PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall Noir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noir has chosen Pride as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

James
vs
Noir

179 cm
33
183 lbs
21 - 13 - 2

182 cm
35
177 lbs
27 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Hellbent

Hellbent
GREEN!160

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 21 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marshall Noir!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noir connects with a crisp jab.
James throws a left and a right that both miss

and Noir counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Noir throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Noir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Noir postures up in James's guard and throws a big left but James blocks it.
Noir looking to pass the guard.
James is pulling down on Noir's head. It's preventing any offense from Noir, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James controls Noir momentarily but Noir frees himself.
Noir throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noir passes James's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
James is not content to let Noir control the position.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
James is trying to maintain the position but Noir is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noir is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
James wants to control but Noir is having none of it.
James trying desperately to get to his feet.
Noir lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
My spies in Ryōzanpaku Dojo inform me that Noir has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
James tries to hold on but Noir postures up.
Noir misses with a head shot.
Noir working away from the top, dropping strikes.
James is working to get back to half guard.
Noir looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
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!
Noir thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Noir trying to control but James is having none of it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Noir avoids the attempt from James to control.
James working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
Noir unloads with some shots from mount but James bucks and avoids them well.
Noir working James over with strikes here.
James in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Noir connects with a massive shot to the dome!
James sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
James keeping hold of Noir's head, controlling as best he can.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James tries to kick Noir off but Noir keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Noir thows a huge punch but James dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noir thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.
Noir stops James from getting back to his feet.
Noir thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
James trying to hold on to Noir's head to control him but Noir postures up.
James gets back to full guard.
Noir working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
James keeping full guard, as Noir tries to pass.
Noir is sitting in guard, working some 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!
James controls Noir momentarily but Noir frees himself.
Noir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Noir dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Noir dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Noir's head and hops out.

Noir shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. James is trying to defend but Noir finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
James is looking to improve his position.
Marshall Noir has got the better of the ground game so far.
James is trying to stand back up but Noir is controlling him
James blocking the ground and pound attempt from Noir.
Noir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noir takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Noir thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Noir is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James gets full guard.
Noir with a flurry of punches that miss.
Noir in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Noir loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Noir throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James working a defensive guard here.
James wants to stand but Noir is controlling the position.
James working a defensive guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Noir stands up over James, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Noir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Noir is working James over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir throwing strikes from guard but James blocks nicely.
James wants to stand up but Noir is controlling him.
Noir has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Noir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Noir is controlling him.
James trying to control the position.
Noir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James looks to land a combination but Noir avoids it well.
James looks to land a body kick but Noir moved away.
Noir changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
James looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
James slips under a jab.
Rick James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Noir's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Noir is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Noir fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rick James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James misses with an uppercut.
Noir with the counter takedown but James avoids it easily.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James swings away with a body shot that misses

and Noir counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James has control of Noir's left arm, preventing Noir from doing any damage.
Noir postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Noir is controlling him.
Noir throws a big elbow that misses.
Noir postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Noir working some strikes from top position.
Noir throws a big right hand that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Noir stopping the sweep attempt from James.
Noir loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Noir loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James is looking to stand up but Noir isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Noir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

James moves out of range of the strikes.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Noir.
Noir fails with a takedown attempt.
James went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Noir moves away.
James throws a jab but it's blocked by Noir.
James misses with a double jab.
Noir drops down looking to force a counter takedown but James defends it well.
Noir swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Noir.
It looked like James wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Noir tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Noir jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as James walks away with a smile on his face. Noir gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rick James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Noir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noir blocks a leg kick.
James tries to clinch but Noir is having none of it.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Noir lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
James connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Noir moves out of range of the body kick.
James scoring well with a low kick there.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Noir takes one to the chin there.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James misses the jab.
James throws a sloppy head kick

and Noir counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
James is trying to control but Noir passes into side control!
Noir tries to score with some ground and pound. James controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
James is trying to control Noir's posture but Noir avoids it.
Noir misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Noir working the head and body with strikes.
Noir tries to score with some ground and pound. James controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Noir has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Noir in side control, throwing shots but James defends.

Noir goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, James rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Noir's guard! Nice work there by James!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Noir gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

James is looking to stand up but Noir isn't so interested in that idea.
Noir throwing strikes but missing.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Noir is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Noir stands and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Noir lands a nice forearm strike.
Marshall Noir is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noir is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. James is trying to escape and Noir transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and James is forced to tap! Nice work there by Noir! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marshall Noir!
Marshall Noir seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.