PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Happy Lucky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mattias Markstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lucky
vs
Markstrom

179 cm
27
188 lbs
4 - 5 - 1

180 cm
29
170 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Happy Lucky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mattias Markstrom!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucky misses with a few strikes there.
Lucky tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Markstrom was well out of range. Poor timing from Lucky.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lucky, right into the meat.
Lucky throws a chopping leg kick but Markstrom manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lucky throws a head kick that misses.
Lucky looks to score with a jab to the body but Markstrom is just out of range.
Lucky tries a head kick but it misses.

Markstrom has taken the fight to the clinch.

Markstrom breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Markstrom throws a series of punches but Lucky avoids them all with ease.
Lucky takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Markstrom closes the distance and pushes Lucky back into the cage.
Lucky has Markstrom pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Markstrom manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Lucky manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Markstrom trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lucky's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Markstrom working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markstrom sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lucky's guard.
Lucky is refusing to be controlled, as Markstrom sits in half guard.

Lucky is defending against the submission attempts here by Markstrom.
Markstrom thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lucky's head.
Markstrom lands with a punch from half guard.
Lucky is trying to get back to full guard.
Markstrom trying to control the action but Lucky is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucky trying to control here.

Markstrom is trying to work for a kimura but Lucky is defending well.

Markstrom decides to return to a standing position.
Some wild striking there from Lucky.
Lucky throws a right hand that Markstrom ducks under and follows up with a left that Markstrom also avoids with ease.
Lucky fails with a takedown attempt.
Lucky is breathing heavily.
Markstrom avoids the head kick by Lucky.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Markstrom has closed the distance and engaged Lucky in a clinch.
Markstrom unloads a knee to the mid-section. Lucky lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lucky tries to pull guard but Markstrom holds him up against the cage and eventually Lucky drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Happy Lucky. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Markstrom successfully pulls guard.

Markstrom had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lucky defends it easily.
Markstrom tries to strike from the bottom.
Markstrom manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lucky manages to get himself to full guard.
Markstrom missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lucky preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Markstrom stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Markstrom forces Lucky back against the cage and clinches.
Markstrom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Markstrom.
Lucky is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Markstrom gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Markstrom creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lucky's defenses.
Knees to the body from Markstrom.

Markstrom turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Markstrom manages to end up in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markstrom sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lucky is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Markstrom wants to control but Lucky is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Markstrom landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Markstrom moves into the clinch successfully.

Markstrom has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lucky uses from the top position.
Lucky trying to control the position from guard on top but Markstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mattias Markstrom has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lucky wants to get up but he can't break Markstrom's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Markstrom controls Lucky momentarily but Lucky frees himself.

Markstrom looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lucky passes into side control.
Lucky working the ground and pound.
Markstrom is not content to let Lucky control the position.
Markstrom throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markstrom manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Markstrom trying to hold on to Lucky's head to control him but Lucky postures up.
Markstrom is looking for a sweep. Lucky is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lucky controlling the action here.
Lucky is trying to control. Markstrom wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Markstrom avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lucky.

Markstrom pushes Lucky off and gets back to his feet.
Markstrom avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucky throws a leg kick that is checked
and Markstrom counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Lucky is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Lucky misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Markstrom checks the leg kick.

Markstrom fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lucky, pushing him back against the cage.
Lucky is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Markstrom is defending well.
Markstrom is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lucky pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Markstrom slowing the pace effectively.

Lucky decides to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markstrom throwing strikes but missing.
Markstrom working some strikes from top position.
Markstrom trying to control but Lucky is working from the bottom.

Lucky looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Markstrom's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Markstrom passes into half guard.
Lucky is not content to let Markstrom control the position.

Markstrom 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.
Markstrom lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markstrom is looking for a kimura here.
Lucky keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattias Markstrom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lucky closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Markstrom moves into the clinch.
Markstrom pushes Lucky back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Lucky is trying to break the clinch but Markstrom has him pressed against the cage.
Markstrom stops a takedown attempt from Lucky.
Markstrom avoiding damage as Lucky throws knees to the body.
Lucky misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Markstrom.

Markstrom gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lucky is defending against the submission attempts here by Markstrom.
Markstrom wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lucky keeps working.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucky trying to hold on to Markstrom's head to control him but Markstrom postures up.
Lucky wants to get back to full guard.

Markstrom is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lucky defends it well.
Markstrom looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lucky with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Markstrom has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Markstrom scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Markstrom tries to pass to full mount but Lucky defends it.
Markstrom throwing shots but Lucky is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucky trying to hold on to Markstrom's head to control him but Markstrom postures up.
Lucky is trying is best to control the position here.
Lucky wants to get back to full guard.

Markstrom is working for a kimura but Lucky is defending it quite comfortably.
Markstrom wants to free his trapped foot but Lucky is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Markstrom is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lucky defends it well.
Markstrom scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Markstrom throwing shots but Lucky is blocking nicely.

Lucky manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Lucky swinging wildly here.
Happy Lucky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markstrom throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Lucky counters by moving into the clinch.

Markstrom decides to pull guard.

Markstrom is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lucky defends well.

Markstrom escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lucky gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markstrom being controlled here, momentarily.
Lucky cracks Markstrom with a solid left hand.
Lucky wants to control from the top but Markstrom keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Markstrom throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Happy Lucky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mattias Markstrom is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lucky cracks Markstrom with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mattias Markstrom.
I've got Markstrom winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mattias Markstrom!