PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Monte Talley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall has chosen Mein Herz Brennt as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Talley
vs
Marshall

190 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

173 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Team 7th Circle

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Monte Talley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marshall moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marshall.
Talley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marshall is looking to control Talley's arms but Talley gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marshall has his back to the cage.
Talley goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marshall is trying to break the clinch but Talley has him pressed against the cage.
Talley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Marshall has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Talley uses from the top position.
Talley will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Talley decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Marshall, up you get!

Marshall pushes Talley up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Marshall wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Talley has him pressed against the cage.
Marshall 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.

Marshall successfully pulls guard.

Marshall looking for a guillotine here but Talley defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Talley decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Marshall, up you get!
Talley throws a leg kick but Marshall checks it.

Talley closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Marshall's guard.
Marshall looking for a sweep. Not yet Marshall, not yet.
Marshall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Talley wants to stand but Marshall has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Talley is looking to work some ground and pound but Marshall has wrist control.
Talley has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Talley lands a couple of decent looking shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Talley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Talley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marshall kicks Talley off and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Marshall shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Talley is trying to defend but Marshall finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Marshall looks winded!
Talley tries to kick Marshall off but Marshall keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Talley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marshall.
Marshall is trying to control. Talley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Marshall content to control rather than advance.
Talley pushes Marshall off looking to stand but Marshall dives back in and keeps control.
Talley is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Talley tries to sprawl but Marshall drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talley is staying active underneath Marshall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Talley tries to kick Marshall off but Marshall keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Marshall tries to pass the half guard into mount. Talley knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marshall is looking to take a break and control but Talley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marshall is controlling the pace.

Marcus Marshall has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Talley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talley changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marshall tries to avoid it but Talley manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marshall to the ground. Marshall escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Marshall clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Talley has Marshall pressed against the cage, preventing Marshall from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Marshall jumps into guard, dragging Talley to the mat.
Marshall has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Marshall dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Marshall darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Talley looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Talley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Marshall trying to control but Talley is working from the bottom.
Marshall controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Marshall looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Talley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marshall not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Marshall working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Talley is looking to stand up but Marshall isn't so interested in that idea.
Marcus Marshall has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marshall content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Talley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Talley wants to stand and escape but Marshall is having none of it.
Talley keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
Talley wants to get back to his feet but Marshall is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall throws a big elbow that misses.

Talley is working an open guard so Marshall takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Talley has a takedown stuffed.
Marshall misses with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marshall connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Marcus Marshall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Marshall gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Talley being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall is trying to maintain a safe position but Talley gets an underhook and turns Marshall into the cage.

Marshall manages to pull guard.
Marshall throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Marshall manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Talley is trying to drag Marshall to the mat but Marshall just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Marshall struggles to land a body shot inside as Talley controls his hands.

Marshall breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Talley wants to get back to his feet.
Talley wants to control but Marshall is keeping busy.
Talley is looking to escape.
Talley trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Talley!

Marshall is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Talley has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Marshall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Marshall lands with a kick to the temple. Talley shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Talley tries to sprawl but Marshall drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Talley punching from the bottom.
Talley is looking to control Marshall's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Talley avoid being mounted?
Talley wants to improve his position but Marshall is controlling well.
Marshall throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Marshall wants to work for an arm triangle but Talley is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Talley wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Talley is looking to escape.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but Talley defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Talley trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Marshall manages to pass to mount!
Marshall lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Talley is looking to improve his position but Marshall isn't that keen on the idea.
Talley in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Talley is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Marshall trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talley regains half guard.
Talley wants to get back to his feet.
Marshall throwing shots but Talley is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Marshall connects with a nice short shot to Talley's temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marshall frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Marshall looking for a guillotine from mount but Talley is having none of it.
Talley trying desperately to get to his feet.
Marshall scoring with strikes but Talley is staying in there.
Marshall scoring with strikes but Talley is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Talley wants to try and get back to his feet.
BOOM! Marshall connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Talley is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Marshall controlling from the full mount.
Marshall lands with some strikes.
Talley working to try and regain half guard.
Marshall cracks Talley with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Marshall lands a couple of good shots and Talley has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Talley is rocked!
Marshall scores with punches from the back.
Oh Talley is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Marshall biding his time, looking for the opening.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Talley to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talley holding both Marshall 's hands and preventing any damage.
Talley grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Marshall scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Talley is looking for a way out.
Marshall is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Talley up.
Will Marshall go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Marshall tightening his grip on Talley, looking for the choke.

Talley is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Marshall avoiding Talley 's attempts to control his hands.
Can Talley hold on?! Marshall is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Marshall lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Marshall has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Talley covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Talley takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Marshall missing with strikes.
Talley has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Marshall.
Marshall misses with punches from the back.
Marshall tries to keep control of the position but Talley is staying busy.
Marshall thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Marshall lands a shot to the head.

Marshall is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Talley has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Talley tries to break free.
Marshall is looking to control Talley but Talley is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Talley tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Monte Talley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Marshall is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Marshall takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marshall looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Marshall looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Marshall comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marshall has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Marshall!
An intense looking Marcus Marshall took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Fact is I've put someone else down. So now I go back to the Gym and wait to hear who's next.'.