PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Corey Birthday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Marcolini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birthday comes to the cage accompanied by Happy Birthday Mr President. Marcolini is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Raffaella Carra - Rumore. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Birthday
vs
Marcolini

170 cm
27
280 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

185 cm
32
259 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Conviction
Brute

LOD: Affordable Quality
[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Corey Birthday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marco Marcolini!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birthday avoids the head kick by Marcolini.
Marcolini throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Birthday. That's going to slow Marcolini down.
Marcolini misses the shot to the body.
Birthday misses the shot to the body.
Marcolini throws a nice looking combination but Birthday bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marcolini cracks Birthday with a good jab.
Marcolini tries to clinch up but Birthday circles away and keeps his distance.
Birthday lands a jab to the nose.
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!

Marcolini forces Birthday back against the cage and clinches.
Marcolini trying to stall but Birthday improves his position.
Birthday tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Birthday lands with a light punch inside.
Marcolini tries to land knees in the clinch but Birthday avoids the damage to the body.
Marcolini is looking to control Birthday's arms but Birthday gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marcolini has his back to the cage.
Birthday tries a body shot but Marcolini blocks it.
Birthday lands a good knee to the midsection. Marcolini won't want to take too many of those.
Marcolini looks winded!
Birthday lands a left hand.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birthday creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A shot in the inside from Birthday.
Marcolini misses with some punches.
Birthday on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Birthday obliges.
Marcolini blocks an elbow strike.
Birthday landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Birthday lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Marco Marcolini has been cut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Birthday creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Birthday tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Marcolini trying to land knees to the body.

Birthday manages to pull guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Marcolini got a little sloppy there for a moment and Birthday has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marcolini has managed to get both his arms back between Birthday's legs - danger averted.
Marcolini looking to sit in guard and control but Birthday gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birthday is looking to work some ground and pound but Marcolini has wrist control.
Marcolini has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Birthday has passed into side control.
Marcolini defending against the ground and pound.
Birthday misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Marcolini is being controlled here.
Marcolini is trying to control Birthday's posture but Birthday avoids it.
Birthday lands a decent elbow from side control.
Birthday 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.
Marcolini is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Birthday are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
You can see the frustration on Marcolini's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcolini is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Marcolini's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Birthday misses with the ground and pound.
Birthday trying to control the position but Marcolini is working away.
Birthday lands a nice forearm strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Birthday misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Marcolini tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birthday working away.
Marcolini tries to buck Birthday off but Birthday is having none of it.
Birthday lands a nice forearm strike.
Marcolini takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Birthday creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Marcolini sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Marcolini can't do much from the bottom here.
Marcolini is trying to get back to half guard.
Birthday trying to control the action but Marcolini is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Birthday is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Birthday dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marco Marcolini's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Birthday does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Marcolini misses the jab.
Birthday blocks a head kick by Marcolini.
Marcolini throws a right and a left that Birthday avoids nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marcolini. Birthday does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marcolini tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Birthday was well out of range. Poor timing from Marcolini.
Marcolini finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Birthday shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Marcolini napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Marcolini manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Birthday moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Marcolini stands and throws Birthday's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Marcolini working away.
Birthday takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Birthday manages to work his way to half guard, despite Marcolini's best efforts.
Birthday might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcolini tries to pass the half guard into mount. Birthday knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Birthday is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marcolini's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marcolini's back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Birthday controlling the positon.
You can see the frustration on Marcolini's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Marcolini manages to reverse the position and now he's in Birthday's guard. Nice work there by Marcolini.
Marcolini postures up in Birthday's guard and throws a big left but Birthday blocks it.
Birthday pulls Marcolini in to control the position.
Marcolini trying to control but Birthday is working from the bottom.
Marcolini slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini scoring with punches and elbows.

It looks like Corey Birthday has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Birthday sneaks back into half guard.
Marcolini passes to full mount!
Birthday sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Birthday looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Marcolini thows a huge punch but Birthday dodges it nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Birthday manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Marcolini wants to control from the top but Birthday keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini stopping the sweep attempt from Birthday.
Corey Birthday overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marcolini trying to control but Birthday is working from the bottom.
Marcolini is looking to pass into half guard but Birthday pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Birthday is in guard.
Marcolini looking to control.
Marcolini trying to control the position here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Birthday's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Birthday trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcolini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Birthday lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birthday trying to control but Marcolini is working from the bottom.
Birthday is in close to Marcolini's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marcolini wants to sweep but no luck.
Birthday trying to control but Marcolini is working from the bottom.
Marcolini working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marcolini is looking to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Birthday throws out a powerful jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Birthday misses.
Marco Marcolini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Marcolini throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marco Marcolini will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Marcolini steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Birthday.
Birthday looks for the body kick but Marcolini saw that one coming.
Marcolini tries to land a front kick but Birthday steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A good leg kick by Marcolini.
Marcolini wants to slow Birthday down by chopping away at his legs.
Marcolini connects with a looping right hand.
Birthday throws a wild body kick that Marcolini sees coming a mile off.
Birthday explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Marcolini fails with the takedown.
Marcolini tries a low kick but Birthday avoids it.
Birthday misses with an uppercut. Marcolini saw that one coming.
Birthday ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Birthday shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marcolini is trying to defend but Birthday finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Marcolini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marcolini is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birthday working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Birthday controlling the action here.
Marcolini wants to get back to his feet.

Birthday wants to work for an arm triangle but Marcolini is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Marcolini is trying to maintain the position but Birthday is very close to passing his half guard.
Birthday is pressing down on Marcolini's thigh, looking to free his foot. Marcolini is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini is trying to get back to full guard.
Birthday seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marcolini does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Birthday is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Marcolini is looking to control Birthday's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marcolini avoid being mounted?
Birthday looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marcolini with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birthday is looking to advance position but Marcolini won't allow it.
Marcolini tries to roll over but Birthday keeps him under control.
Marcolini avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Birthday.
Birthday working Marcolini over with strikes.
Marcolini tries to roll over but Birthday keeps him under control.
Birthday tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marcolini knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marcolini wants to get back to full guard.
Birthday is pressing down on Marcolini's thigh, looking to free his foot. Marcolini is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birthday not doing much here.
Marcolini is trying to get back to full guard.
Birthday seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Corey Birthday.
Marcolini closes the distance but Birthday moves to the side
letting Birthday counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Corey Birthday showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Birthday 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Corey Birthday!
Corey Birthday decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.