PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall comes to the cage accompanied by Light My Fire. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Marshall
vs
Gracie

178 cm
23
184 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

180 cm
27
181 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marco Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Roberto Gracie!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie swings away with a body shot that misses

and Marshall counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie pushes Marshall off looking to stand but Marshall dives back in and keeps control.
Marshall blocks the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Marshall seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.
Gracie throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Marshall sits in half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Marshall is keeping busy.
Gracie missing with punches from the bottom.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Marshall in his half guard.
Gracie is looking to control Marshall's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marshall is working for a submission of some sort.

Marshall is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Marshall.
Marshall keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Marshall lands with a punch from half guard.

Marshall is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.

Marshall is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Marshall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Marshall trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie working Marshall over with strikes.
Marshall gets full guard.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marshall has a closed guard, preventing Gracie from standing up.
Marshall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Marshall's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Marshall blocks nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marshall is breathing heavily.
Marshall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marshall works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie throws and elbow that misses. Marshall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Marshall!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roberto Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Marshall.
Gracie connects with a good right hand that stumbles Marshall. Marshall circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A cross from Gracie lands.
Gracie leaves Marshall with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie swinging wildly here.
A right-left combo lands from Gracie.

Marshall 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.

Marshall got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marshall has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Marshall engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall is really struggling to control Gracie but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Marco Marshall.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Marshall saw that one coming.
Marshall fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Roberto Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Marshall moves away and avoids it.

Gracie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marshall is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Marshall wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a strike but Marshall avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gracie postures up in Marshall's guard and throws a big left but Marshall blocks it.
Marco Marshall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Marshall working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marshall is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marshall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie trying to control but Marshall is working from the bottom.

Gracie has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Marshall to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Gracie is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Marshall pulls down on the head and he's put Gracie to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Marco Marshall!