PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pika Kalei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall comes to the cage accompanied by Graduation Bitches. Kalei has chosen New York as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Marshall
vs
Kalei

178 cm
21
184 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

170 cm
28
184 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Elite Supplement Supplier

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marco Marshall!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pika Kalei!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kalei shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Marshall trying to control from the bottom.
Marshall wants to improve his position but Kalei is controlling well.

Kalei is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kalei is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Marshall is trying to maintain the position but Kalei is very close to passing his half guard.
Kalei trying to control from half guard but Marshall is working away.
Kalei thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kalei slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kalei gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Marshall misses with a takedown attempt

and Kalei counters with a takedown into side control.
Marshall prevents Kalei from improving position.
Marshall is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kalei thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kalei decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kalei rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Marshall moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalei misses the shot to the body.
Kalei fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marshall with a poor takedown
and Kalei counters with a left to the body.
Kalei connects with a right hand. Marshall shakes it off.

Marshall is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kalei's half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marshall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kalei slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kalei looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kalei is trying to control the position but Marshall postures up.
Kalei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall is one step ahead there.
Kalei lands a decent shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall is one step ahead there.
Marshall looking to pass the guard.
Kalei not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall preventing the sweep.
Kalei avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kalei throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Marshall slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marshall tries for a kimura but Kalei is defending well.

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.
Kalei wants to control but Marshall postures up.
Marshall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kalei keeps working.
Kalei manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Marshall works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kalei is pushing down on Marshall's leg trying to pass to half guard. Marshall is fighting to maintain full guard but Kalei has managed to sneak the leg through.
Marshall is breathing heavily.
Kalei not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kalei wants to free his trapped foot but Marshall is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kalei is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pika Kalei dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marshall avoids the body shot from Kalei.
Kalei moves in looking to clinch but Marshall pushes him off.
Marco Marshall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Marshall shoots in and gets a takedown into Kalei's guard.
Kalei keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.
Kalei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall is one step ahead there.

Marshall drops back looking for a leg! Kalei is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kalei manages to kick Marshall off! Marshall jumps back into Kalei's guard.
Kalei bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Marshall's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalei wants to pass the guard but Marshall is keeping the position.
Kalei is in close to Marshall's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marshall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kalei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marshall is keeping the position for now.
Marshall trying to keep a closed guard but Kalei is proving a slippery customer.
Marshall keeping full guard, as Kalei tries to pass.
Kalei sitting in guard here, content to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marshall is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marshall accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kalei is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marshall is aware though and is defending well.
Kalei is breathing heavily.
Kalei keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.

Kalei working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marshall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marshall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marshall postures up.
Kalei looking for a sweep. Not yet Kalei, not yet.
Marshall slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Marshall pushes down on Kalei's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Marshall trying to control the action but Kalei is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalei is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marshall's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marshall's back!
Marshall manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kalei's guard. Nice work there by Marshall.

Marshall thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kalei is keeping the position for now.
Marshall stops Kalei from standing up.
Kalei has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kalei looking to control.
Marshall advances position into side control!
Marshall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kalei keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalei is looking to reverse the position.
Kalei is trying to buck Marshall off.
Marshall is working Kalei over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kalei is not content to let Marshall control the position.
Kalei wants to get back to his feet.
Kalei looking for a sweep but Marshall has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Marshall trying to control but Kalei is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marshall fails with the takedown

and Kalei counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Marshall is working an open guard so Kalei takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Marshall blocks a jab.
Marshall avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kalei misses with a wild combination.
Marshall tries for a takedown but Kalei circles away easily
and Kalei counters with a one-two to the body.
Marshall keeps the fight on the outside.
Marshall keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A combination from Kalei does no damage.
Kalei lands with a nice combination. Marshall backs away looking to recover.

Kalei gets caught flat footed, as Marshall shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Marshall preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kalei is looking for a triangle but Marshall pushes his legs off easily.
Marshall working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kalei's head.

Marshall drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marshall jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kalei controls Marshall momentarily but Marshall frees himself.
Marshall postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marshall trying to control but Kalei is working from the bottom.
Kalei lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Marshall postures up.

Kalei scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kalei scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall misses with a takedown
enabling Kalei to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Marshall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kalei lands a head shot.
Marshall avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kalei is looking to clinch.
Kalei is looking to clinch.
Kalei swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kalei tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marshall swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kalei shoots and misses

and Marshall decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kalei's guard.

Kalei has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marshall can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Kalei is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kalei is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marshall is aware though and is defending well.
Marshall content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Kalei is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marshall is aware though and is defending well.
Kalei is trying to control the position but Marshall postures up.
Marshall slips nicely into half guard.
Marshall scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Marshall wants to take a breather but Kalei is having none of it.

Kalei is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.
Marshall is keen to just control but Kalei is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kalei tries to roll over but Marshall keeps him under control.

Marshall wants to work for an arm triangle but Kalei is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kalei moves into full guard.
Kalei doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Marshall stopping the sweep attempt from Kalei.
Pika Kalei has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marshall stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kalei swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Pika Kalei just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kalei connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Marshall's hands.
Kalei tries to clinch but Marshall moves out of range.

Marshall throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kalei tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Marshall is in Kalei's guard.
Marshall working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall with a nice head shot there.
Kalei looking to control but Marshall passes into half guard.
Kalei is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kalei trying to hold on to Marshall's head to control him but Marshall postures up.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kalei wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall is trying to control. Kalei wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kalei misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kalei manages to get to full guard.
Kalei is trying to keep Marshall in close.
Kalei has momentary wrist control but Marshall slips an elbow through the middle.
Kalei looking to control.
Marshall trying to control but Kalei is working from the bottom.
Marshall passes Kalei's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but Kalei defending well.

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.
Kalei blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marshall.
Marshall throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marshall seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kalei does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kalei is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marshall's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marshall's back!

Kalei working for a choke but Marshall is defending well.
Kalei doesn't have the hooks in and Marshall manages to turn into his guard.

Kalei is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kalei throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Kalei keeps moving.

Kalei had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marshall defends it easily.
Kalei tries to strike from the bottom.
Kalei tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Kalei keeps moving.
Kalei is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Marshall is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four 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.

Kalei is working for a submission of some sort.
Marshall slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kalei looking to pass the guard.

Kalei is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Marshall controls Kalei momentarily but Kalei frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Pika Kalei will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Marshall with a poor takedown
and Kalei counters with a nice uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Kalei. Those never looked like landing.

Kalei throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Marshall tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kalei is in Marshall's guard.
Marshall is adopting a defensive guard.
Marshall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Marshall is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kalei is aware though and is defending well.
Kalei passes into half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Marshall is looking for a sweep. Kalei is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kalei connects with a nice short shot to Marshall's temple.
Kalei winds up and cracks Marshall with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalei missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kalei is looking for a kimura here.
Marshall has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kalei is working away from the top position though.
Marshall punching from the bottom.
Marshall is looking for a sweep. Kalei is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marshall is in trouble now - Kalei has advanced to mount!
Kalei putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Kalei is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalei fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kalei lands a head shot.
Kalei lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kalei.

Kalei throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Marshall tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kalei is in Marshall's guard.
Kalei stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marshall swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Marshall working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kalei doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kalei manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marshall keeping moving, preventing Kalei from controlling successfully.
Kalei content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalei wants to pass the guard but Marshall is keeping the position.
Marshall is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kalei sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Pika Kalei has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kalei throws a right hand that Marshall ducks under and follows up with a left that Marshall also avoids with ease.
Kalei misses with a series of wild punches.
Kalei misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four 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.

Kalei tries to sprawl but Marshall drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Marshall is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kalei has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kalei is looking for a sweep. Marshall is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kalei regains full guard. Nicely done.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kalei is trying to control the position but Marshall postures up.
Marco Marshall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marshall wants to control from the top but Kalei keeps moving.
Kalei is adopting a defensive guard.
Kalei trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pika Kalei comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kalei 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 46:49
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pika Kalei! Pika Kalei retains his welterweight title!