PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elvin Potts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marko Marinovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marko Marinovic will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Potts
vs
Marinovic

200 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

195 cm
25
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Elvin Potts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marko Marinovic!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Marinovic enables Potts to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Marinovic manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Marinovic controls Potts momentarily but Potts frees himself.

Potts gets to his feet. Marinovic looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A head kick misses from Marinovic.
A solid leg kick lands there for Marinovic.
Marinovic throws the kick towards the body but Potts avoids it.

Potts closes the distance and clinches.

Marinovic breaks the clinch.
Marinovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An inside leg kick lands from Marinovic.
Marinovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Marinovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Marinovic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Potts walks away with a smile on his face. Marinovic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Marinovic throws a head kick that misses.
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!
Marinovic wants to clinch

so Potts counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinovic working a defensive guard here.
Potts stops Marinovic from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marinovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marinovic wants to stand up but Potts is controlling him.

Potts gets to his feet - Marinovic follows without any prompting.
Potts wants to clinch up but Marinovic keeps it at a distance.
Marinovic darts in trying to clinch

and Potts counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Marinovic!

Potts decides to stand back up. Potts steps back and let's Marinovic get back to his feet.
Potts fails in his attempt to clinch.

Potts closes the distance and pushes Marinovic back into the cage.
Potts stalling against the cage.
Potts managing to block the knees to the body from Marinovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marinovic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marinovic avoids a wild elbow strike from Potts.
Marinovic blocks an elbow strike from Potts.

Potts has clasped his hands together around Marinovic's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
You can see the frustration on Marinovic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Potts is putting a hurting on Marinovic here, landing some big shots from side control.

Potts stands up and beckons Marinovic to his feet.
Marinovic cracks the inside of Potts's front leg.
Marinovic thows a leg kick but Potts checks it

and Potts counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potts throws a strike but Marinovic avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Potts stands up from Marinovic's guard - Potts perhaps looking for a knockout.
Marko Marinovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Potts pushes Marinovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Marinovic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Potts is defending well for now.
Potts is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Marinovic lands a knee to the head.
Marinovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marinovic lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Elvin Potts has been cut.
Marinovic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Potts prevents Marinovic from breaking the clinch.
A knee to the head by Marinovic.
Marinovic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Marinovic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Potts blocks it with crossed arms.

Marinovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marinovic fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Potts is out of range.

Potts shoots in and gets a takedown into Marinovic's guard.

Potts stands up from Marinovic's guard - Potts perhaps looking for a knockout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Potts fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elvin Potts dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Elvin Potts's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Marinovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Elvin Potts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marinovic scores with a leg kick.
Marinovic throws a sloppy head kick and Potts moves out of range easily.
Marinovic wants to clinch

and Potts counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Marinovic tries to kick Potts off in order to stand up. Potts Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Marinovic pushes Potts away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Potts gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Potts grinds an elbow into Marinovic's temple.
Potts is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marinovic can do to turn this around?
Potts works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Marinovic is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Potts scoring with punches from side control.

Potts decides to stand back up.
Marinovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Potts manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Marinovic on his heels. He'll look to pass Marinovic's guard now, I'm sure.
Potts won't allow Marinovic to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potts works over Marinovic with some ground and pound from guard.

Potts stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Potts swats away the attempt to clinch by Marinovic.
Potts tries to close the distance and clinch but Marinovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Potts scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Marinovic is looking to reverse the position.
Potts 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.
Marinovic pushes Potts away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Potts gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Marinovic is breathing heavily.

Potts decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Marinovic throws a head kick that misses.
Marinovic wants to clinch up but Potts keeps it at a distance.
Potts throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Marinovic.
Marinovic tries to clinch but Potts is having none of it.
Potts wants to clinch.
Potts tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marinovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A low kick from Marinovic misses

and Potts counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marinovic trying to control from the bottom.

Potts decides to stand up.
Potts tries to clinch up but Marinovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Marinovic tries to work over Potts's front leg with a kick but Potts checks it.
Potts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marinovic motions for Potts to come forward. Marinovic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Marinovic tries a low kick but Potts avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marinovic closes the distance and clinches.

Marinovic breaks from the clinch.
Marko Marinovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marinovic tries to clinch up but Potts circles away and keeps his distance.
Marinovic leaves Potts with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Potts checks a leg kick.
Marinovic lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Marinovic.

Potts has managed to clinch.
Marinovic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Potts throws an elbow that misses.
Marinovic being controlled against the cage.
Potts on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marinovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marinovic slaps away a takedown attempt from Potts, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Marinovic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Potts avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Potts blocks a head kick by Marinovic.
Marinovic looks for the body kick but Potts saw that one coming.
Potts keeps the fight on the outside.

Potts rushes Marinovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Potts takes a knee right on the jaw!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elvin Potts dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Elvin Potts's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marinovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marinovic tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Potts counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Marko Marinovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marinovic throws a leg kick but Potts sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Marinovic doesn't manage to clinch there - Potts circles away.
Marinovic wants to clinch but Potts slips to the side

and Potts decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Marinovic's guard.
Potts throwing strikes from guard but Marinovic blocks nicely.
Potts throws a big right hand that misses.

Potts stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Marinovic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Potts.
Potts fails with a takedown attempt.

Potts shoots in and gets a takedown into Marinovic's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Potts stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Potts has Marinovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Marinovic missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinovic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Potts.

Marinovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marinovic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Marinovic will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Marinovic tries to clinch there but Potts circles away.
Marinovic delivers a nice body kick.
Marinovic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Marinovic throws a head kick that misses.
Marinovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Potts forces Marinovic back against the cage and clinches.
Marinovic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marko Marinovic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Potts just misses with a elbow thrown towards Marinovic's brow.
Potts stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Potts is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marinovic is defending well.
Marinovic working aggressively here.
Marinovic trying to land knees to the body.
Marinovic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Potts is defending well for now.
Potts keeps control of Marinovic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Marinovic missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marinovic tries to circle away but Potts has him pinned against the cage.
Potts with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Marinovic tries to break free but Potts pushes him back against the cage.
Marinovic tries to land a knee to the head but Potts blocks with his arms.
Marinovic working Potts over with knees to the body.
Marinovic tries to land a knee to the head but Potts blocks with his arms.
Marinovic unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Marinovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marinovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marinovic throws a chopping leg kick but Potts manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Marinovic wants to land a leg kick but Potts is out of range.
Marinovic throws a sloppy head kick
and Potts counters with a two punch combo.
Potts tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marinovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Potts moves out of range of the body kick from Marinovic.
Marko Marinovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Potts wants to clinch up but Marinovic keeps it at a distance.
Potts takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Marinovic throws a head kick that misses.
Marinovic throws a leg kick but Potts sees it coming and moves out of range.
Potts tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marinovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Potts is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Marinovic's half guard.

Potts is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Elvin Potts.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Potts, 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elvin Potts!