PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kai Urutaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Marshal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Urutaka
vs
Marshal

185 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158-Q155

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kai Urutaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stephen Marshal!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Urutaka is defended easily by Marshal.

Marshal rushes Urutaka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Marshal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Marshal is looking to break free of the clinch but Urutaka has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Marshal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Marshal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marshal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Marshal working aggressively here.

Urutaka breaks from the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Marshal.
Urutaka pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Marshal!
Marshal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urutaka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Urutaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marshal misses with a series of wild punches.
Stephen Marshal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marshal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Marshal fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Urutaka looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Marshal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Urutaka.

Urutaka has closed the distance and engaged Marshal in a clinch.
Marshal lands with a light punch inside.
Urutaka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshal.
Urutaka wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Marshal stalling.
Marshal is trying to force a seperation but Urutaka has the dominant position.
Marshal misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Urutaka prevents Marshal from breaking the clinch.
Urutaka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Marshal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Urutaka throws a half hearted mid kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshal throws a shot from downtown. Urutaka moves away and avoids it.
Urutaka throws a big shot that misses.

Marshal moves into the clinch.

Urutaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Urutaka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marshal doesn't manage to clinch there - Urutaka circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Urutaka.

Marshal has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal is stalling here.
A right handed body shot lands from Marshal.
Urutaka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marshal after a bit of a struggle.
Marshal is looking to break free of the clinch but Urutaka has double underhooks.
Urutaka has Marshal pressed against the cage, preventing Marshal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Urutaka can't get the takedown.
Urutaka is breathing heavily.
Urutaka tries to score a body lock takedown but Marshal shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Urutaka tries to pull guard but Marshal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Marshal taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Urutaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marshal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marshal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marshal throws a nice looking combination but Urutaka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshal tries to clinch but Urutaka is having none of it.
Marshal stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Urutaka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Marshal checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Marshal has taken the fight to the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Marshal tries to break the clinch but Urutaka is controlling the position.

Urutaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marshal fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urutaka manages to avoid it.

Marshal moves into the clinch successfully.

Marshal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marshal throws out a loose jab but Urutaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Marshal dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A combination from Marshal does no damage.
Marshal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kai Urutaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marshal takes a swing at Urutaka's ribcage but misses.
Marshal ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Marshal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Urutaka.
Urutaka shoots in for a takedown but Marshal shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marshal fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Urutaka looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Urutaka defending well as Marshal loads up on a big left hand.
Marshal misses with a hook to the body

and Urutaka counters by moving into the clinch.

Urutaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshal wants to clinch

and Urutaka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Urutaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Urutaka circles away from the clinch attempt

and Urutaka moves into the clinch.
Marshal leaning his opponent against the cage.
Urutaka prevents Marshal from breaking the clinch.
Marshal lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Marshal tries to circle away but Urutaka has him pinned against the cage.
Marshal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marshal lands a left hand.

Urutaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Marshal. No joy for Urutaka on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Urutaka is defended easily by Marshal.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Urutaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marshal looks to land a right hand but Urutaka moved out of range.
Urutaka keeps the fight on the outside.
Urutaka misses with a head kick.
Marshal lands a body shot.
Marshal tries to clinch but Urutaka moves out of range.

Marshal forces Urutaka back against the cage and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short left from Marshal.
Marshal has Urutaka pressed against the cage.
Marshal is trying to push Urutaka away but Urutaka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Marshal breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal connects with a body shot.
Marshal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Urutaka. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Marshal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Urutaka circles away quickly and effectively.
Marshal doesn't manage to clinch there - Urutaka circles away.
Marshal fails with an attempt to clinch.

Marshal closes the distance and clinches.
Urutaka tries a body shot but Marshal blocks it.
Urutaka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Marshal is keeping busy.
A short left from Marshal.

Marshal breaks from the clinch.
Marshal misses with a double jab
and Urutaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urutaka shoots in and drives through. Marshal sprawls well.
Marshal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Urutaka takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Urutaka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Marshal closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marshal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Urutaka backwards.

Marshal breaks from the clinch.

Urutaka clinches up with Marshal and pushes him back against the cage.
Marshal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Marshal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stephen Marshal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Urutaka clinches up against the cage.
Marshal taking a breather.
Marshal is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Marshal 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! This is the final round!

Marshal lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Marshal avoids a kick to the body.

Marshal clinches.

Marshal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marshal tries to clinch up.
Urutaka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good exchange - Marshal coming out on top.
Marshal throws a left and a right that both miss
and Urutaka counters with a nice body shot.
Marshal misses with a body shot.

Urutaka moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Marshal misses with the head strike.

Urutaka breaks the clinch.
Marshal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Marshal. Those never looked like landing.
Marshal just misses with a punch to the body.
Urutaka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marshal as he avoids it easily.

Urutaka rushes Marshal and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A bit of stalling here from Marshal.
Marshal throws a punch but it's blocked by Urutaka.
Marshal blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Urutaka jumps guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Urutaka working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Urutaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Marshal stands up and waves to Urutaka to follow him.
Urutaka misses with a double jab.

Urutaka gets a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Marshal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marshal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marshal keeps control of Urutaka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urutaka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marshal to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Urutaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Marshal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshal tries to close the distance and clinch but Urutaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marshal misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Marshal has Urutaka up against the cage in a clinch.
Stephen Marshal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Urutaka wants to take the fight to the mat but Marshal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Marshal lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kai Urutaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Urutaka is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshal manages to break the clinch.
Marshal lands a slapping body shot.
Marshal lands a jab-cross combination.
Marshal lands the left hand.
Jab by Marshal.
A big left from Urutaka misses.
Marshal lands a nice looking body shot.

Marshal has managed to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bit of stalling here from Marshal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Urutaka tries to land a knee to the head but Marshal blocks with his arms.
Urutaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Urutaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Marshal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Marshal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Marshal 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Marshal!