PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Marcus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroto Inoue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiroto Inoue is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Marcus
vs
Inoue

196 cm
25
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
26
238 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chad Marcus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroto Inoue!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Inoue shoots and misses

and Marcus counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Marcus.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Marcus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marcus trying to control but Inoue is working from the bottom.
Marcus throwing strikes from guard but Inoue blocks nicely.
Marcus looking to pass the guard.
Inoue is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Inoue pulls Marcus in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marcus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marcus throws a big right hand that misses.
Inoue is trying to control the position but Marcus postures up.
Inoue seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hiroto Inoue.
Inoue tests Marcus's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Marcus shoots in for a takedown but Inoue shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marcus on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Inoue fails to land the takedown.
Inoue fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marcus has his takedown stuffed

and Inoue counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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.
Marcus keeping moving, preventing Inoue from controlling successfully.
Inoue won't allow Marcus to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inoue is looking to work some ground and pound but Marcus has wrist control.
Marcus could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Marcus wants to sweep here but Inoue controlling him for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Inoue passes Marcus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Inoue thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marcus's head.
Inoue wants to pass the guard but Marcus is defending well.
Marcus regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Inoue.
Marcus keeping moving, preventing Inoue from controlling successfully.
Inoue with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inoue throwing strikes from guard but Marcus blocks nicely.
Inoue wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.
Inoue is looking to work some ground and pound but Marcus has wrist control.
Inoue with a flurry of punches that miss.
Inoue wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.

Marcus looking for a guillotine here but Inoue defends easily.
Inoue has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marcus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoue trying to control but Marcus is working from the bottom.
Inoue works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Inoue is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Marcus trying to control but Inoue postures up.
Inoue throwing shots but Marcus is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marcus is refusing to be controlled, as Inoue sits in half guard.
Marcus knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Inoue on the ground.
Marcus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Inoue shoots in for a double leg but Marcus sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Inoue fails to land the takedown.
Marcus looks for a takedown but Inoue sprawls well.
Marcus fails with the takedown
and Inoue counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marcus fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Marcus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Inoue is looking to clinch but Marcus is avoiding it.
Inoue looks for a takedown but Marcus sprawls well.
Marcus is looking to chop away at Inoue's legs.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Inoue. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Inoue has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Inoue throws a hook to the side of Marcus's head but Marcus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Inoue displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marcus.

Marcus feints and as Inoue raises his hands in defense, Marcus changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marcus throwing strikes from guard but Inoue blocks nicely.
Inoue trying to control the position here.
Inoue trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Inoue escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marcus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marcus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Inoue bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Marcus's guard.
Marcus keeping moving, preventing Inoue from controlling successfully.
Inoue stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marcus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Inoue wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.
Inoue postures up.
Hiroto Inoue has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Inoue being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chad Marcus just wasn't active enough.

Marcus gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Inoue to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Inoue sitting in guard here, content to control.
Inoue throwing strikes but missing.
Inoue wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoue is pushing down on Marcus's leg trying to pass to half guard. Marcus is fighting to maintain full guard but Inoue has managed to sneak the leg through.
Inoue is thwarting Marcus's attempts to control the position.
Inoue wants to pass to mount but Marcus is defending the position.
Marcus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Inoue.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marcus is trying to maintain the position but Inoue is very close to passing his half guard.

Inoue seems to be looking for submissions.
Inoue sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marcus defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroto Inoue showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Marcus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Inoue stalks Marcus and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Marcus's face. Marcus staggers backwards, shaken.
Inoue moves away from the strike by Marcus.
Inoue slips under a jab from Marcus.
Marcus motions for Inoue to come forward. Marcus throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Inoue feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Marcus avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Inoue loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Inoue trying to control but Marcus is working from the bottom.
Inoue 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.
Inoue thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Inoue in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marcus looking for a sweep. Not yet Marcus, not yet.
Marcus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Inoue leaves Marcus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Marcus ducks right into an uppercut from Inoue.
Hiroto Inoue is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Inoue, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Inoue shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marcus but Marcus pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inoue shoots in looking for a takedown. Marcus tries to sprawl out of it but Inoue keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Marcus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed right hand from Inoue misses the target.
Inoue fails with the takedown.
Chad Marcus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiroto Inoue.
Marcus misses with a takedown attempt

and Inoue counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Check out the look on Inoue's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Inoue wants to control but Marcus is keeping him busy.
Inoue throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Marcus works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Inoue is thwarting Marcus's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inoue is trying to control. Marcus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Marcus is trying to control but can't.
Inoue looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Inoue is controlling the pace.
Marcus throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Inoue thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marcus's head.
Hiroto Inoue is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Marcus on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Marcus tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcus trying to control but Inoue postures up.
Marcus tries to roll over but Inoue keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Inoue thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Marcus to regain full guard.
Marcus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Inoue.
Marcus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Inoue.
Inoue postures up in Marcus's guard and throws a big left but Marcus blocks it.

Inoue is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marcus is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marcus has escaped and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Inoue is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroto Inoue comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Inoue 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroto Inoue!