PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Hero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Marchand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hero comes to the cage accompanied by No shelter - Rage against the machine. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hero
vs
Marchand

177 cm
26
180 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

177 cm
25
170 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Christopher Hero!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Byron Marchand!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marchand tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hero was well out of range. Poor timing from Marchand.
Marchand scores with a spinning back kick!
Hero misses with a head kick.
Marchand takes one to the chin there.
Hero throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marchand counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hero's knee momentarily.
Hero fails with a takedown attempt.

Hero closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Marchand quickly recovers to half guard.
Marchand slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hero sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Marchand's guard.

Hero seems to be looking for submissions.

Marchand looking for submissions off his back.
Marchand gets full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hero throws a big elbow that misses.
Hero wants to stand but Marchand has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchand looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Marchand throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Marchand has his foot on Hero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hero works his way back into a safe position though.

Marchand throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hero trying to control the position from guard on top but Marchand is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Marchand is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hero wants to control from the top but Marchand keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hero is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marchand is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marchand has escaped and now he's on top!
Hero is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hero is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Marchand defends it well.
Hero takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Marchand trying to hold on to Hero's head to control him but Hero postures up.
Marchand is looking for a sweep. Hero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hero is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Marchand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marchand is desperately trying to improve his position but Hero has a good base and remains in mount.
Hero punching from mount but Marchand doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Marchand has given up his back.

Marchand fending off the submission attempt from Hero.

Marchand is having to fend off submission attempts from Hero, who is looking to sink in the choke. Hero doesn't have the hooks in though and Marchand manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Marchand pushes down on Hero's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Marchand is trying to control. Hero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hero slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hero wants to sweep here but Marchand controlling him for the moment.
Marchand scoring with punches to the head and body.
Marchand trying to control the position from guard on top but Hero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hero is striking from the bottom but Marchand uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Marchand is working for a kimura but Hero is defending it quite comfortably.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hero trying to control but Marchand postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Byron Marchand will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marchand circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice sprawl there from Hero as Marchand shoots in.
Marchand throws a hook but Hero avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Hero.
Marchand misses with an uppercut
and Hero counters with a nice uppercut.
Hero misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marchand ducks under a wild hook from Hero.
Marchand looks to land a body kick but Hero moved away.
Marchand slips under a jab from Hero.
Marchand throws a jab but it's blocked by Hero.
Marchand lands a jab.
Hero swinging wildly here.
Hero steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marchand.
Marchand does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Marchand fails to land with a series of punches.
Marchand circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchand thows a body shot but no joy.
Marchand throws a sloppy head kick
and Hero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hero tries to clinch but Marchand moves out of range.

Hero scores with a takedown into Marchand's guard.
Hero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Marchand is proving hard to escape from.

Marchand working for a triangle but Hero defends it easily.
Hero looking to sit in guard and control but Marchand gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Marchand trying to control the position from guard on top but Hero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hero is looking to sweep but instead, Marchand has passed into half guard.
Marchand is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hero works his way to full guard. Good work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hero is looking for a triangle but Marchand pushes his legs off easily.
Marchand sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hero wants to hit a switch here but Marchand passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hero there!
Hero really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marchand lands with some strikes.
Hero is squirming around, avoiding Marchand's attempts to control the action.
Marchand landing strikes from the mount and Hero is in trouble!
Marchand raining down shots from the mount!
Hero sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Marchand looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Marchand working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hero tries to kick Marchand off but Marchand keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hero is trying to get back to full guard.

Hero actively working from the bottom here.
Marchand slips a nice elbow through Hero's hands, connecting with Hero's forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marchand trying to control from half guard but Hero is working away.
Marchand is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hero!
Hero wants to hold on but Marchand pushes him away.
Marchand cracks Hero with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marchand landing shots from mount.
Marchand is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hero is looking to get to half guard.
Marchand wants to control the pace but Hero is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Marchand 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!

A head kick misses from Marchand.
Hero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marchand's waist but Marchand gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hero off to one side.
Marchand misses with the combination.
Hero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marchand circles away quickly and effectively.
Hero moves out of range of the leg kick from Marchand.
Marchand misses with a wild body shot.
Marchand looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Marchand misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hero.
Marchand connects with an inside leg kick.
Marchand thows a left - swing and a miss!
Marchand rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hero counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marchand tries a head kick but it misses.
Hero thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hero slips under a jab from Marchand.
Marchand misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hero misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchand avoids a punch combination nicely.
Christopher Hero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hero throws a head kick that misses.
Hero throws a head kick but Marchand moves out of range.
Marchand looks to score with a jab to the body but Hero is just out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Marchand tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marchand throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marchand cracks a nice hook into Hero's ribs.
Marchand shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hero pinned against the cage. Hero gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hero bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hero takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hero misses with a body kick.
Marchand misses with a low kick.
Marchand throws a low kick, looking for Hero's leg but Hero calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marchand throws a right hand that Hero ducks under and follows up with a left that Hero also avoids with ease.
Hero misses with a jab, cross combination.
Marchand throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marchand looks to land a combination but Hero avoids it well.
Marchand takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marchand fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hero manages to avoid it.
Marchand shoots in and drives through. Hero sprawls well.
Christopher Hero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Byron Marchand.
Hero tries to bum rush Marchand with a series of wild strikes but Marchand uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hero is looking to clinch but Marchand is avoiding it.
Hero connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marchand momentarily.
Hero scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marchand throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hero checks a leg kick.
Byron Marchand seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hero tries to close the distance and clinch but Marchand swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marchand takes a jab right on the kisser.
Marchand cracks the inside of Hero's front leg.
Marchand throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hero tries to close the distance and clinch but Marchand swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marchand throws a head kick that misses.
Marchand swings for the body but Hero moves out of range.
Hero lands a jab to the nose.
Hero misses with an uppercut. Marchand saw that one coming.
Marchand throws a body kick the misses
and Hero counters with a stiff right hand.
Marchand is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hero rather than just go for the knockout.
Hero lands a jab.
Marchand has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hero.
Marchand throws a body kick that misses.
Hero bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Marchand's head.
Marchand looks to throw the jab but Hero is out of range.
Hero with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Marchand thuds a left hand into Hero's body.
Marchand misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marchand moves out of range of the body kick.
Marchand throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sloppy strikes from Hero. Those never looked like landing.
A combination from Hero does no damage.
Marchand gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Hero counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marchand wants to improve his position but Hero is controlling well.
Marchand is looking to control Hero's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marchand avoid being mounted?

Hero is trying to work for a kimura but Marchand is defending well.
Marchand manages to get to full guard.
Byron Marchand has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hero wants to control from the top but Marchand keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Christopher Hero did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hero throws a series of punches but Marchand moves out of range.
Marchand throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Marchand with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hero lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hero slips under a jab.
Nice straight punches there by Hero. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hero.
That kick from Marchand tenderised Hero's leg. Hero is trying to keep his angry face on.
Good leg kick by Hero there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marchand.
Hero misses with a wild combination.
Marchand avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jab by Hero.
Hero wants to clinch up but Marchand keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Marchand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marchand feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Heros jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hero looking to land some kicks to the body here.
An inside leg kick lands from Marchand.
Marchand slips a jab and a cross from Hero.
Hero tries to close the distance and clinch but Marchand swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marchand throws a head kick but Hero moves out of range.
Marchand throws a lazy head kick
and Hero counters with a two punch combo.
Hero misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Marchand looks to land a right hand but Hero moved out of range.
Marchand throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Marchand.
Marchand buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hero looks to land a combination but Marchand avoids it well.
Hero scores with a three punch combo!
Hero misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hero misses with the combination.
Hero tries to move into range but Marchand moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hero takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marchand looks for the body kick but Hero saw that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Hero.
Hero moves out of range of the body kick.
Marchand connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hero avoids a kick to the body.
Marchand goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Marchand fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Hero looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hero throws a big right hand that misses.
Hero looking to pass the guard.

Marchand looking for a guillotine here but Hero defends easily.

Hero stands up from Marchand's guard - Hero perhaps looking for a knockout.
Marchand throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hero throws a series of punches but Marchand avoids them all with ease.
Hero moves out of range as Marchand throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Hero.
Marchand looks to land a body kick but Hero moved away.
Hero closes the distance and clinches up with Marchand, looking for a takedown. Hero pushes Marchand against the cage but Marchand circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marchand.
Hero has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Marchand.
Hero slips under a jab from Marchand.
Marchand blocks a head kick by Hero.
Some bone on bone action there as Hero checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hero swinging wildly here.
Hero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marchand lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hero at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marchand moves out of range of the body kick from Hero.
Hero ducks under a wild hook from Marchand.
Hero paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Byron Marchand will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Hero's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Marchand fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hero.
Marchand tries a head kick but it misses.
Marchand fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hero has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hero tries to close the distance and clinch but Marchand swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marchand steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hero.
Hero moves out of range as Marchand strikes.
Hero throws a good cross that connects.
Marchand pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Marchand gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marchand blocks a head kick by Hero.
Marchand throws a nice outside leg kick.
Marchand throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hero.
Marchand scores with a kick to the body.
Marchand throws a head kick that misses.
Marchand thows a body kick. Hero tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Marchand swats away the attempt to clinch by Hero.

Marchand shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hero's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marchand defends it easily.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Marchand forces his way into half guard.

Hero looking for submissions off his back.
Hero on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Marchand slips a nice elbow through Hero's hands, connecting with Hero's forehead.
Hero moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marchand stopping the sweep attempt from Hero.
Marchand working some strikes from top position.
Hero is trying to hold Marchand in close to prevent damage but Marchand has managed to pass into half guard.
Marchand seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hero does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ground and pound from Marchand.
Marchand working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marchand prevents Hero from improving his position.
Marchand scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hero looking for submissions off his back.
Marchand takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Marchand working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nice strikes from Marchand there.
Marchand not doing much here.
Hero is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Marchand jumps into side control!
Marchand in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hero tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hero wants to get back to his feet but Marchand drags him back down.
Hero takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hero is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Marchand in side control lands a decent elbow.
Christopher Hero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marchand scoring with punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marchand tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hero is not content to let Marchand control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hero takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byron Marchand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marchand 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 46:49
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 47:48
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Byron Marchand! Byron Marchand retains his welterweight title!