PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between NaKai Mariner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Aldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). NaKai Mariner has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mariner
vs
Aldridge

186 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, NaKai Mariner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Aldridge!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Jonathan Paton and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mariner tries to bum rush Aldridge with a series of wild strikes but Aldridge uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mariner slaps away a takedown attempt from Aldridge, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Aldridge changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mariner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mariner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Aldridge controls the position.
Mariner struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariner is looking to regain half guard here but Aldridge keeps moving and retains side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Aldridge was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Aldridge is looking to clinch but Mariner is avoiding it.

Aldridge fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mariner sprawls well initially but Aldridge persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aldridge is taking a breather. Mariner says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Aldridge seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mariner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

John Aldridge has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mariner closes the distance and clinches up with Aldridge, looking for a takedown. Mariner pushes Aldridge against the cage but Aldridge circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
John Aldridge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mariner closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aldridge to the mat! Aldridge manages to get full guard.
Mariner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mariner controlling from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mariner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariner throws a big elbow that misses.
Aldridge is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mariner is controlling him.
Mariner keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aldridge's head.

Aldridge uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aldridge is defended easily by Mariner.
Mariner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aldridge swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mariner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aldridge wants to clinch but Mariner slips to the side
and Mariner counters with a series of strikes. Aldridge will be more careful next time no doubt.

Mariner moves into the clinch successfully.

Mariner manages to break the clinch.
Aldridge tries to clinch up but Mariner circles away and keeps his distance.
Aldridge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mariner tries to avoid it but Aldridge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mariner to the ground. Mariner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
NaKai Mariner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Aldridge.
Aldridge looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mariner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aldridge throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mariner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aldridge sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mariner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aldridge moves in looking to clinch but Mariner pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mariner swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldridge.
Aldridge shoots in but Mariner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Aldridge misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Aldridge will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mariner closes the distance and clinches.
Mariner tries to break free but Aldridge pushes him back against the cage.
Aldridge throws a head punch that misses.
Mariner is trying to force a seperation but Aldridge has the dominant position.
Mariner is leaning against Aldridge and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Mariner breaks the clinch.
Mariner scores with a punch to the head.

Mariner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Aldridge uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mariner pushes Aldridge up against the cage in a clinch.
Aldridge throws a head punch that misses.
Aldridge is breathing heavily.
Mariner digs a right hand into Aldridge's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Aldridge's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mariner breaks from the clinch.
Mariner lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mariner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aldridge swivels and escapes.

Mariner gets the takedown into side control.
Mariner lands a decent elbow from side control.
Aldridge should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Mariner goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Aldridge rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Mariner's guard! Nice work there by Aldridge!
Mariner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aldridge is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mariner controlling the position.
Aldridge is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

We're going to have a standup here because NaKai Mariner wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Aldridge shoots in for a takedown but Mariner shows good takedown defense.
Mariner scores with a three punch combo!
Aldridge gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mariner decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Aldridge's guard.
Mariner wanted to stand there but Aldridge had control of the position.
Aldridge wants to stand and escape but Mariner is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mariner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aldridge looking to control.
Mariner trying to control but Aldridge is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mariner throws a shot to the body.
Mariner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aldridge tries to clinch but Mariner is having none of it.
Aldridge looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mariner is fending him off so far but Aldridge persists. Nope, Mariner circles away and we're back to standing.
NaKai Mariner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Aldridge.
Mariner throws a head kick but Aldridge moves out of range.
Aldridge walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Mariner has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mariner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
NaKai Mariner is winning the standup battle so far.
Mariner works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Mariner clinches up against the cage.
Mariner prevents the takedown attempt.
Mariner is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mariner.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mariner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mariner is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aldridge is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

NaKai Mariner 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mariner shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Aldridge manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Aldridge pushes Mariner off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mariner tries to clinch but Aldridge moves out of range.
Aldridge fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Mariner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Aldridge avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Aldridge can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aldridge looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mariner is in close to Aldridge's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mariner postures up in Aldridge's guard and throws a big left but Aldridge blocks it.
Mariner trying to control but Aldridge is working from the bottom.
Mariner stops Aldridge from standing up.
Mariner trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because NaKai Mariner wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Danga de danga de dang - Mariner scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aldridge scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Aldridge is looking to take a break and control but Mariner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mariner is looking to escape.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Aldridge hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Mariner moves into range and clinches up with Aldridge.
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!

Mariner pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aldridge passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Aldridge is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mariner!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldridge prevents Mariner from getting the reversal.
Aldridge punching from mount but Mariner doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Aldridge can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mariner is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mariner tries to hold on but Aldridge postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
NaKai Mariner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mariner 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... NaKai Mariner!