PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kris Marsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasha Petrova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Marsh
vs
Petrova

163 cm
34
154 lbs
32 - 8 - 0

194 cm
37
158 lbs
29 - 22 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 32 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kris Marsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sasha Petrova!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrova tries to land a front kick but Marsh steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Marsh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petrova circles away from the clinch attempt.
Petrova tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marsh was well out of range. Poor timing from Petrova.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petrova. Marsh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marsh throws a body punch but Petrova moves out of range.
Petrova feints and then cracks Marsh's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Marsh down.
Marsh misses the shot to the body.
Marsh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marsh misses with a wild body shot.
Marsh moves out of range as Petrova strikes.
Petrova keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petrova buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Marsh misses with a shot to the body
and Petrova makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Marsh misses with a jab, cross combination.
Petrova throws a lazy uppercut
and Marsh counters with a nice body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Petrova misses the target.
Petrova throws a right hand that misses

and Marsh counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marsh looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh is looking to work some ground and pound but Petrova has wrist control.
Marsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrova looking for a sweep. Not yet Petrova, not yet.
Marsh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Petrova is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marsh slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kris Marsh has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A big right from Petrova misses.
Marsh uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Petrova.
Petrova thumps Marsh with a low kick.
Marsh slips under a jab from Petrova.
Petrova misses with a body shot.
Sasha Petrova is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marsh loads up on a big right hand but Petrova slips the punch.
Petrova misses with a leg kick.
Marsh tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Petrova manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Petrova misses with a body shot.
Petrova uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marsh.
Marsh throws a series of punches but Petrova moves out of range.
A jab from Marsh misses.

Petrova gets caught napping as Marsh dives in and scores a takedown. Petrova manages to retain guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marsh with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsh throwing strikes but missing.
Marsh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Petrova keeping moving, preventing Marsh from controlling successfully.
Marsh passes into half guard.
Petrova avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marsh.
Petrova is staying active underneath Marsh, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Petrova on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Marsh prevents Petrova from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marsh is looking for a kimura here.
Marsh trying to mount his opponent but Petrova defends it.
Marsh seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marsh works his foot free and advances to mount.

Marsh moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Petrova has worked his arm free - good work by Petrova!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kris Marsh dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Petrova displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marsh.
A telegraphed right hand from Marsh misses the target.
Marsh is looking to wear down Petrova with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Marsh connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Petrova swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Petrova misses with a wild body shot.
Petrova tests Marsh's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Petrova.
Marsh pivots, looking for a leg kick but Petrova is out of range and Marsh settles back down.
Marsh checks a low kick from Petrova.
Marsh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Petrova.

Marsh bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Marsh in side control, throwing shots but Petrova defends.
Marsh 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marsh working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrova wants to control but Marsh postures up.
Marsh is chipping away with strikes.
Marsh working the body and head with strikes.
An elbow from Marsh crashes against the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marsh is looking to take a break and control but Petrova is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marsh working the ground and pound but Petrova is defending the strikes.
Marsh postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Petrova tries to improve position but can't.
Marsh working away.
Petrova taking punishment in the form of punches.
Marsh misses with the ground and pound.

Marsh tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Marsh has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Marsh wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Petrova, who protects the arm well.
Marsh in the domination position with Petrova hanging on.
Kris Marsh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsh throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Petrova is looking to regain half guard here but Marsh keeps moving and retains side control.

Marsh working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Marsh creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Petrova sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marsh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Petrova is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Marsh swings around for an armbar but Petrova sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Marsh's guard.
Petrova preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Petrova gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Marsh tries to clinch but Petrova moves out of range.

Marsh closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Petrova's guard.
Petrova preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kris Marsh dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Marsh feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Marsh sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Marsh stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Petrova swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Petrova manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marsh manages to get himself to full guard.
Petrova wants to stand but Marsh is controlling his posture from full guard.
Marsh is pulling down on Petrova's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh wants to control the position but Petrova says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Petrova stops Marsh from getting back to his feet.
Marsh wants to control but Petrova is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Petrova decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Petrova looks to land a combination but Marsh avoids it well.
Petrova is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Petrova avoids the body shot from Marsh.
Marsh lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sasha Petrova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrova falls off balance throwing a combination
and Marsh counters with a nice uppercut.
Marsh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marsh misses with a jab to the body
and Petrova counters with a left and a right that stings Marsh.
Petrova swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Petrova scores with a hook.
Petrova ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petrova keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marsh.
Petrova throws a hook but Marsh avoids it easily.
Marsh connects with an inside leg kick.
Marsh throws a leg kick which misses Petrova's front leg but catches the back leg as Petrova tries to avoid it.
Marsh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Petrova but Petrova pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Marsh tries to clinch up
and Petrova connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sloppy strikes from Petrova. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsh thows a body shot but no joy.
Some wild striking there from Marsh.
Marsh lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Marsh swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marsh's jab looks to have found its range, popping Petrova under the eye.
Marsh fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Petrova manages to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Marsh there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Petrova lands a lovely overhand right.

Marsh drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Marsh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Marsh scoring with punches to the head and body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrova utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marsh wants to control from the top but Petrova keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marsh postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Petrova is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Marsh, into his guard.

Petrova gets to his feet - Marsh follows without any prompting.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kris Marsh.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marsh, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kris Marsh!
An out of breath Kris Marsh thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.