PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Touma Saibara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saibara
vs
Marshall

176 cm
19
181 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

193 cm
27
183 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Touma Saibara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Columbo Gatti and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saibara shoots in and bounces Marshall off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marshall has his hands on Saibara's head, controlling the position.
Saibara throwing strikes but missing.
Saibara throws an elbow that misses. Marshall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saibara's guard. Nice move by Marshall!

Marshall pushing down on Saibara's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saibara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Marshall is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Saibara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Marshall.
Saibara moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saibara wants to sweep here but Marshall controlling him for the moment.
Marshall is pushing down on Saibara's leg trying to pass to half guard. Saibara is fighting to maintain full guard but Marshall has managed to sneak the leg through.

Marshall wants to work for an arm triangle but Saibara is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Saibara has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marshall is working away from the top position though.

Marshall is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saibara defends it well.
Saibara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Marshall passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saibara is trying desperately to improve position.
Saibara wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Marshall.
Saibara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Saibara has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Saibara is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Saibara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marshall throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Saibara is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Saibara is trying to escape the mount.
Marshall sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marshall is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Saibara has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Saibara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Marshall looking to finish with strikes here!

Marshall looking to secure an arm triangle but Saibara defends it well.
Poor strikes thrown by Marshall there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Saibara avoids a series of strikes thrown by Marshall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall working the ground and pound effectively.
Marshall has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marshall trying to control but Saibara is having none of it.
Saibara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marshall landing strikes, looking to finish!
Marshall throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Marshall looking to ground and pound but Saibara is blocking nicely.
Marshall tries to control but Saibara wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saibara blocking the ground and pound.
Marshall throwing strikes here but Saibara is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Marshall dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saibara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marshall pinned against the cage. Marshall gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Marshall looking to score a takedown here. Saibara is defending well but Marshall drives through and ends up in Saibara's guard.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saibara is keeping the position for now.
Saibara lands with a heel strike from the guard.

Marshall postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Saibara is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Marshall, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saibara trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Marshall manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Saibara is keeping the position.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Saibara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall won't allow Saibara to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saibara is trying to control the position but Marshall postures up.
Marshall stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saibara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marshall advances to half guard.
Marshall throwing shots but Saibara is blocking nicely.

That's two 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Saibara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Marshall throws an elbow that misses. Saibara uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marshall's guard. Nice move by Saibara!

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saibara accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saibara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saibara throws a big right hand that misses.
Marshall looking to control.
Saibara throws an elbow that misses. Marshall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saibara's guard. Nice move by Marshall!

Marshall won't allow Saibara to sweep him here.
Saibara keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marshall accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saibara controls Marshall momentarily but Marshall frees himself.
Saibara tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saibara keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saibara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Marshall shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Marshall showed some decent athleticism there.
Saibara works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dave Marshall has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marshall slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Saibara parries the strikes from Marshall easily there. Marshall is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Saibara to escape.

Marshall is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Saibara is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
An elbow from Marshall crashes against the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saibara manages to get back to half guard.
Saibara is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Marshall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Marshall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Saibara closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marshall to the mat! Marshall manages to get full guard.
Marshall is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Saibara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marshall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Saibara postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saibara throws a strike but Marshall rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Marshall looking to pass the guard.
Marshall slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saibara throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Saibara trying to control from the bottom.
Saibara tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Marshall tries to pass to full mount but Saibara defends it.
Marshall has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marshall is trying to control the action in half guard but Saibara is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Saibara wants to get back to full guard.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Saibara is defending well.
Marshall is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Saibara reverses the position - he's now on top in Marshall's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saibara lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Saibara has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saibara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Saibara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marshall tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saibara throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saibara connects with a couple of short punches.
Saibara is looking to work some ground and pound but Marshall has wrist control.
Marshall pulls Saibara in close to prevent any damage.
Saibara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marshall wants to sweep here but Saibara controlling him for the moment.
Saibara postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Saibara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saibara is looking to pass into half guard but Marshall pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Marshall is in guard.

Marshall is looking to work some ground and pound but Saibara has wrist control.
Marshall won't allow Saibara to sweep him here.
Marshall throws a big elbow that misses.
Saibara is trying to control the position but Marshall postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saibara misses with a straight right.
Saibara digs a good hook to Marshall's body.

Marshall closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Saibara to the mat! Saibara manages to get full guard.
Marshall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saibara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marshall tries to free his leg and advance position but Saibara is retaining full guard.
Marshall takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saibara lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Saibara stands up over Marshall, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marshall is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Touma Saibara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dave Marshall is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Saibara is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Touma Saibara showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marshall 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Marshall!