PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bob pickerins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Marchand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). pickerins comes to the cage accompanied by way of the fist. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

pickerins
vs
Marchand

174 cm
25
170 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

177 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Solid chin

Broken Halo Pride Nutrition
Broken Halo Pride Nutrition

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 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bob pickerins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Byron Marchand!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marchand throws a head kick but pickerins moves out of range.
Marchand tries to score a power double leg takedown but pickerins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marchand somewhat.
Marchand connects with a high kick.
Marchand is looking to chop away at pickerins's legs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marchand is defended easily by pickerins.
Marchand swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by pickerins.
Nice body kick from Marchand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchand uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from pickerins.
pickerins ducks under a wild hook from Marchand.
Marchand throws a half hearted mid kick.
pickerins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marchand.
Marchand misses with a straight right.
Marchand slips under a jab from pickerins.
pickerins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A good leg kick by pickerins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
pickerins thows a body shot but no joy.
pickerins takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
pickerins avoids the head kick by Marchand.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Marchand.
Marchand looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Marchand tries to close the distance and clinch up but pickerins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marchand bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Marchand throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Marchand lands a head kick. pickerins smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pickerins connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
pickerins has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Marchand.

pickerins tries to sprawl but Marchand drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Marchand lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
pickerins is trying to get back to full guard.
pickerins has hold of Marchand's hands but Marchand slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marchand thows a huge punch but pickerins dodges it nicely.
Marchand not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marchand tries to pass to full mount but pickerins defends it.
Marchand sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. pickerins defending well though.
Marchand thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marchand wants to take a breather but pickerins is having none of it.
Marchand not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marchand has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marchand controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Marchand - that will leave a mark!
Marchand doesn't manage to clinch there - pickerins circles away.
A head kick from Marchand lands but pickerins takes it in his stride.
Nice body kick from Marchand.
Marchand tries a head kick but it misses.
Marchand tries to clinch there but pickerins circles away.
Marchand buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Marchand misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
pickerins walks forward, straight into a front kick from Marchand.
Marchand throws a front kick that sends pickerins stumbling back into the cage.
pickerins takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A slapping leg kick lands for Marchand.
pickerins gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Marchand counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Marchand is in close to pickerins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marchand looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marchand postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
pickerins keeping moving, preventing Marchand from controlling successfully.
Marchand passes pickerins's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Marchand is taking a breather. pickerins says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Marchand works his foot free and advances to mount.
The referee warns pickerins that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pickerins is in a horrible position here. Marchand smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Marchand with shots to the head and body - pickerins looks very uncomfortable down there.
pickerins is in a horrible position here. Marchand smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Marchand landing strikes from the mount.
Marchand landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marchand punishing his opponent with strikes.
Marchand in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Marchand lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Marchand working away from the top, dropping strikes.
pickerins taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marchand cracks pickerins with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Marchand sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
pickerins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Marchand 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.

Marchand throws a nice head kick!
Marchand throws a head kick but pickerins moves out of range.
Marchand pushes pickerins away with a front kick.
Marchand scores with the left hand. pickerins knows he should have avoided that one.
Marchand throws a body kick the misses
and pickerins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Byron Marchand seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marchand lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Marchand has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marchand throws a head kick that half lands.
A thudding body kick lands there by Marchand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchand misses with a head kick.
pickerins moves out of range of the body kick.
Marchand works the jab nicely.
Marchand scoring well with a low kick there.

Marchand closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Marchand controlling the position.
Marchand trying to control the position but pickerins is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marchand scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at pickerins to see if he's OK.
Marchand grinds an elbow into pickerins's temple.
Marchand staying calm.
pickerins knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marchand on the ground.

Marchand is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. pickerins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pickerins is looking to reverse the position.
pickerins takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Marchand creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The ground and pound from Marchand seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
pickerins parries the strikes from Marchand easily there. Marchand is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable pickerins to escape.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Marchand are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Marchand working the ground and pound but pickerins is defending the strikes.
pickerins managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Marchand.
The strikes coming from Marchand are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marchand throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
pickerins can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Marchand really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick misses from Marchand.
Marchand shoots for a takedown but pickerins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marchand dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on pickerins. That did some damage!
Marchand fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marchand is defended easily by pickerins.
Bob pickerins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Byron Marchand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marchand feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to pickerins's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Marchand tenderised pickerins's leg. pickerins is trying to keep his angry face on.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Marchand.
pickerins will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Marchand throws a sloppy head kick and pickerins moves out of range easily.
pickerins throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Marchand scores with a nice right hand.
Marchand moves away from the strike by pickerins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marchand throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Marchand lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Marchand tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and pickerins counters with a nice body shot.
pickerins is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Marchand thuds his shin into the meat of pickerins's side.
Marchand throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Marchand lands a nice looking kick to the body. pickerins takes a step back to recover.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marchand shoots in and bounces pickerins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marchand throwing strikes but missing.
Marchand throwing strikes from guard but pickerins blocks nicely.
Marchand trying to control but pickerins is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marchand landing with the ground and pound.
pickerins looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Marchand puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Marchand not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Marchand seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Marchand throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Marchand dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Marchand connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Marchand moves away from the strike by pickerins.
pickerins tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Marchand throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around pickerins's waist but pickerins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marchand off to one side.
pickerins blocks the body kick.
A low kick from pickerins is predictable there
and Marchand counters with a nice low kick that buckles pickerins's knee momentarily.
Marchand throws a shot from downtown. pickerins moves away and avoids it.
Marchand throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchand jabbing away but nothing is landing.
pickerins blocks a head kick by Marchand.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Marchand. pickerins shrugs it off though.
Marchand throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
pickerins takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Marchand buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Marchand lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Marchand lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Marchand - that will leave a mark!
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.

Marchand feints and as pickerins raises his hands in defense, Marchand changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marchand thows a big elbow that misses.
pickerins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marchand pushes down on pickerins's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Marchand is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Marchand sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marchand wants to take a breather but pickerins is having none of it.
pickerins is trying to control but Marchand passes into side control!
Marchand working the ground and pound.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
pickerins is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Marchand throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and pickerins works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Bob pickerins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Marchand is looking for a kimura but pickerins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marchand to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byron Marchand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marchand 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 43:50
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 43:50
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Byron Marchand!
Byron Marchand is the new welterweight champion!