PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Axel Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reggie Marlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reggie Marlow has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Marlow

195 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Project Mayhem

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Axel Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Reggie Marlow!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Chris Dean and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marlow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marlow's guard.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Marlow is retaining full guard.
Marlow wants to stand up but Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Marlow is keeping the position.
Marlow is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson wants to get up but he can't break Marlow's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Marlow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marlow looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Marlow is retaining full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Johnson is looking to pass into half guard but Marlow pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Marlow is in guard.

Marlow got a little sloppy there for a moment and Johnson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marlow has managed to get both his arms back between Johnson's legs - danger averted.
Marlow controlling from the top position.
Marlow throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marlow has gone for a leg lock! Johnson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Marlow's guard.

Johnson trying to control but Marlow is working from the bottom.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Marlow is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marlow 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.
Marlow is pulling down on Johnson's head. It's preventing any offense from Johnson, at least for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Johnson throws a big counter combination but Marlow scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marlow misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marlow tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marlow to the ground. Marlow escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses.
Marlow misses with the body kick
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Marlow.
Marlow misses with a head kick.
Marlow throws a leg kick which misses Johnson's front leg but catches the back leg as Johnson tries to avoid it.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses.
Marlow lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marlow throws a sloppy head kick
and Marlow takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marlow scores with a head kick.
Marlow's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Johnson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Marlow scrambles back to his feet.
Johnson misses with a straight left.
Reggie Marlow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Marlow sprawls well.
Marlow misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Reggie Marlow will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson feints and as Marlow raises his hands in defense, Johnson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Johnson won't allow Marlow to get back to his feet.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marlow is keeping the position for now.
Johnson trying to control but Marlow is working from the bottom.
Johnson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Marlow tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marlow uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marlow, pushing him back against the cage.

Marlow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Johnson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johnson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Johnson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Marlow is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Marlow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Marlow is looking to reverse the position.

Johnson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Marlow has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Johnson but great work by Marlow.
Johnson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is not content to let Marlow control the position.
Marlow trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.

Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Marlow.
Johnson gets back to full guard.

Johnson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Marlow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Johnson looking for a guillotine here but Marlow defends easily.

Johnson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marlow doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marlow manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marlow wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Axel Johnson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marlow defends it nicely.

Marlow gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Marlow tries to circle away but Johnson has him pinned against the cage.
Marlow tries to break the clinch but Johnson is controlling the position.

Marlow breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marlow as he avoids it easily.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marlow circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses.

Marlow clinches.
Johnson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Marlow fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Marlow tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Johnson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Marlow gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Marlow controls the pace.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Marlow from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marlow drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Johnson dives on top into guard.

Johnson stands and throws Marlow's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Johnson wants to control but Marlow is keeping him busy.
Johnson prevents Marlow from escaping the position.

Johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Axel Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marlow tries to escape but Johnson is in control.
Marlow keeps Johnson under control for a moment.
Marlow is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Johnson asserts his dominance and retains side control.

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.

Marlow explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Marlow pushes him off.
Marlow replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Johnson blocks it well.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marlow's waist but Marlow gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Marlow leaves Johnson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Marlow.
Reggie Marlow seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body kick there by Marlow.
Marlow throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reggie Marlow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marlow 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reggie Marlow!