PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lee Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Merlotte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marshall
vs
Merlotte

173 cm
21
166 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lee Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Merlotte!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merlotte scores with a nice body kick.

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Merlotte is trying to escape the mount.

Marshall is working for a guillotine from mount but Merlotte frees his head quite easily.
Merlotte is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merlotte sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Merlotte tries to get to full guard but Marshall has control of the leg.
Marshall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlotte keeps working.
Marshall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall slows the pace down in half guard.
Merlotte is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merlotte is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Marshall is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Merlotte's half guard.
Merlotte avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marshall.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but Merlotte defending well.
Merlotte is looking to improve his position.
Marshall is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Merlotte!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Marshall wants to take Merlotte's back here but Merlotte is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Marshall trying to control but Merlotte is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marshall is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Merlotte has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Marshall avoids the attempt from Merlotte to control.
Merlotte regains half guard.
Marshall seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Merlotte is looking to improve his position.
Marshall wants to control but Merlotte is keeping him busy.

Marshall is working for a submission of some sort.
Marshall with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merlotte trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlotte pulls Marshall in close to prevent any damage.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlotte is keeping the position for now.
Marshall is working hard here to advance position.
Marshall stands and throws Merlotte's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Merlotte struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlotte manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marshall trying to control but Merlotte postures up.
Marshall is trying to get back to full guard.
Merlotte is thwarting Marshall's attempts to control the position.
Marshall keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Merlotte is keen to just control but Marshall is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Marshall controlling the position for now.
Marshall wants to get back to full guard but Merlotte has mounted him!
Marshall wants to control but Merlotte is having none of it.
Marshall wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Merlotte.
Marshall sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Merlotte wants to stand up but Marshall is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlotte is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall is concentrating on defense, preventing Merlotte from advancing position.
Merlotte wants to control but Marshall is keeping him busy.
Merlotte wants to stand up but Marshall has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Marshall actively working from the bottom here.
Marshall tries to roll over but Merlotte keeps him under control.

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.
Merlotte stalling away here and it's allowed Marshall to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Marshall scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Marshall is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Merlotte is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Merlotte tries to buck Marshall off but Marshall is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marshall working the ground and pound from side control.
Merlotte regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Marshall dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Marshall shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Marshall works his way into full mount!
Marshall controlling from the full mount.
Marshall trying to control but Merlotte is having none of it.
Merlotte takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall with good strikes from the mount here!
Merlotte is just holding on here. Marshall manages to take his back.

Marshall has his arm under Merlotte's chin here. Game over son! Marshall squeezes tightly and Merlotte is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lee Marshall!