scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Marduk pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Marduk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smirnoff.
Marduk throws a series of punches but Smirnoff avoids them all with ease.
Marduk looks to land a combination but Smirnoff avoids it well.
Marduk throws a looping overhand right but Smirnoff ducks down to avoid it.
Smirnoff staying out of range there.
Smirnoff lands with a nice body kick.
A big right from Marduk misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Marduk dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Marduk scores with a punch to the head.
Marduk scores with a nice head shot.
Marduk 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.
Smirnoff is looking to clinch.
Marduk lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Smirnoff tries to clinch there but Marduk circles away.
A punch combination from Marduk misses.
Jab by Marduk.
Marduk punishes Smirnoff's body with a nice straight punch.
Smirnoff ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smirnoff staying out of range there.
Smirnoff really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smirnoff tries a head kick but it misses.
Marduk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Marduk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smirnoff.
Smirnoff fails with the takedown.
Marduk lands with a nice combination. Smirnoff backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marduk lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smirnoff takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Marduk just misses with a punch to the body.
A good leg kick by Smirnoff.
Marduk looks to throw the jab but Smirnoff is out of range.
Marduk thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smirnoff takes a jab right on the kisser.
Marduk avoids the head kick by Smirnoff.
Marduk tries to bum rush Smirnoff with a series of wild strikes but Smirnoff uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smirnoff slips a straight right by Marduk.
Marduk misses with a wild body shot.
Marduk misses with a looping right.
Marduk loads up on a big right hand but Smirnoff slips the punch.
Smirnoff scores with a kick to the body.
Marduk swats away the attempt to clinch by Smirnoff.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnoff walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A punch lands to the side of Smirnoff 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marduk loads up on a big right hand but Smirnoff slips the punch.
Smirnoff throws a head kick but Marduk moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Marduk.
Nice body punch from Marduk.
Smirnoff displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marduk throws out the jab.
Smirnoff walks into a stiff left hand from Marduk.
Smirnoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smirnoff uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marduk.
Smirnoff ducks under a wild hook from Marduk.
Marduk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smirnoff misses with a head kick.
Marduk fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Marduk misses the target.
Nice shot by Marduk.
Some wild striking there from Marduk.
Marduk lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Marduk.
Marduk throws a right and a left that both miss.
A lazy left from Marduk finds it's target.
Smirnoff looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Smirnoff uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marduk.
A combination from Marduk does no damage.
Smirnoff moves out of range as Marduk strikes.
Smirnoff slips a straight right by Marduk.
Marduk fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Marduk scores with a hook to the body. Smirnoff takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Smirnoff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marduk looks to land a right hand but Smirnoff moved out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Marduk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Marduk.
Marduk scores with a jab.
Marduk fails to land with a series of punches.
Marduk misses with a hook. Smirnoff ducked under it nicely.
Marduk throws a hook to the side of Smirnoff's head but Smirnoff sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smirnoff is looking to land body kicks.
Marduk throws a nice looking combination but Smirnoff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marduk throws an overhand right that lands on Smirnoff's shoulder, as Smirnoff tries to avoid the shot.
Marduk misses with a hook.
Smirnoff fails with the takedown.
Smirnoff displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marduk throws out the jab.
Marduk misses with a wild combination.
Marduk loads up on a big right hand but Smirnoff slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Marduk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marduk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smirnoff.
Marduk misses with a two punch combination.
Smirnoff pushes Marduk away with a front kick.
Marduk misses with a looping right.
Smirnoff is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marduk connects with the punch.
Marduk swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Marduk.
Marduk darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Marduk moves into range and connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Marduk. No joy for Smirnoff on that attempt.
Smirnoff throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Marduk.
Smirnoff slips under a jab.
A slow jab from Marduk misses its intended target.
Bryan Marduk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marduk blocks a head kick by Smirnoff.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marduk scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Smirnoff takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Smirnoff connects with a solid leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Marduk misses the target.
Smirnoff uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marduk.
Smirnoff staying out of range there.
Smirnoff tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd cheers as Marduk lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smirnoff doesn't seem phased though.
Smirnoff takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Marduk lands the left hand.
Smirnoff staying out of range there.
Smirnoff scores with a nice head shot.
Marduk listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Marduk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marduk misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnoff is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Marduk.
Smirnoff ducks under a wild hook from Marduk.
Smirnoff tries to clinch there but Marduk circles away.
Smirnoff keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marduk.
A big left from Marduk misses.
Marduk bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Smirnoff's head backwards.
Some wild striking there from Marduk.
Smirnoff moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Marduk throws a series of punches but Smirnoff moves out of range.
Smirnoff takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Marduk throws a hook but Smirnoff avoids it easily.
Smirnoff tries to clinch but Marduk is having none of it.
Smirnoff avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Smirnoff closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marduk working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Marduk lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smirnoff backwards.
Marduk lands a shot to the body.
Marduk lands a body shot in the clinch.
Marduk working aggressively here.
Smirnoff blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Marduk.
Marduk scores with a shot to the side of Smirnoff's head.
Smirnoff tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marduk smiles and moves away.
Smirnoff staying out of range there.
Smirnoff pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smirnoff avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marduk looks to score with a jab to the body but Smirnoff is just out of range.
Marduk misses with a two punch combination.
Marduk missing with a left hand there. Smirnoff was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marduk scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smirnoff doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marduk scores with a jab to the jaw.
Marduk swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Marduk cracks a nice hook into Smirnoff's ribs.
Smirnoff takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smirnoff keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marduk.
Smirnoff misses the jab.
Marduk throws a lazy right hand but Smirnoff sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marduk misses with a wild body shot.
Marduk throws a hook to the side of Smirnoff's head but Smirnoff sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smirnoff avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smirnoff takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smirnoff scores with a nice body kick.
Vitaly Smirnoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryan Marduk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marduk throws a right hand that Smirnoff ducks under and follows up with a left that Smirnoff also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Marduk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marduk 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Marduk!