PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nic Crowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Marston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Crowe
vs
Marston

200 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Bloodsport Nutrition
Predator Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nic Crowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Marston!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marston scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Crowe dodges the ground and pound from Marston.

Marston decides to stand back up. Marston steps back and let's Crowe get back to his feet.

Marston dives in and scores a takedown into Crowe's guard.
Marston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crowe is keeping the position for now.
Marston is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Marston trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crowe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marston's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marston trying to control but Crowe is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Marston hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Crowe shoots and misses

and Marston decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Crowe's guard.
Crowe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marston is in close to Crowe's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Marston drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Crowe manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Marston has Crowe in his guard.
Crowe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Crowe wants to control from the top but Marston keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marston tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Crowe wants to pass the guard but Marston is keeping the position.
Crowe wants to control from the top but Marston keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Crowe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marston is keeping the position for now.
Crowe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nic Crowe just wasn't active enough.
Crowe with a poor takedown

and Marston counters with a shoot takedown. Crowe fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Marston stands and steps away. Crowe gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Marston darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Marston looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crowe is refusing to be controlled, as Marston sits in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Marston is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Crowe is trying to control the position but Marston postures up.
Marston wants to pass the guard but Crowe is keeping the position.
Crowe keeping moving, preventing Marston from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Marston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crowe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marston's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Marston postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Marston.

Marston gets a takedown into half guard.
Crowe tries to get to full guard but Marston has control of the leg.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marston is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Marston dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Crowe fails with the takedown

and Marston counters with a single leg into guard. Crowe didn't expect that.
Marston is pushing down on Crowe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Crowe is fighting to maintain full guard but Marston has managed to sneak the leg through.
Marston tries to pass to full mount but Crowe defends it.
Marston is nestled in close to Crowe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Marston slows the pace down in half guard.
Crowe is staying active underneath Marston, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Crowe is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marston looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Marston stalling away here and it's allowed Crowe to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Marston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crowe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two 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.
Marston is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
John Marston has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marston postures up in Crowe's guard and throws a big left but Crowe blocks it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Marston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Marston trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Crowe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marston would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marston is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Marston throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Crowe was covering up waiting for the punch and Marston finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Crowe wants to sweep but no luck.
Marston sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Marston gets to his feet - Crowe follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crowe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Marston counters with a shoot takedown. Crowe fights it but they end up in guard.

Crowe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marston is aware though and is defending well.
Crowe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Marston!
Marston tries to hold on but Crowe pushes him away.
Crowe can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Marston is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Marston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Marston throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Crowe was covering up waiting for the punch and Marston finishes the takedown easily into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marston seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Crowe wants to get back to his feet but Marston is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crowe is keeping the position for now.
Marston slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Crowe is not content to let Marston control the position.
Crowe is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Crowe is trying to control Marston's posture but Marston avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Marston.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marston tries to advance position but instead Crowe slips a leg back in to half guard.
Marston wants to stand up but Crowe has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Crowe moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marston passes Crowe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Marston wants to stand up but Crowe is controlling the position.
Crowe has hold of Marston's hands but Marston slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Marston trying to control from half guard but Crowe is working away.
Marston seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marston prevents Crowe from improving his position.
Marston trying to mount his opponent but Crowe defends it.
Marston is trying to control the action in half guard but Crowe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marston is looking to pass Crowe's guard but actually Crowe recovers to full guard.
Nic Crowe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Marston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marston is looking to advance position but Crowe has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
John Marston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marston 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Marston!