PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Staunton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Marsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Staunton
vs
Marsh

168 cm
29
197 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

190 cm
19
197 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Staunton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Marsh!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staunton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marsh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Staunton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marsh misses with a head kick.
Marsh fails with the takedown

and Staunton counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Marsh throws his legs up looking for a submission but Staunton uses it to pass to side control.
Staunton content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Staunton in side control lands a decent elbow.
Marsh is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staunton working the ground and pound from side control.
Staunton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Staunton is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Marsh's shoulder. That is not cool.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Staunton stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Marsh changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Staunton tries to avoid it but Marsh manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Staunton to the ground. Staunton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marsh throws a sloppy head kick and Staunton moves out of range easily.
Staunton avoids the body shot from Marsh.
Staunton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Staunton has managed to clinch.
Marsh is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Marsh tries to break the clinch but Staunton is controlling the position.
Marsh goes for a takedown attempt but Staunton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Steve Staunton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Marsh.
Staunton fails with a takedown attempt.
Marsh with a lazy takedown attempt

and Staunton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Marsh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Marsh has an active guard here but Staunton has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staunton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Staunton trying to control the pace.
Staunton wants to free his trapped foot but Marsh is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Staunton perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marsh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Staunton controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staunton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marsh is trying to escape back to his feet but Staunton uses the scramble to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marsh throws a head kick but Staunton moves out of range.
Steve Staunton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staunton misses with a takedown attempt - Marsh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marsh fails with the takedown

and Staunton counters with a single leg into guard. Marsh didn't expect that.
Staunton wants to pass the guard but Marsh is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Marsh has an active guard here but Staunton has managed to pass into half guard.
Marsh tries to get to full guard but Staunton has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Staunton is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Marsh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Staunton pulls his head out easily.
Staunton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Staunton stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staunton looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Staunton decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Marsh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Staunton shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marsh is trying to defend but Staunton finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Marsh is refusing to be controlled, as Staunton sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staunton is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Staunton stops Marsh from getting back to his feet.
Staunton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Steve Staunton wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Marsh blocks a jab.

Staunton rushes Marsh and presses him up against the cage.
Staunton content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Marsh goes for a takedown in the clinch but Staunton prevents it.
Steve Staunton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Marsh.
Marsh with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staunton wants to take the fight to the mat but Marsh manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Marsh is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Staunton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marsh gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Marsh tries to work over Staunton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Staunton gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Marsh regains guard.
Staunton stops Marsh from standing up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Marsh isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Staunton stacks Marsh on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Staunton!

Staunton is trying to get an arm triangle but Marsh is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Staunton dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Staunton instigates a clinch.
Marsh changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Staunton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Marsh doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Staunton counters by clinching up.

Staunton gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Marsh has hold of Staunton's hands but Staunton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Staunton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Staunton stops Marsh from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marsh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Staunton pulls his head out easily.

Marsh has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Staunton escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Staunton!
Marsh tries to escape but Staunton is in control.
Marsh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marsh trying to remain calm as Staunton controls from the top position.
Staunton blocks the strikes from Marsh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Staunton has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Staunton looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Staunton controlling from side mount.
Staunton working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Staunton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staunton landing strikes.
Marsh struggling a bit here.
Staunton works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Marsh is working to avoid the ground and pound but Staunton connects with a decent elbow.

Staunton has hold of Marsh's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Marsh seems comfortable defending it but Staunton has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Marsh is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Marsh is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Staunton couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Steve Staunton!