PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenneth Omeruo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Layonel Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Omeruo's entrance music is The Hunger Games Whistle. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Omeruo
vs
Marshall

182 cm
25
162 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Island Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kenneth Omeruo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Layonel Marshall!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Omeruo.
Kenneth Omeruo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Omeruo.
Marshall shoots in looking for a takedown but Omeruo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Marshall's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Marshall dives in and grabs Omeruo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Omeruo pushes down on Marshall's head and hops out.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Omeruo. Marshall shrugs it off though.
Omeruo scores with a leg kick.
Omeruo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Marshall has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Omeruo.

Marshall shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Omeruo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Marshall scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omeruo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Marshall.
Marshall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Omeruo is trying to keep Marshall in close.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Omeruo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marshall throwing strikes but missing.
Omeruo is trying to control the position but Marshall postures up.
Marshall connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omeruo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Omeruo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marshall.
Marshall chips away with some ground and pound.
Marshall lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marshall landing with the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marshall postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Marshall throws a strike but Omeruo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omeruo won't allow Marshall to sweep him here.
Marshall looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Omeruo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Marshall wants to get back to full guard.
Omeruo is keen to just control but Marshall is a slippery customer.
Omeruo prevents Marshall from improving his position.
Marshall gets back to full guard.
Omeruo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Marshall keeping moving, preventing Omeruo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Omeruo is really struggling to control Marshall but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kenneth Omeruo.
Omeruo connects with an inside leg kick.
Omeruo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Marshall checks it well.
Omeruo lands a head kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Omeruo throws a head kick that misses.
Omeruo misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Layonel Marshall dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Omeruo wants to slow Marshall down by chopping away at his legs.
Marshall takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Marshall shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Omeruo as he avoids it easily.

Marshall looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Omeruo trying to control the position.
Marshall throws a strike but Omeruo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Marshall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Omeruo is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omeruo trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've been informed that Marshall has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Omeruo preventing the sweep.
Omeruo controlling from the top position.
Omeruo preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall keeping moving, preventing Omeruo from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kenneth Omeruo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Omeruo.
Omeruo is looking to slow Marshall down with leg kicks.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marshall is defended easily by Omeruo.
Omeruo connects with a high kick.
Omeruo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Omeruo is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omeruo lands a head kick!
Omeruo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Marshall shoots in but no luck this time.
Kenneth Omeruo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Layonel Marshall.

Marshall shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Omeruo 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 not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Omeruo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marshall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Omeruo defending well though.
Marshall throwing shots but Omeruo is blocking nicely.
Marshall throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marshall thows a huge punch but Omeruo dodges it nicely.
Layonel Marshall has got the better of the ground game so far.
Omeruo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Marshall scores with a couple of nice shots.
Marshall thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Omeruo's head.
Omeruo has his hands clasped together around Marshall's back. He's all about the action.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Omeruo trying to hold on to Marshall's head to control him but Marshall postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Layonel Marshall will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Omeruo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Marshall changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Omeruo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marshall with the ground and pound but Omeruo regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Marshall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marshall not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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 Omeruo's temple.
Omeruo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marshall.
Marshall thows a huge punch but Omeruo dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Omeruo has hold of Marshall's hands but Marshall slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Marshall drops an elbow to the side of Omeruo's head.
Omeruo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marshall is working away from the top position though.
Omeruo is trying to get back to full guard.
Marshall scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Marshall lands a nice short elbow.
Marshall looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Omeruo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Marshall thows a huge punch but Omeruo dodges it nicely.
Omeruo wants to control but Marshall is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Marshall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Omeruo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Marshall.
Marshall throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall working some strikes from top position.
Marshall stands up over Omeruo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Omeruo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Omeruo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marshall is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Marshall postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marshall accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marshall working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marshall's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Omeruo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marshall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marshall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marshall lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Omeruo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marshall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Omeruo controls Marshall momentarily but Marshall frees himself.
Marshall works over Omeruo with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Layonel Marshall really dominated that round.
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.

Nice takedown defense from Omeruo. No joy for Marshall on that attempt.
Marshall is trying hard to land a takedown here. Omeruo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Omeruo connects with an inside leg kick.
Omeruo throws a push kick but Marshall slaps the foot to one side.
Marshall's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Marshall takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A head kick misses from Omeruo.
Marshall sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Omeruo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Omeruo lands with a thumping leg kick.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omeruo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marshall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Marshall stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Omeruo has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Marshall manages to get his head free but now Omeruo has transitioned to an armbar! Marshall grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Omeruo! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kenneth Omeruo!
Kenneth Omeruo retains his lightweight title!
Kenneth Omeruo bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.