PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luigi Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darius Cook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Marshall
vs
Cook

206 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

187 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luigi Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Cook!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cook doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marshall counters with a shoot takedown. Cook fights it but they end up in guard.
Marshall stands up over Cook, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Marshall postures up and lands a big shot to Cook's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marshall lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Marshall makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Marshall will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Marshall scoring with punches to the head and body.
Marshall is in close to Cook's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Marshall thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Marshall lands a couple of elbows.
Cook looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshall lands a couple of elbows.
Marshall makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Marshall landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marshall's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cook looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marshall postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Marshall stands up from Cook's guard - Marshall perhaps looking for a knockout.
Cook looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marshall clinches with his opponent.
Cook goes for a takedown attempt but Marshall pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Cook moves into the clinch.
Marshall swings wildly with an uppercut but Cook uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marshall pushes off an throws an elbow but Cook leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cook tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Luigi Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darius Cook.
A head punch on the inside from Marshall fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cook goes for a takedown attempt but Marshall pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Cook moves into the clinch.
Cook 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 tries to land knees in the clinch but Cook avoids the damage to the body.
Marshall prevents the takedown attempt.
Marshall is trying to break the clinch but Cook is controlling him.
Marshall tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cook just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cook blocks an elbow strike from Marshall.
Marshall misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cook as Marshall tries to tie him up.
Cook putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Marshall in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
We've been informed that Cook has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cook blocks an elbow strike from Marshall.

Marshall pulls guard.

Cook drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Marshall manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cook has Marshall in his guard.
Marshall 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.
Marshall is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Marshall decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cook, up you get!
Darius Cook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cook darts in and clinches Marshall up against the cage.
Marshall really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall pulls Cook into guard.
Marshall lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cook!
Marshall content just to control the position here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marshall in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Marshall is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Marshall tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cook counters with a straight right hand.

Cook moves into the clinch successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cook avoiding damage as Marshall throws knees to the body.
Marshall has a couple of punches blocked by Cook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Marshall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luigi Marshall's cut.
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.

Cook decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Marshall blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cook.
Cook not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marshall tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Marshall moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cook really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marshall. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cook stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marshall swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marshall manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cook is breathing heavily.
Cook is desperately trying to improve his position but Marshall has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cook is in a horrible position here. Marshall smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Marshall cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Marshall pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Marshall punishing his opponent with strikes.

Marshall jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cook manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cook is trying to improve his position.
Cook takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Marshall wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cook, who protects the arm well.
Luigi Marshall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marshall lands a few punches from side control.
Cook takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall working the ground and pound from side control.
Cook is looking to regain half guard here but Marshall keeps moving and retains side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marshall cracks Cook with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cook is looking for a sweep.
Marshall lands a nice forearm strike.

Marshall thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Marshall thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Marshall lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Marshall tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

Marshall is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cook knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cook is looking for a sweep.
Cook keeps trying to improve his position.
Cook is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Marshall lands a nice forearm strike.

Marshall is trying to get an arm triangle but Cook is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Cook tries to buck Marshall off but Marshall is having none of it.
Marshall lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Cook down.
Marshall scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cook to see if he's OK.
Cook tries to improve position but can't.
Cook looks to move to half guard but instead Marshall has passed into mount! Damn!
Marshall prevents Cook from getting the reversal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
BOOM! Marshall connects with a massive shot to the dome!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Marshall working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Cook keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Marshall dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luigi Marshall's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marshall throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cook misses with a takedown attempt

and Marshall counters with a shoot takedown. Cook fights it but they end up in guard.
Marshall chips away with some ground and pound.
Marshall postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Marshall stands up over Cook, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cook bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Marshall's guard.
Cook must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marshall looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Cook drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Marshall manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cook has Marshall in his guard.
Cook takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marshall with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall is in close to Cook's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Marshall gets to his feet - Cook follows without any prompting.
Cook looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cook pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Cook tries to sprawl but Marshall drives through with a takedown into half guard.
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 Cook's temple.
Cook wants to get back to full guard.

Marshall stands up from half guard.

Marshall scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Marshall is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cook can do to turn this around?
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!
Cook wants to get back to full guard.

Marshall 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.

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.
Cook tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Marshall manages to move to mount!

Marshall working for a guillotine from mount but Cook is in no mood to give up.
Cook is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cook is bucking up trying to escape but Marshall cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Cook gets back to half guard.
Cook missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cook tries to get to full guard but Marshall has control of the leg.

Marshall is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cook has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cook is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cook throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Cook wants to get back to full guard.

Marshall wants to work for an arm triangle but Cook is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cook tries to get to full guard but Marshall has control of the leg.
Cook moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cook wants to sweep here but Marshall controlling him for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marshall's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marshall landing some decent shots from guard.
Marshall prevents Cook from getting back to his feet.

Marshall is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Marshall postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cook looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Darius Cook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luigi Marshall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Cook has an active guard here but Marshall has managed to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luigi Marshall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marshall, 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 Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luigi Marshall!