PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eliah Marshal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Finn Balor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshal's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA. Balor has chosen Monster as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Marshal
vs
Balor

179 cm
32
155 lbs
29 - 14 - 0

172 cm
34
152 lbs
21 - 9 - 1

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eliah Marshal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Finn Balor!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Marshal throws a sloppy head kick and Balor moves out of range easily.

Marshal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Balor, pushing him back against the cage.
Balor blocks an uppercut.
Balor wants to take the fight to the mat but Marshal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Balor is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Marshal can't fight it off and eventually Balor manages to take the fight to the floor. Marshal looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balor wants to control from the top but Marshal keeps moving.
Balor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Marshal's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshal wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Balor throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marshal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Balor trying to control but Marshal is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshal has momentary wrist control but Balor slips an elbow through the middle.
Balor being controlled here momentarily.
Marshal wants to stand and escape but Balor is having none of it.
Balor trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balor prevents Marshal from getting back to his feet.
Marshal trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Marshal is pulling down on Balor's head. It's preventing any offense from Balor, at least for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Marshal.

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.
Marshal connects with an inside leg kick.
Balor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Marshal.

Marshal moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marshal.
A nice right hand lands inside from Balor.
Balor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Balor lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Marshal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Balor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Marshal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marshal throws an elbow but it misses.
A knee to the head by Marshal.

It looks like Finn Balor has been cut.
Balor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Balor pushes Marshal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Balor scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Marshal misses with some punches.
Balor lands an uppercut.

Marshal is rocked!
Balor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Oh Marshal is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Marshal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Marshal seems to have got his legs back now.
Balor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marshal has a couple of punches blocked by Balor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marshal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Marshal blocks an uppercut.
Balor misses with the head strike.
Marshal pushes Balor back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Marshal lands a left hand that snaps the head of Balor backwards.
A shot in the inside from Balor.
Marshal prevents a body shot from Balor.
Marshal landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Balor digs a right hand underneath Marshal's ribcage. Marshal let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Balor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Marshal lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short left from Balor.
Balor avoids the elbow strike from Marshal, against the cage.
Balor lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balor is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marshal is defending well.
Marshal is struggling to control the position.
Balor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marshal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marshal lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Balor misses with a punch to the body.
Marshal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Balor struggles to land a body shot inside as Marshal controls his hands.
Balor misses with the head strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Marshal obliges.
Marshal misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balor.
Marshal misses with a punch to the body.
Balor is looking to take this one to the mat.
Eliah Marshal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Finn Balor.
A short body shot lands from Balor as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balor.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balor.
Balor changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Marshal fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Balor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marshal moves away.
Marshal gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Balor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marshal lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Finn Balor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Finn Balor's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick misses from Balor.
Nice uppercut lands for Balor. That snapped Marshal's head back.
Balor uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Marshal has time to react.
Eliah Marshal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marshal, right into the meat.
Balor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marshal.

Marshal gets a clinch.
Balor has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Marshal seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Balor can turn it around.
Balor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marshal's elbow.
Balor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marshal lands an elbow inside.
Balor misses with a punch to the body.
Balor lands a nice uppercut.
Balor lands a right hand.
Marshal lands a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Balor gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Marshal regains guard.

Marshal manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Balor throws a hook but Marshal blocks it.
Marshal appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
That kick from Marshal tenderised Balor's leg. Balor is trying to keep his angry face on.
Marshal misses with an uppercut. Balor saw that one coming.
A countering left hand to the body from Balor misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A slow jab from Marshal misses its intended target.
Marshal throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balor takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Marshal lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Balor swats away the attempt to clinch by Marshal.
Balor throws a lazy head kick
and Marshal counters with a one-two to the body.
Balor lands a slapping body shot.
Balor cracks Marshal with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Balor.
Marshal feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Balors jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Marshal throws a nice outside leg kick.
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!
Balor swings for the body but Marshal moves out of range.
Balor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Marshal. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshal lands with a hook. Balor tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Balor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balor throws a leg kick but Marshal checks it.
Marshal misses with a wild body shot.
Balor lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Balor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Finn Balor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marshal missing with a left hand there. Balor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balor throws an overhand right that lands on Marshal's shoulder, as Marshal tries to avoid the shot.
Marshal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Marshal moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBalor.
Marshal on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A jab lands there for Marshal.
Marshal on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Balor. Balor obviously looking to wear him down.
Marshal throws a nice outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Marshal.
Balor lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Balor lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Marshal closes the distance and pushes Balor back into the cage.
Marshal comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Marshal working aggressively here.
Balor throws a punch but it's blocked by Marshal.
Marshal lands a nice elbow.
Balor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Marshal tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Balor has a couple of punches blocked by Marshal.
Balor misses with a punch on the inside.
Marshal lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Balor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marshal backwards.
Balor swings wildly with an uppercut but Marshal uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marshal stops a takedown attempt from Balor.
Balor lands a left hand that snaps the head of Marshal backwards.
Finn Balor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshal lands with a light punch inside.
Marshal digs a right hand underneath Balor's ribcage. Balor let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Marshal's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
Balor takes an elbow to the temple.
Balor working aggressively here.
Balor misses with the head strike.
Balor swings wildly with an uppercut but Marshal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marshal lands with a light punch inside.
Balor struggles to land a body shot inside as Marshal controls his hands.

Marshal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balor misses with the combination.
Marshal lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balor walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Balor is looking to land body kicks.
Marshal throws a head kick but Balor moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Eliah Marshal will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Finn Balor's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Balor takes one on the button.
A decent looking cross lands there for Marshal.
Balor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marshal.

Marshal clinches with his opponent.
Marshal tries a body shot but Balor blocks it.
Marshal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Balor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marshal putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Balor in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Marshal lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Balor misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Marshal.

Balor is rocked!
Balor has a couple of punches blocked by Marshal.
Balor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Balor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice elbow from Marshal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Marshal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marshal cracks a nice hook into Balor's ribs.
A head kick misses from Balor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor closes the distance and clinches up with Marshal, looking for a takedown. Balor pushes Marshal against the cage but Marshal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Marshal clinches.
Marshal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Balor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Marshal lands a nice shot to the body.
Marshal lands with a right to the head.
Balor misses with a punch to the body.
Balor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Marshal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Marshal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marshal gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Balor tries to throw a body punch but Marshal avoids it by throwing Balor back against the cage.
Balor swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Marshal breaks from the clinch.
Marshal throws a push kick but Balor slaps the foot to one side.
Balor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marshal manages to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Marshal. That's going to slow Balor down.
Jab from Balor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marshal throws a leg kick which misses Balor's front leg but catches the back leg as Balor tries to avoid it.
Nice shot by Marshal.
Marshal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Marshal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A big left from Balor misses.
Marshal moves out of range as Balor throws a body kick.
Balor misses with a head kick.
Marshal wants to slow Balor down by chopping away at his legs.
Balor feints a jab promting Marshal to slip. Balor then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Marshal slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Marshal has closed the distance and engaged Balor in a clinch.
Balor tries a body shot but Marshal blocks it.
Marshal blocking some punches.
Balor has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marshal after a bit of a struggle.
Balor's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Balor.
Marshal makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Balor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from Marshal.
Marshal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Balor backwards.
Marshal lands a shoulder strike.
Balor is still on wobbly legs! Can Marshal finish him?
Balor takes a shot to the head.
Balor takes an elbow to the temple.
Marshal creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Balor with a big uppercut! Balor tries to clinch up but Marshal pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Balor to the mat! Balor covers up and Marshal unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Eliah Marshal!
In his post fight interview, Eliah Marshal started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.