PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Marena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Albert Marena will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Butler
vs
Marena

155 cm
21
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dirk Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Albert Marena!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marena takes the fight into the clinch.
Butler landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Marena has Butler pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Marena pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Butler tumbling to the mat - Marena dives into Butler's guard.
Butler throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Marena wants to pass the guard but Butler is keeping the position.
Butler looking for a sweep. Not yet Butler, not yet.
Marena wants to control from the top but Butler keeps moving.
Butler knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marena on the ground.
Marena wants to pass the guard but Butler is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Butler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marena doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marena manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marena with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marena slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Marena would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marena trying to control but Butler is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Butler blocks a head kick by Marena.

Butler takes the fight into the clinch.
Marena tries for a takedown but Butler manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Butler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marena to keep the fight standing.
Butler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Butler working hard to break the clinch.

Marena manages to break the clinch.
Marena tries for a takedown but Butler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marena throws a low kick, looking for Butler's leg but Butler calmly moves out of range.
Marena looks winded!
Nice takedown defense from Butler. No joy for Marena on that attempt.
Dirk Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Marena.
Butler fails with a takedown attempt.
Marena tries to score a power double leg takedown but Butler sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marena somewhat.
Marena shoots in for a takedown but Butler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marena wants to clinch
and Butler counters with a slapping leg kick.
Butler tries to clinch up.
Butler has a takedown stuffed.

Marena instigates a clinch.
Butler tries to break free but Marena pushes him back against the cage.
Marena keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Butler's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Butler breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Butler managing to block the knees to the body from Marena.
Marena blocks an uppercut.
Butler could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Come on Butler - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A frustrated look appears on Butler's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Marena has Butler pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Butler manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Butler is looking to break free of the clinch but Marena has double underhooks.
Butler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Marena has hold of one of Butler's legs. Butler is fighting the takedown attempt but Marena gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Marena stopping the sweep attempt from Butler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Marena dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Butler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marena manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Marena darts in and clinches Butler up against the cage.
Butler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marena to keep the fight standing.

Marena manages to break the clinch.
Butler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marena.
Marena shoots and misses
and Butler counters with a good, hard body kick but Marena shrugs it off.
Butler tries to clinch up.
Butler wants to clinch

and Marena counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Marena.
Marena is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Butler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Marena slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marena trying to control but Butler is working from the bottom.

Butler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marena stays in close to Butler's body and controls the position.

Butler has his foot on Marena's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marena works his way back into a safe position though.
Marena has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Butler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marena defends it easily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Marena stays in close to Butler's body and controls the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Albert Marena seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Butler wants to clinch

and Marena counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Marena.

Butler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Marena closes the distance and clinches.
Butler tries to pull guard but Marena won't allow it.
Butler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Marena has him pressed against the cage.

Butler is fighting off a takedown attempt but Marena is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Butler to the mat. Butler regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Butler working for a triangle but Marena defends it easily.

Marena stands and steps away. Butler gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marena throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Butler's head.
Butler swats away the attempt to clinch by Marena.
Marena dives in for a single leg takedown but Butler sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dirk Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Marena.
A frustrated look appears on Butler's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Butler stops a takedown attempt from Marena.
Butler tries to break the clinch but Marena is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Butler tries to circle away but Marena has him pinned against the cage.
Butler stalling in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Butler's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Butler gets underhooks to prevent Marena's takedown attempt.
Butler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Marena just stands there and leans against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Marena with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Butler stalling against the cage.
Marena has Butler pressed against the cage, preventing Butler from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Butler.
Butler tries to pull guard but Marena won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Marena showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Marena shoots in but Butler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marena closes the distance and clinches up with Butler, looking for a takedown. Marena pushes Butler against the cage but Butler circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Butler stuffs the takedown attempt from Marena. Marena gets slowly back to his feet.
Dirk Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Marena.
Marena avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Butler moves out of range of the leg kick from Marena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marena throws a right hand that misses
and Butler counters with a nice body kick.
Marena takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Butler is looking to clinch but Marena is avoiding it.
Marena lands with a straight right. Butler didn't see that one coming.
Dirk Butler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler shoots in for a takedown but Marena shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Butler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Butler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Butler tries to clinch there but Marena circles away.

Butler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Butler moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Marena tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Butler controlling from the full mount.
Marena tries to lock up and control but Butler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marena keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Marena is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marena tries to hold on but Butler postures up.
Butler tries to control but Marena wriggling away.
Marena is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Butler trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marena slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Butler trying to control the pace.
Dirk Butler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Albert Marena is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marena is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Butler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marena 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Albert Marena!