PBP Commentary

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

Mariner
vs
Flair

186 cm
18
200 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

197 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 3 - 8 - 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, Vic Flair!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mariner throws a jab but it's blocked by Flair.
Flair lands a body shot.
Mariner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Flair.

Flair closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mariner to the mat! Mariner manages to get full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Flair decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Flair tries to clinch but Mariner moves away
and Mariner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Flair misses with a takedown

and Mariner moves into the clinch.
Mariner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Flair has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Flair is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Flair jumps guard and drags Mariner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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 wants to control from the top but Flair keeps moving.

Flair has his foot on Mariner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mariner works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariner wants to stand but Flair has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Flair working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mariner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mariner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Flair is adopting a defensive guard.
Mariner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Flair on the ground.
Flair looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mariner is one step ahead there.
Mariner throwing strikes but missing.
Flair trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mariner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Flair is proving hard to escape from.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vic Flair wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Mariner as Flair shoots in.
Mariner throws a nice looking combination but Flair bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mariner uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Flair has time to react.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mariner lands a two punch combo.
Flair shoots for a takedown but Mariner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
NaKai Mariner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vic Flair.
Flair looks winded!
Mariner tries to bum rush Flair with a series of wild strikes but Flair uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Flair misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Mariner to counter with a crisp jab.
Flair misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flair fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Flair throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mariner fails to land with a series of punches.
Flair avoids a punch combination nicely.

Mariner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mariner wants to stand up but Flair has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Flair is not content to let Mariner control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mariner is working for a kimura but Flair is defending it quite comfortably.
Mariner prevents Flair from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mariner trying to mount his opponent but Flair defends it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flair is trying to stand back up but Mariner is controlling him
Mariner throwing shots but Flair is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vic Flair will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mariner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Flair blocks a head kick by Mariner.
Mariner throws a low kick but Flair moves out of range easily.
Flair tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mariner swivels and escapes.
Mariner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Flair fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
NaKai Mariner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vic Flair.
Flair dives in for a single leg takedown but Mariner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mariner can't break the clinch.
Nice body punch from Mariner.
Mariner working hard to break the clinch.
Mariner lands a shot to the body.
Mariner tries to break free but Flair pushes him back against the cage.
Flair is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariner is trying to break the clinch but Flair has him pressed against the cage.

Mariner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mariner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mariner lands a jab to the head.

Mariner scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mariner is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Flair manages to get to full guard.
Mariner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mariner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mariner trying to control but Flair is working from the bottom.
Flair tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariner cracks Flair with a solid left hand.
Mariner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mariner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mariner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Flair looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mariner is one step ahead there.
Flair bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mariner's guard.
Mariner is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mariner pulls Flair in close to prevent any damage.
Mariner keeping full guard, as Flair tries to pass.
Flair trying to control the position from guard on top but Mariner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Flair.
Mariner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Flair circles away quickly and effectively.
Flair showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mariner.
Flair tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mariner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Flair fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flair fails with a takedown attempt.

Mariner shoots in and gets a takedown into Flair's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

NaKai Mariner dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mariner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Mariner looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
NaKai Mariner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mariner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mariner wants to free his trapped foot but Flair is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Flair manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flair pulls Mariner in close to his closed guard and prevents Mariner from doing any damage or advancing position.
Flair is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Flair takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Flair looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Flair is looking for a triangle but Mariner pushes his legs off easily.
Mariner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Flair is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mariner is working Flair over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Mariner postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Flair is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mariner, into his guard.
Mariner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flair is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Flair throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mariner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Flair trying to control the position from guard on top but Mariner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flair stands and throws Mariner's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flair in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Flair is trying to get an arm triangle but Mariner is defending well.
Mariner is not content to let Flair control the position.
Mariner tries to buck Flair off but Flair is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flair wants to control but Mariner is keeping him busy.
Flair just content to control the position.
Mariner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Flair controlling the position from side mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Flair is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mariner knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vic Flair comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Flair has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vic Flair!