PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buster Marks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spaniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cormier is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by all about that cake. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marks
vs
Cormier

168 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Buster Marks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Spaniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cormier drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Marks looking for a guillotine here but Cormier defends easily.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Marks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cormier throws a big elbow that misses.
Cormier is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marks trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cormier not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cormier looking to sit in guard and control but Marks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is trying to keep Marks in close.
Cormier throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Cormier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cormier thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Marks postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Cormier throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Marks escapes and throws Cormier's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cormier tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cormier's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet.
Cormier trying to control but not successfully.
Cormier trying to get back to his feet but Marks is in full control for now.
Cormier manages to reverse the position and now he's in Marks's guard. Nice work there by Cormier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier with a nice head shot there.
Cormier trying to control but Marks is working from the bottom.
Marks wants to improve his position but instead Cormier has moved into half guard.

Cormier is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marks has managed to free his arm - good work.
Marks really is a fat lump.
Cormier lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Cormier is looking for a kimura here.
Cormier throwing shots but Marks is blocking nicely.
Cormier trying to control from Marks's half guard. Marks has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier is looking to work some ground and pound but Marks has wrist control.
Marks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cormier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spaniel Cormier dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cormier closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Cormier seems to be looking for submissions.
Cormier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cormier stalling away here and it's allowed Marks to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Cormier looking to pass the guard.
Marks throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Marks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cormier is looking to stand up but Marks won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marks keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
Cormier slips nicely into half guard.
Cormier is looking to take a break and control but Marks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cormier is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Cormier wants to work for an arm triangle but Marks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Cormier wants to work for an arm triangle but Marks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cormier is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marks is just riding it out for now. Cormier eventually gives up the hold.
Cormier thows a huge punch but Marks dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is looking to stall here but Marks recovers full guard.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Marks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cormier drops back, looking for a kneebar! Marks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Marks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Marks!

Cormier manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Marks is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cormier sees it coming and defends easily.
Cormier is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cormier is trying to get back to full guard.
Cormier is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cormier looking for submissions off his back.
Cormier misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spaniel Cormier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cormier jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cormier throws a hook but Marks avoids it easily.
Marks seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Marks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cormier trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Marks manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Cormier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier keeps trying to improve his position.
Marks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cormier is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cormier looking for a guillotine here but Marks defends easily.
Marks stopping the sweep attempt from Cormier.

Cormier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cormier has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Let's hope that Cormier has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Cormier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cormier working for a triangle but Marks defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier wants to stand and escape but Marks is having none of it.

Cormier is looking for a triangle here but Marks uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Marks in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Spaniel Cormier 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.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet.
Cormier on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Cormier is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Cormier bucks up and tries to throw Marks off but instead Marks has got his back!
Marks has the hooks in. Cormier is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cormier is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Buster Marks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cormier is trying to get back to his feet but Marks has full control of the position and if anything, Cormier has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Spaniel Cormier.
Well Cormier 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spaniel Cormier!
After the fight, Spaniel Cormier was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.