PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Criss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sigmar Magnusson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magnusson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Go Go Godzilla - Blue Oyster Cult kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Criss
vs
Magnusson

196 cm
26
265 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

194 cm
19
275 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marco Criss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sigmar Magnusson!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Magnusson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Criss looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Criss is pushing Magnusson's head away, looking to escape. Magnusson manages to hold on to the position though.

Magnusson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Magnusson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Criss is trying to buck Magnusson off.
Criss prevents Magnusson from improving position.

Magnusson is trying to get an arm triangle but Criss is defending well.

Magnusson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Magnusson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Criss is pushing Magnusson's head away, looking to escape. Magnusson manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magnusson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Criss is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Criss is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Magnusson laying and praying for a moment but Criss takes advantage and regains half guard.
Criss wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Criss on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Criss tries to get out of the position.

Magnusson 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Criss is trying to stand back up but Magnusson is controlling him
Criss is not content to let Magnusson control the position.
Criss wants to get back to his feet.

Magnusson is looking for a kimura here.

Magnusson is trying to work for a kimura but Criss is defending well.
Criss wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magnusson is controlling the pace.
Criss is staying active underneath Magnusson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Magnusson works his foot free and advances to mount.

Magnusson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Criss is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Criss and Magnusson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Magnusson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Magnusson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Criss, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Criss wants to get back to his feet but Magnusson drags him back down.

Magnusson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Magnusson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Magnusson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Magnusson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Criss is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Criss is trying to buck Magnusson off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sigmar Magnusson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Criss throws a hook to the side of Magnusson's head but Magnusson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Magnusson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A telegraphed right hand from Criss misses the target.
Magnusson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Criss.
Criss looks to land a combination but Magnusson avoids it well.
Criss misses with a series of wild punches.
Criss throws a right hand that Magnusson ducks under and follows up with a left that Magnusson also avoids with ease.
Criss misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Magnusson.
Criss falls off balance throwing a combination
and Magnusson counters with a low kick, right behind Criss 's knee.
Magnusson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Criss, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Criss falls off balance throwing a combination

so Magnusson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Magnusson advances position into side control!

Magnusson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Magnusson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Criss, who protects the arm well.

Magnusson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Criss is pushing Magnusson's head away, looking to escape. Magnusson manages to hold on to the position though.
Magnusson trying to control the position but Criss is working away.
Criss wants to get back to his feet but Magnusson drags him back down.

Magnusson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Magnusson is looking to take a break and control but Criss is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Magnusson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Criss has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Magnusson but great work by Criss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Criss looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Criss is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Magnusson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Magnusson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Magnusson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Criss misses with the combination.
Criss throws a right hand that misses

and Magnusson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magnusson 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.
Criss is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Magnusson is controlling him.

Magnusson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Criss is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Criss has escaped and now he's on top!
Sigmar Magnusson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Criss stopping the sweep attempt from Magnusson.
Criss would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magnusson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Criss manages to get himself to full guard.
Criss wants to stand up but Magnusson is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sigmar Magnusson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Criss swings for the body but Magnusson moves out of range.
Criss tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Magnusson was well out of range. Poor timing from Criss.
Criss will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Magnusson misses with a wild body shot.
Criss swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Criss misses with a hook

and Magnusson counters with a single leg into guard. Criss didn't expect that.
Criss keeping moving, preventing Magnusson from controlling successfully.
Magnusson passes Criss's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Magnusson is looking for a kimura but Criss is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Magnusson to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magnusson is trying to control. Criss wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Criss wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnusson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Magnusson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Magnusson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Criss to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Criss shrugs it off.

Magnusson working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Criss looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Magnusson! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Sigmar Magnusson!