PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riley Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Also Zarathustra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Clapton. Zarathustra comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Red Birds Will Fly Out Of The East And Destroy Paris In A Night kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Marshall
vs
Zarathustra

187 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

185 cm
30
185 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Riley Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Also Zarathustra!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshall swings for the body but Zarathustra moves out of range.
Zarathustra tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zarathustra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marshall manages to avoid it.
Zarathustra throws a body kick that misses.

Marshall moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marshall.
Marshall misses with a punch on the inside.
Marshall throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zarathustra blocks it with crossed arms.
Zarathustra throws a punch but it's blocked by Marshall.
Marshall tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zarathustra avoids it.
Zarathustra has Marshall pressed against the cage.
Marshall tries to work over Zarathustra's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zarathustra blocking some punches.
Marshall pushes Zarathustra back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Marshall fails to land.
Zarathustra misses with a punch on the inside.
Marshall lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Marshall connects with a knee to the head.
Zarathustra tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall digs a right hand into Zarathustra's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zarathustra's gas tank.
Zarathustra lands a left hand that snaps the head of Marshall backwards.
Zarathustra blocks an uppercut.
Marshall digs a right hand into Zarathustra's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zarathustra's gas tank.

Marshall breaks the clinch.
Marshall throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zarathustra sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marshall scores with a jab.
Marshall works Zarathustra's body with a nice hook.
Zarathustra tries a head kick but it misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarathustra thuds a left hand into Marshall's body.
Zarathustra ducks under a wild hook from Marshall.
Marshall tries to clinch there but Zarathustra circles away.
Zarathustra showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marshall.
Marshall lands with a hook. Zarathustra tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

It looks like Also Zarathustra has been cut.
Marshall throws a body punch but Zarathustra moves out of range.
Marshall waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zarathustra.
Zarathustra goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marshall.
Riley Marshall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zarathustra takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sloppy strikes from Marshall. Those never looked like landing.
Marshall missing with a left hand there. Zarathustra was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice defenses there by Zarathustra.
Zarathustra throws a sloppy head kick and Marshall moves out of range easily.
Marshall sizes up Zarathustra with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Marshall throws a series of punches but Zarathustra moves out of range.
Marshall takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Good standup being displayed there by Marshall as he connects with a hook.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zarathustra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zarathustra fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Marshall has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Marshall tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zarathustra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Marshall clinches up against the cage.
Zarathustra lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Marshall.
Marshall lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marshall's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zarathustra throws a big shot that misses.
Marshall wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marshall misses the jab.
Marshall blocks the body kick.
Marshall takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Marshall is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Marshall misses with a wild body shot.
Marshall thows a body shot but no joy.
Zarathustra misses with a low kick.
Zarathustra misses with a body kick.
Marshall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zarathustra moves away.
Zarathustra uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marshall.
Marshall avoids the head kick by Zarathustra.
Nice uppercut there from Zarathustra.
Marshall cracks Zarathustra with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marshall lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall gets a clinch.
Marshall tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zarathustra creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zarathustra is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Marshall manages to break the clinch.
Marshall throws a one two combo.
Marshall throws a lazy right hand but Zarathustra sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marshall swings for the body but Zarathustra moves out of range.
Marshall misses with a series of wild punches.
A punch lands to the side of Zarathustra 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zarathustra misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marshall cracks Zarathustra with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Marshall connects with a jab.
Marshall stalks Zarathustra and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zarathustra's face. Zarathustra staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Marshall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Also Zarathustra's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zarathustra uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marshall.
Marshall lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zarathustra with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Marshall to score with a decent uppercut.
Marshall smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zarathustra throws out a loose jab but Marshall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marshall gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Zarathustra.
Marshall wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marshall throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zarathustra lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A punch combination from Marshall misses.
Marshall takes a swing at Zarathustra's ribcage but misses.
Marshall on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marshall checks a low kick from Zarathustra.
Marshall lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Marshall with a jab.
Marshall avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marshall misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarathustra works the jab nicely.
Marshall blocks the body kick.
Marshall slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Marshall with a nice cross.
Marshall throws a right hand that Zarathustra ducks under and follows up with a left that Zarathustra also avoids with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zarathustra is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marshall misses with an uppercut.
Zarathustra misses with a body shot.
Zarathustra goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zarathustra just misses with a punch to the body.
Marshall uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zarathustra has time to react.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Marshall thows a body shot but no joy.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch but Zarathustra swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A bone on bone clash there as Marshall blocks the leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Marshall. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Marshall.
Marshall lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zarathustra lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Marshall connects with the punch.
Zarathustra jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zarathustra keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marshall.
Zarathustra keeps the fight on the outside.
Marshall fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zarathustra manages to avoid it.
Zarathustra moves forwards but Marshall connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Zarathustra is rocked!

That has opened up Also Zarathustra's cut even more.
The fighters circling - Zarathustra throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zarathustra throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zarathustra fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riley Marshall is winning the standup battle so far.
Marshall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zarathustra was well out of range. Poor timing from Marshall.
Marshall misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zarathustra.
Marshall feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zarathustras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zarathustra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marshall.
Marshall bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Marshall jabs at Zarathustra's body.
Marshall throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marshall has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zarathustra finds it's way round the side to connect with Marshall's head.
Marshall scores with a jab to the head.
Zarathustra lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zarathustra.
A jab from Marshall does it's job there.
Zarathustra thows a body shot but no joy.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zarathustra.
Zarathustra slips under a jab from Marshall.
Marshall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall moves out of range as Zarathustra strikes.
Zarathustra on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zarathustra throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zarathustra swats away the attempt to clinch by Marshall.
Marshall missing with a left hand there. Zarathustra was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marshall is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zarathustra.
Marshall misses with a looping right.
Zarathustra has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Marshall takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Marshall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zarathustra walks into a left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice uppercut lands for Marshall. That snapped Zarathustra's head back.
Zarathustra connects with a body shot.
Marshall misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Marshall does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Marshall dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Also Zarathustra's cut.
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!

Marshall misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marshall on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Marshall is rocked!
Sloppy strikes from Zarathustra. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Marshall does it's job there.
Zarathustra is looking to land body kicks.
Marshall thows a body shot but no joy.
Marshall is looking to clinch.
Zarathustra uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marshall.
Marshall avoids a kick to the body.
Marshall wants to clinch.
A slow jab from Marshall misses its intended target.
Zarathustra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zarathustra misses with a kick to the body.
Zarathustra swings for the body but Marshall moves out of range.
Zarathustra tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Marshall manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarathustra keeps the fight on the outside.
Marshall thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zarathustra tries a head kick but it misses.
Zarathustra looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zarathustra takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Marshall staying out of range there.
Marshall dodges the punch combination from Zarathustra.
Marshall slips under a jab.
Marshall throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marshall lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Marshall cracks a nice hook into Zarathustra's ribs.
Marshall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zarathustra walks into a stiff left hand from Marshall.
Marshall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marshall misses with a straight left.
Also Zarathustra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zarathustra momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshall works Zarathustra's body with a nice hook.
Zarathustra takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zarathustra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zarathustra looks to score with a jab to the body but Marshall is just out of range.
Zarathustra has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zarathustra lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Marshall scores with a shot to the body.
Zarathustra throws a lazy right hand but Marshall sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zarathustra attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Marshall scores with a jab. Zarathustra acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Marshall will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zarathustra takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zarathustra will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Zarathustra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marshall manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zarathustra dodges the punch combination from Marshall.
Marshall slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Marshall. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Marshall.
A swing and a miss from Marshall.
Marshall darts in trying to clinch
and Zarathustra counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Marshall tries to clinch but Zarathustra is having none of it.
A big left from Marshall misses.
Zarathustra misses with a low kick.
Marshall uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zarathustra.
Some bone on bone action there as Marshall checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Marshall scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zarathustra takes a swing at Marshall's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zarathustra has time to react.
Zarathustra misses with a body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Donk. Marshall catches Zarathustra right on the button with a cross.

The cut above Also Zarathustra's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Zarathustra looks to score with a jab to the body but Marshall is just out of range.
Zarathustra looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zarathustra is still on wobbly legs! Can Marshall finish him?
Marshall moves out of range of the body kick.
Zarathustra seems to have recovered his senses.
Zarathustra showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marshall.
Marshall throws a hook but Zarathustra blocks it.
Marshall scores with the left hand. Zarathustra knows he should have avoided that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marshall. Zarathustra does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zarathustra throws an overhand right that lands on Marshall's shoulder, as Marshall tries to avoid the shot.
Zarathustra lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Marshall lands with an uppercut that bounces Zarathustra off the cage and back into range.
Nice body punch from Marshall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riley Marshall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marshall has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riley Marshall!
A victorious Riley Marshall thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.