PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Stamkos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marshall
vs
Stamkos

200 cm
21
158 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ben Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steven Stamkos!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stamkos misses with a hook. Marshall ducked under it nicely.
Some wild striking there from Stamkos.
Marshall throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice uppercut there from Stamkos.

It looks like Ben Marshall has been cut.
Marshall tries to clinch up but Stamkos circles away and keeps his distance.
Stamkos throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Marshall counters with a nice body shot.

Marshall rushes Stamkos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stamkos gets underhooks to prevent Marshall's takedown attempt.
Stamkos is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Marshall keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stamkos's efforts to push away.

Stamkos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good standup being displayed there by Stamkos as he connects with a hook.

Marshall is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Stamkos misses.
Marshall really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Marshall drives through and clinches with Stamkos against the cage.
Marshall keeps control of Stamkos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Marshall breaks the clinch.
Stamkos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marshall circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamkos misses with a double jab

and Marshall counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stamkos won't be happy with that.
Marshall is chipping away with strikes.
Stamkos regains half guard, as Marshall was trying to land strikes.

Marshall is looking for a kimura but Stamkos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marshall to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall trying to control from half guard but Stamkos is working away.
Stamkos tries to kick Marshall off in order to stand up. Marshall Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Stamkos defending against the ground and pound.
Stamkos is not content to let Marshall control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stamkos being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Stamkos works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Marshall trying to control from half guard but Stamkos is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ben Marshall.
Stamkos tests Marshall's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Steven Stamkos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stamkos circles away from the clinch attempt.

Marshall shoots in and bounces Stamkos off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Marshall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Marshall's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A lazy left from Stamkos finds it's target.
Stamkos avoids the head kick by Marshall.
Marshall throws a good cross that connects.
Marshall moves out of range of the strikes.
Marshall uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stamkos.
Stamkos misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circling - Stamkos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marshall takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Steven Stamkos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marshall has managed to clinch.

Marshall has picked Stamkos up - he's going for a ride! Marshall dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Marshall throws a strike but Stamkos avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshall stops Stamkos from standing up.
Marshall is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Stamkos keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ben Marshall just wasn't active enough.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stamkos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marshall takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stamkos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stamkos cracks Marshall with an open hand slap.
Oh Marshall is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Marshall moves into the clinch.
Stamkos is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Marshall is trying to pull guard but Stamkos has him pressed against the cage.
Marshall keeps control of Stamkos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stamkos is trying to push Marshall away but Marshall has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Marshall wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stamkos breaks from the clinch.
Stamkos cracks Marshall's jaw with two stiff jabs then ducks low and throws a soul-severing right uppercut to the mouth!! Marshall slumps to the ground with blood on his lips. The referee steps in before Stamkos can do further damage! This one is done, son!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Steven Stamkos!