PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leif Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Marks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Marks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Carroll
vs
Marks

166 cm
27
163 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

185 cm
19
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leif Carroll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cain Marks!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marks drives through with a takedown into Carroll's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Marks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Carroll wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Marks drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Carroll manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Marks has Carroll in his guard.
Marks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marks is trying to control the position but Carroll postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cain Marks.
Marks misses the body punch

and Carroll counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Marks's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll won't allow Marks to sweep him here.
Carroll throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Carroll throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've been hearing that Carroll has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Marks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Carroll chips away with some ground and pound.
Marks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carroll postures up in Marks's guard and throws a big left but Marks blocks it.
Carroll is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Carroll throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Carroll wants to stand but Marks has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks controls Carroll momentarily but Carroll frees himself.
Carroll could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Carroll wants to stand but Marks has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Marks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carroll lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Carroll wanted to stand there but Marks had control of the position.
Marks trying to control the position here.

Carroll gets to his feet. Marks looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Marks misses.

Marks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Carroll tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Marks is in Carroll's guard.
Marks wants to pass the guard but Carroll is keeping the position.
Marks being controlled here momentarily.
Marks trying to control the position from guard on top but Carroll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marks is fighting to break Carroll's control of his arms but Carroll is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Marks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marks looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Carroll manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marks manages to get himself to full guard.
Marks is adopting a defensive guard.
Carroll postures up in Marks's guard and throws a big left but Marks blocks it.
Carroll with a flurry of punches that miss.
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!
Marks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Marks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Carroll gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carroll postures up and lands a big shot to Marks's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Leif Carroll will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the body from Carroll misses
and Marks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marks connects with a good right hand that stumbles Carroll. Carroll circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cain Marks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marks fails with the takedown
and Carroll counters with a nice leg kick.
Carroll connects with a body shot that sends Marks's belly button to the back.
Marks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Carroll's head.
Marks scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Carroll doesn't seem bothered though.

Marks throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Carroll was covering up waiting for the punch and Marks finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carroll is keeping the position for now.
Marks is fighting to break Carroll's control of his arms but Carroll is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Marks trying to control the position from guard on top but Carroll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leif Carroll overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carroll has Marks pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Marks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Carroll.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll connects with a leg kick. Marks looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Marks with a jab.
Marks tries for a takedown but Carroll circles away easily

and Carroll counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Carroll.
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!
Carroll working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Carroll stands up and waves to Marks to follow him.

Marks moves into range and clinches up with Carroll.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marks after a bit of a struggle.

Carroll drags the fight down to the ground.
Marks trying to control the position from guard on top but Carroll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carroll is keeping the position for now.
Marks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Carroll wants to sweep but no luck.
Carroll trying to control the position here.
Carroll is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carroll is adopting a defensive guard.
Carroll manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marks manages to get himself to full guard.
Carroll is working Marks over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Carroll throwing strikes but missing.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Carroll here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Carroll trying to move into half guard but instead Marks has managed to sweep!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marks advances to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carroll wants to control but Marks is keeping busy.
Marks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leif Carroll will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Marks.
Marks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marks shoots for a double leg takedown but Carroll sprawls well. He's pushed Marks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Carroll walks into a straight right hand from Marks.

Marks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marks throwing strikes from guard but Carroll blocks nicely.
Carroll 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.
Marks throwing strikes but missing.
Carroll pulls Marks in to control the position.
Carroll has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Carroll might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll looking for a sweep. Not yet Carroll, not yet.
Carroll utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carroll wants to sweep here but Marks controlling him for the moment.
Marks trying to control but Carroll is working from the bottom.
Carroll pulls Marks in to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leif Carroll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Marks.
Carroll lands a nice leg kick that just misses Marks's sensitive parts.

Marks decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Marks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carroll is looking for a sweep. Marks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marks is trying to control. Carroll wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Marks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Carroll is pressing down on Marks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carroll keeping moving, preventing Marks from controlling successfully.
Marks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carroll swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Carroll tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carroll throws a couple of heel strikes.
Carroll preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll pulls Marks in close to prevent any damage.
Marks connects with a couple of short punches.
Marks is fighting to break Carroll's control of his arms but Carroll is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leif Carroll wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Carroll gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marks has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Carroll is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Carroll stops a takedown attempt from Marks.
Marks gets underhooks to prevent Carroll's takedown attempt.
Marks tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marks is trying to pull guard but Carroll turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carroll is working for takedown but Marks is calmly controlling the position for now.
Carroll is working Marks over against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Marks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carroll has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!