PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Mars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Provenzano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mars comes to the cage accompanied by Avenged Sevenfold's Nightmare. Provenzano has chosen America F*%K yeah! as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mars
vs
Provenzano

167 cm
28
141 lbs
19 - 13 - 1

172 cm
29
144 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Legion of Pain Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Mars!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Frankie Provenzano!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mars looks to score with a jab to the body but Provenzano is just out of range.
Mars's corner calls for a 1-2. Mars obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Provenzano misses with a few strikes there.
Provenzano walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mars checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mars lands a jab to Provenzano's midsection.
Provenzano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mars swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Provenzano misses with a low kick as Mars jumps back.
Mars connects with a right hand. Provenzano shakes it off.
Provenzano lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Provenzano will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mars takes a swing at Provenzano's ribcage but misses.
Provenzano scores with a nice right hand.
Provenzano has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Provenzano there as he acknowledges the shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Provenzano ducks under a wild hook from Mars.
Provenzano is looking to clinch.
Provenzano's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mars connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Provenzano scrambles back to his feet.
Provenzano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mars manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Provenzano walks into a straight right hand from Mars.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Provenzano lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mars has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mars and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Provenzano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mars manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mars ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Provenzano moves away.
Provenzano fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars thows a body shot but no joy.
Provenzano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mars sprawls well. Mars wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Provenzano gets slowly back to his feet.
Provenzano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mars.
Mars stuns Provenzano with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Provenzano has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Provenzano there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mars shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mars fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Provenzano manages to avoid it.
Provenzano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Provenzano dodges the punch combination from Mars.
Provenzano misses with a double jab.
Provenzano drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mars swings for the body but Provenzano moves out of range.
Mars is looking to wear down Provenzano with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mars swings away with a body shot that misses
and Provenzano counters with a two punch combo.
Provenzano avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mars misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Provenzano wants to land a leg kick but Mars is out of range.
Provenzano throws an off balance right hand
and Mars counters with a right hand to the body.
Provenzano tries for a takedown but Mars sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lawrence Mars has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Provenzano.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mars ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Provenzano moves away.
Provenzano with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mars counters with a straight right hand.
Provenzano doesn't manage to clinch there - Mars circles away.
Mars slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mars just misses with a punch to the body.
Mars lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Provenzano shoots in looking for a takedown but Mars manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Provenzano's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mars misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Provenzano.

Mars shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mars throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Provenzano works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Provenzano wants to stand but Mars is controlling the position.
Mars landing some decent shots from guard.
Mars lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mars keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Provenzano's head.
Mars is pushing down on Provenzano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Provenzano is fighting to maintain full guard but Mars has managed to sneak the leg through.
Provenzano tries to roll over but Mars keeps him under control.

Provenzano looking for submissions off his back.
Mars lands with a punch from half guard.
Mars is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Provenzano wants to improve his position but Mars is controlling well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mars not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mars winds up and cracks Provenzano with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Provenzano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Provenzano has hold of Mars's hands but Mars slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Provenzano on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Provenzano is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mars's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mars's back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Provenzano is trying to stick to Mars's back but Mars is turning into Provenzano. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Provenzano's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mars.
Mars throwing strikes from guard but Provenzano blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mars drops back looking for a leg! Provenzano is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Provenzano manages to kick Mars off! Mars jumps back into Provenzano's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mars passes Provenzano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mars working Provenzano over with strikes.
Mars winds up and cracks Provenzano with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawrence Mars dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Provenzano walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mars checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mars on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mars waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Provenzano.
Provenzano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mars paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Provenzano throws a looping overhand right but Mars ducks down to avoid it.
Mars misses with a body shot.
Provenzano lands a jab to the nose.
Mars defending well as Provenzano loads up on a big left hand.
Mars tests Provenzano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mars lunges at Provenzano with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Provenzano's hand.
Mars throws a predictable looking body shot

and Provenzano counters with a shoot takedown. Mars fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Provenzano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mars not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mars working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Provenzano.
Mars keeping moving, preventing Provenzano from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mars looking to hit a scissor sweep but Provenzano is one step ahead there.
Mars trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Provenzano wants to control from the top but Mars keeps moving.
Mars is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mars is working hard here to advance position.
Provenzano postures up in Mars's guard and throws a big left but Mars blocks it.

Mars is looking for a triangle but Provenzano pushes his legs off easily.
Provenzano throwing strikes but missing.
Mars is trying to control the position but Provenzano postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Provenzano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Provenzano stands up over Mars, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Provenzano chips away with some ground and pound.
Mars punching from the bottom.
Mars looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Provenzano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Provenzano connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mars looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Provenzano trying to control but Mars is working from the bottom.
Mars manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Provenzano manages to get himself to full guard.
Mars throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Provenzano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mars trying to control here.
Mars flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Provenzano is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Provenzano lands a big elbow.
Lawrence Mars overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mars tries to hold on but Provenzano postures up.
Mars keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mars wants to hold on but Provenzano pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mars really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Provenzano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mars tries to hold on but Provenzano postures up.
Provenzano with good strikes from the mount here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Provenzano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Provenzano is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mars gets back to half guard.

Mars is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Provenzano pulls his head out easily.
Provenzano scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mars is pressing down on Provenzano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mars wants to sweep but no luck.
Mars is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Provenzano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Provenzano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mars swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mars scores with a jab to the body.

Provenzano darts in and clinches Mars up against the cage.
Mars gets underhooks to prevent Provenzano's takedown attempt.
Provenzano slows down the pace here.

Mars breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Provenzano throws a head kick but Mars moves out of range.
Provenzano avoids the body shot from Mars.
Provenzano throws a right and a left that Mars avoids nicely.
Mars looks to score with a jab to the body but Provenzano is just out of range.
Mars throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Provenzano sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Provenzano scores a takedown into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Provenzano.
Provenzano lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
BOOM! Provenzano connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mars wants to hold on but Provenzano pushes him away.
Mars keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Provenzano lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Provenzano is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mars really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Provenzano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Mars gets back to half guard.
Provenzano is nestled in close to Mars, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Mars is rocked!
Provenzano working over Mars with some ground and pound. Mars looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Oh Mars is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Provenzano moves into full mount! Mars won't be happy about that!
Provenzano with a couple of short strikes.
Mars is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Provenzano loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Mars scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Provenzano land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Provenzano stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frankie Provenzano!
Frankie Provenzano seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.