PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eliah Marshal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gennaro Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshal kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Remember the name. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marshal
vs
Gattuso

179 cm
27
160 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

176 cm
31
166 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Steel Penn\'s Laundry 80% LAUNDRY IS AVAILABLE

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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eliah Marshal!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gennaro Gattuso!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshal tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gattuso is able to avoid easily.
Marshal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gattuso feints a jab promting Marshal to slip. Gattuso then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Marshal slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Marshal throws a chopping leg kick but Gattuso manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Marshal.
Good standup being displayed there by Gattuso as he connects with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marshal. Gattuso does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marshal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Marshal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gattuso.
Marshal misses with a wild body shot.
Gattuso looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gattuso will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marshal misses with a double jab.
Marshal swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gattuso.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gattuso misses with the combination.
Marshal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gattuso swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marshal thows a body kick. Gattuso tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Gattuso misses.
Gattuso stuns Marshal with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jab from Gattuso.
Marshal lands a jab.
Gattuso looks to throw the jab but Marshal is out of range.
Gattuso throws a series of punches but Marshal moves out of range.
Marshal misses with a hook to the body

and Gattuso counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Marshal!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Marshal struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Gattuso's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Gattuso working the ground and pound.
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!
Gattuso lands a few punches from side control.
Marshal can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshal tries to improve position but can't.

Gattuso is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Marshal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gattuso working the head with strikes.
Marshal struggling a bit here.
Gattuso working the ground and pound but Marshal is defending the strikes.
Gattuso working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gattuso tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gattuso throws an elbow but Marshal slips to the side and avoids it well.
Marshal parries the strikes from Gattuso easily there. Gattuso is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Marshal to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gattuso looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Marshal is avoiding damage well.
Gattuso misses with the ground and pound.
Gattuso throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Gattuso throwing strikes but Marshal manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Marshal is trying to get an arm triangle but Gattuso is defending well.
Gattuso is looking to regain half guard here but Marshal keeps moving and retains side control.
Gattuso has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gattuso is not content to let Marshal control the position.
Marshal throws an elbow but Gattuso slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshal wants to stand but Gattuso is controlling his arm.
Gattuso is not content to let Marshal control the position.
Marshal content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Gattuso is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Gattuso's face as Marshal controls the position.
Gattuso tries to bench press Marshal off him but Marshal keeps the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Gattuso's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gennaro Gattuso dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gattuso takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gattuso throws a head kick but Marshal moves out of range.
Gattuso ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marshal moves away.
Gattuso looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gattuso clobbers Marshal with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Marshal will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gattuso throws a series of punches but Marshal moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Gattuso.
Marshal lands a body shot.
Marshal stuffs the takedown attempt from Gattuso. Gattuso gets slowly back to his feet.
Gattuso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marshal.
Marshal scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gattuso doesn't seem bothered though.
Gattuso throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marshal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marshal plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Eliah Marshal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gattuso.
Gennaro Gattuso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gattuso thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gattuso cracks Marshal with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gattuso shoots for a double leg takedown but Marshal sprawls well. He's pushed Gattuso's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Eliah Marshal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Marshal on his heels. He'll look to pass Marshal's guard now, I'm sure.
Marshal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marshal trying to keep a closed guard but Gattuso is proving a slippery customer.
Gattuso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gattuso wants to control from the top but Marshal keeps moving.
Gattuso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marshal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso postures up in Marshal's guard and throws a big left but Marshal blocks it.
Gattuso trying to control but Marshal is working from the bottom.
Marshal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gattuso is one step ahead there.
Marshal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gattuso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marshal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marshal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gattuso throws a big elbow that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gattuso is working Marshal over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Marshal keeping moving, preventing Gattuso from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Marshal holds on and takes a little breather.
Marshal looking for a sweep. Not yet Marshal, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gattuso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marshal wants to stand up but Gattuso is controlling him.
Gattuso postures up in Marshal's guard and throws a big left but Marshal blocks it.
Gattuso throwing strikes from guard but Marshal blocks nicely.
Gattuso throws a strike but Marshal rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Marshal slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gattuso actively working from the bottom here.
Marshal is just content to waste time from the top position. Gattuso takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Marshal won't allow Gattuso to sweep him here.

Gattuso is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gattuso is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marshal is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Marshal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshal wants to pass the guard but Gattuso is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gennaro Gattuso will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marshal, right into the meat.
Gattuso swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gattuso staying out of range there.
Gattuso scores with a shot to the body.
Gattuso lands a jab to the head.
Marshal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gattuso lands a jab-cross combination.
Gattuso moves out of range as Marshal strikes.
Marshal tries to clinch up.
Gattuso shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marshal as he avoids it easily.
Gattuso tries for a takedown but Marshal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marshal uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gattuso has time to react.
Marshal lands a body shot.
Marshal misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Marshal.
Gattuso keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marshal.
Gattuso misses with the combination.
Gattuso misses with a straight right.
Marshal throws a hook but Gattuso blocks it.
Marshal slips a jab from Gattuso.
Marshal throws a hook but Gattuso avoids it easily.
Marshal misses with a hook.
Gattuso throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Marshal connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gattuso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gattuso fails with a takedown attempt.
Eliah Marshal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gennaro Gattuso.
Marshal pushes Gattuso away with a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso throws a big shot that misses.
Gattuso lands with a shot to the body.
Gattuso connects with a body shot that sends Marshal's belly button to the back.
Gattuso fails with a takedown attempt.
Eliah Marshal is winning the standup battle so far.

Gattuso closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Marshal's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gattuso trying to control but Marshal is working from the bottom.
Marshal keeping full guard, as Gattuso tries to pass.
Marshal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gattuso distracts Marshal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso wants to control from the top but Marshal keeps moving.
Gattuso sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Marshal's guard.
Marshal tries to roll over but Gattuso keeps him under control.
Marshal keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Gattuso is trying to work for a kimura but Marshal is defending well.
Marshal is looking for a sweep. Gattuso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gattuso thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gattuso throwing shots but Marshal is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gattuso distracts Marshal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gattuso is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gattuso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gattuso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marshal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gattuso is pushing down on Marshal's leg trying to pass to half guard. Marshal is fighting to maintain full guard but Gattuso has managed to sneak the leg through.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marshal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gattuso.
Gattuso trying to control from half guard but Marshal is working away.
Marshal wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gattuso thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marshal's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gennaro Gattuso really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marshal throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marshal takes a swing at Gattuso's ribcage but misses.
Marshal lands with a hook. Gattuso tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gattuso on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Marshal takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Marshal connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Marshal avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Marshal has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Marshal misses the jab.
Gattuso takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gattuso misses with the combination.
Gattuso staying out of range there.
A solid body kick from Gattuso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshal moves away from the strike by Gattuso.

Marshal instigates a clinch.
Marshal trying to land knees to the body.
Gattuso is working for takedown but Marshal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Marshal is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Gattuso decides to pull guard.
Marshal trying to control but Gattuso is working from the bottom.
Marshal would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marshal wants to control from the top but Gattuso keeps moving.

Gattuso had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marshal defends it easily.
Marshal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Eliah Marshal just wasn't active enough.
Marshal pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gattuso works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Marshal cracks Gattuso with an open hand slap.
Marshal is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gattuso.
Gattuso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
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!
Marshal throws a nice head kick!
Marshal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marshal wants it to stay on the feet.
Eliah Marshal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gennaro Gattuso.
Marshal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gattuso closes the distance and clinches up with Marshal, looking for a takedown. Gattuso pushes Marshal against the cage but Marshal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gattuso gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Marshal closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal throws a hook but Gattuso blocks it.
Marshal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Gattuso.
Marshal throws a series of punches but Gattuso avoids them all with ease.
Gattuso misses with a straight left.
Marshal moves out of range of the leg kick from Gattuso.
Marshal takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marshal tries to clinch there but Gattuso circles away.
A jab from Marshal misses.
Marshal throws a body kick that misses.
Marshal throws a jab when Gattuso was well out of range.
Gattuso circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshal closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Marshal staying out of range there.
Gattuso ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Marshal misses with a looping right.
Gattuso shoots in looking for a takedown. Marshal tries to sprawl out of it but Gattuso keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marshal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gattuso throws a looping overhand right but Marshal ducks down to avoid it.
Gattuso ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Marshal ducks under a wild hook from Gattuso.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gattuso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marshal misses with a low kick as Gattuso jumps back.
Marshal's corner calls for a 1-2. Marshal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
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 fighters circling - Marshal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eliah Marshal had his way with Gennaro Gattuso in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Marshal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marshal takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gattuso swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Marshal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Marshal. No joy for Gattuso on that attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Marshal throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Marshal throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gattuso blocks it with crossed arms.
Gattuso looking for a takedown.
Marshal digs a right hand into Gattuso's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gattuso's gas tank.
Gattuso blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Marshal.
Marshal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshal tries to land a knee to the head but Gattuso blocks with his arms.
Marshal misses with a body punch.
A short left from Marshal.

Gattuso manages to break the clinch.
Gattuso throws a big shot that misses.
Marshal digs a good body shot into Gattuso's ribs.
Gattuso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marshal.
Marshal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marshal swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marshal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marshal blocks a head kick by Gattuso.
Gattuso throws a sloppy head kick and Marshal moves out of range easily.
Marshal is looking to chop away at Gattuso's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gattuso there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gattuso steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marshal.
Gattuso uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marshal.
Gattuso shoots for a double leg takedown but Marshal sprawls well. He's pushed Gattuso's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Eliah Marshal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gennaro Gattuso.

Marshal closes the distance and pushes Gattuso back into the cage.
Marshal pushes Gattuso back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gattuso is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshal lands an elbow just above Gattuso 's eye.

It looks like Gennaro Gattuso has been cut.
A head punch on the inside from Marshal fails to land.
Marshal keeps control of Gattuso as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A right hand to the body from Gattuso.
Marshal lands an elbow that stopped Gattuso in his tracks for a moment.
Gattuso blocks a body shot from Marshal.
Gattuso wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Marshal has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Marshal obliges.
Marshal lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gattuso or not.
Still in the clinch, Marshal scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gattuso misses with a punch to the body.
Gattuso taking a breather.
Marshal tries to work over Gattuso's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Marshal fails to land.
Gattuso tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marshal smiles and moves away.
Gattuso thows a leg kick but Marshal checks it

and Marshal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Eliah Marshal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gattuso can't find room to land a body shot as Marshal controls the action.
Marshal lands a nice elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Marshal.
Gennaro Gattuso is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gattuso avoids a wild elbow strike from Marshal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso managing to block the knees to the body from Marshal.
A hook to the body from Marshal.
Marshal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gattuso is defending well for now.
Gattuso managing to block the knees to the body from Marshal.
Marshal lands a body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gattuso blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marshal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Marshal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gattuso.
Marshal is pressed up against the cage. Gattuso has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marshal down to the mat. Marshal avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Marshal, as that shot connected.
Gattuso connects with a body shot that sends Marshal's belly button to the back.
Decent striking displayed by Marshal there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eliah Marshal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gattuso 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 47:48
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 47:48
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gennaro Gattuso!
Gennaro Gattuso is the new lightweight champion!
An out of breath Gennaro Gattuso thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.