PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Tulirinta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Knox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tulirinta comes to the cage accompanied by Aphrodite - Ganja Man. Knox has chosen Cinderella Man - Eminem as his entrance music. Marcus Tulirinta could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ben Knox's chin.

Tulirinta
vs
Knox

183 cm
22
198 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
20
185 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Tulirinta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Knox!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox throws a series of punches but Tulirinta avoids them all with ease.
Knox lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Marcus Tulirinta has been cut.
Tulirinta shoots for a takedown but Knox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tulirinta shoots in but Knox avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Knox defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tulirinta.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Tulirinta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knox throws a shot from downtown. Tulirinta moves away and avoids it.
Knox throws a good cross that connects.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knox tries to bum rush Tulirinta with a series of wild strikes but Tulirinta uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice takedown defense from Knox. No joy for Tulirinta on that attempt.
Tulirinta shoots in and drives through. Knox sprawls well.
Knox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tulirinta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knox wants to land a leg kick but Tulirinta is out of range.
Nice shot by Knox.

Marcus Tulirinta's cut is getting worse.
Tulirinta on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tulirinta uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Knox.
Tulirinta on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Knox. Knox obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulirinta blocks a jab.
Knox is looking to score with low kicks.
Tulirinta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tulirinta shoots in for a takedown but Knox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ben Knox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tulirinta takes one on the button.
Knox digs a good body shot into Tulirinta's ribs.
Tulirinta is breathing heavily.
Tulirinta checks a low kick from Knox.

Knox drops Tulirinta with a beautiful combination! Tulirinta stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Knox is looking for the KO!

Marcus Tulirinta's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tulirinta manages to avoid it.
Knox throws the left hand but Tulirinta avoids the punch easily.
Knox misses with a series of wild punches.
Tulirinta avoids the body shot from Knox.

Tulirinta throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Knox tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tulirinta is in Knox's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tulirinta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Knox swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knox 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.
Tulirinta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knox is keeping the position for now.
Knox is controlling Tulirinta's posture.
Tulirinta wants to pass the guard but Knox is keeping the position.
Tulirinta forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox wants to get back to his feet.
Knox won't allow Tulirinta to pass to mount.
Tulirinta thows a huge punch but Knox dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tulirinta missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tulirinta uses his free foot to push down on Knox's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Knox.
Knox is squirming around, avoiding Tulirinta's attempts to control the action.

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.
Knox prevents Tulirinta from taking his back.
Tulirinta tries to control but Knox wriggling away.
Tulirinta controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tulirinta goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Knox is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Knox dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Tulirinta's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tulirinta scores with a takedown into Knox's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tulirinta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Knox swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Knox keeping moving, preventing Tulirinta from controlling successfully.
Tulirinta looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox keeping moving, preventing Tulirinta from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marcus Tulirinta wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Knox throws a big shot that misses.
Tulirinta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knox misses with a low kick.

Tulirinta closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Knox prevents Tulirinta from moving into mount.
Tulirinta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knox keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tulirinta works to advance to full mount. Knox defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Tulirinta tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Knox is squirming around, avoiding Tulirinta's attempts to control the action.
Tulirinta controlling the position easily from mount.
Tulirinta looking to control but Knox is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tulirinta working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Knox manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Knox, under a barage of strikes from Tulirinta.
Tulirinta has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Knox takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tulirinta moves to back control.
Tulirinta is trying to control but Knox is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Tulirinta tries to take his opponent's back but Knox turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.
Tulirinta pulls Knox in close to prevent any damage.

Tulirinta looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Knox passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Tulirinta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Tulirinta's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tulirinta moves out of range of the strikes.
Tulirinta ducks under a wild hook from Knox.
Tulirinta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Knox.

Tulirinta darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tulirinta is trying to control the action in half guard but Knox is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tulirinta wants to pass the guard but Knox is defending well.
Knox really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tulirinta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tulirinta is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Knox!
Marcus Tulirinta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulirinta is trying to take his opponent's back.
Tulirinta looking to control and managing it successfully.

Tulirinta looking to secure an arm triangle but Knox defends it well.
Knox tries to reverse the position but Tulirinta maintains control.

That's two 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.
Tulirinta looking to control but Knox is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Knox is trying to escape the mount.
Tulirinta wants to take Knox's back here but Knox is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Knox is trying to escape the mount but Tulirinta keeps good control and instead manages to take Knox's back.

Tulirinta is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Knox has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Tulirinta's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knox is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Tulirinta gets his way!
Will Tulirinta go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Tulirinta is looking for a rear naked choke here but Knox reverses the position brilliantly into Tulirinta's guard!
Tulirinta keeping full guard, as Knox tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tulirinta wants to control the position but Knox says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Tulirinta is looking for a sweep. Knox is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tulirinta trying to control here.
Tulirinta moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Tulirinta showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tulirinta has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Tulirinta!