PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bariga Marihuanich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marihuanich comes into the arena with CANNABIS blaring out of the sound system. Roy Blake has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marihuanich
vs
Blake

175 cm
28
175 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

189 cm
20
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter striker
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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bariga Marihuanich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roy Blake!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marihuanich tries to close the distance and clinch but Blake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blake circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bariga Marihuanich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marihuanich gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Marihuanich lands a nice shot to the body.
A short body shot lands from Marihuanich as the two fighters clinch.
Marihuanich is working Blake over against the cage.
Marihuanich cracks Blake with a nice body shot.

Marihuanich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marihuanich wants to clinch up but Blake keeps it at a distance.

Marihuanich takes the fight into the clinch.
Blake is working for takedown but Marihuanich is calmly controlling the position for now.

Marihuanich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marihuanich is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marihuanich wants to clinch up but Blake keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marihuanich instigates a clinch.

Marihuanich breaks from the clinch.
Marihuanich wants to clinch but Blake slips to the side

and Blake counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Marihuanich!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Marihuanich is trying to escape the mount.
Marihuanich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blake on the ground.

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

Blake is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Marihuanich knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marihuanich gets back to half guard.

Blake trying to work for an americana but Marihuanich has managed to regain full guard.

Marihuanich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blake doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blake manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marihuanich looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blake is one step ahead there.
Blake being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blake looking to pass the guard.

Marihuanich has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blake can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich is looking to stand up but Blake isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Blake looking to pass the guard.
Marihuanich looking for a sweep. Not yet Marihuanich, not yet.
Marihuanich pulls Blake in to control the position.
Blake pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marihuanich is keeping the position for now.
Marihuanich is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bariga Marihuanich wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Marihuanich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Blake manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marihuanich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blake paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marihuanich scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich closes the distance but Blake moves to the side

and Blake decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Marihuanich's guard.
Marihuanich keeping full guard, as Blake tries to pass.
Blake passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marihuanich is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blake working away.
Marihuanich regains half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Blake is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Marihuanich tries to get to full guard but Blake has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bariga Marihuanich dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marihuanich doesn't manage to clinch there - Blake circles away.

Marihuanich moves into range and clinches up with Blake.

Marihuanich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blake keeps the fight on the outside.
Marihuanich is looking to clinch.

Blake gets tackled into the cage by Marihuanich. Marihuanich maintains the clinch.
Marihuanich throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blake blocks it with crossed arms.
Marihuanich lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Roy Blake has been cut.
Marihuanich swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Marihuanich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marihuanich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marihuanich tries to clinch

and Blake counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blake.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marihuanich wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Blake advances to half guard.
Marihuanich trying to hold on to Blake's head to control him but Blake postures up.
Marihuanich holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Marihuanich is defending against the submission attempts here by Blake.
Marihuanich wants to control but Blake is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Marihuanich desperately trying to maintain half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Bariga Marihuanich wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Marihuanich is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich is looking to clinch but Blake is avoiding it.
Marihuanich throws a right hand that Blake ducks under and follows up with a left that Blake also avoids with ease.
Blake shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marihuanich defends it nicely.
Blake throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marihuanich's waist but Marihuanich gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Blake off to one side.
Blake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marihuanich tries to clinch up but Blake circles away and keeps his distance.

Marihuanich clinches up with Blake and pushes him back against the cage.
Marihuanich misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich connects with a knee to the head.
Marihuanich misses with a punch to the body.
Marihuanich lands a body shot.
Marihuanich taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Marihuanich pushes Blake back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Marihuanich lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Blake or not.
Marihuanich misses with a body punch.
Marihuanich goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marihuanich tries a body shot but Blake blocks it.
Marihuanich slows down the pace here.

Marihuanich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marihuanich clinches.
Marihuanich tries a body shot but Blake blocks it.
Marihuanich softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Marihuanich tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blake avoids it.

Marihuanich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marihuanich tries to clinch there but Blake circles away.
Blake misses with a takedown attempt - Marihuanich sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bariga Marihuanich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Blake.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blake circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marihuanich throws a nice looking combination but Blake bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marihuanich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bariga Marihuanich dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roy Blake's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Marihuanich tries to close the distance and clinch but Blake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marihuanich closes the distance but Blake moves to the side

and Blake counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blake.
Blake is pushing down on Marihuanich's leg trying to pass to half guard. Marihuanich is fighting to maintain full guard but Blake has managed to sneak the leg through.
Marihuanich is looking for a sweep. Blake is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marihuanich is trying to control but can't.

Blake is working for a kimura but Marihuanich is defending it quite comfortably.
Marihuanich manages to get to full guard.
Marihuanich might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marihuanich pulls Blake in close to prevent any damage.
Roy Blake has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marihuanich keeping full guard, as Blake tries to pass.
Marihuanich pulls Blake in to control the position.

Blake drops back looking for a leg! Marihuanich is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Marihuanich manages to kick Blake off! Blake jumps back into Marihuanich's guard.
Marihuanich has Blake pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Marihuanich is trying to control the position but Blake postures up.

Bariga Marihuanich has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Marihuanich fails with an attempt to clinch.

Marihuanich gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich gets through Blake's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Marihuanich lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marihuanich landing knees to the body.
Blake takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marihuanich lands a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marihuanich tries to work over Blake's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Marihuanich breaks from the clinch.

Marihuanich fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Blake, pushing him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Marihuanich.
Marihuanich struggles to land a body shot inside as Blake controls his hands.
Marihuanich misses with a punch to the body.
Marihuanich unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Marihuanich pushes Blake back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich lands a hook that snaps the head of Blake backwards.
Marihuanich tries to throw a body punch but Blake avoids it by throwing Marihuanich back against the cage.

Marihuanich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marihuanich is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Marihuanich takes the fight into the clinch.
Marihuanich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blake's elbow.
Marihuanich lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marihuanich softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Marihuanich lands a left hand that snaps the head of Blake backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marihuanich goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Marihuanich creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Marihuanich scores with a hook to the body.
Blake blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marihuanich working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Marihuanich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marihuanich moves in looking to clinch but Blake pushes him off.
Marihuanich misses with a few strikes there.
Marihuanich wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bariga Marihuanich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marihuanich, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bariga Marihuanich!
A less than humble Bariga Marihuanich misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.