PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hwai Ja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marlin Paschal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marlin Paschal acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Ja
vs
Paschal

180 cm
23
170 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
27
165 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hwai Ja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marlin Paschal!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paschal shoots in but Ja avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ja looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Paschal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ja as he jumps to the side.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ja lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Marlin Paschal has been cut.
Paschal tries to pull guard but Ja forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Hwai Ja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlin Paschal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paschal is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Ja to keep the fight standing.

Ja lands a takedown into guard.

Paschal looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ja passes into half guard.
Paschal tries to roll over but Ja keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ja keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ja seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paschal does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Paschal is trying to get back to full guard.
Ja frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ja looking to control but Paschal is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Paschal tries to lock up and control but Ja gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ja wants to control the pace but Paschal is squirming around nicely.
Paschal prevents Ja from taking his back.
Paschal wants to control but Ja is having none of it.
Paschal is desperately trying to improve his position but Ja has a good base and remains in mount.
Paschal bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ja is looking for a triangle but Paschal pushes his legs off easily.

Ja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paschal trying to control the position from guard on top but Ja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ja is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paschal defends well.
Paschal scoring with some ground and pound.
Paschal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Paschal got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ja has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paschal has managed to get both his arms back between Ja's legs - danger averted.
Paschal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ja keeping moving, preventing Paschal from controlling successfully.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paschal distracts Ja with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Paschal chips away with some ground and pound.
Ja looking to control.

Ja is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Paschal is aware though and is defending well.
Paschal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Ja is looking for a triangle here but Paschal uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ja can't do much from the bottom here.
Paschal trying to control the position but Ja is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paschal working the ground and pound.
Paschal scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hwai Ja will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marlin Paschal's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paschal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ja counters with a nice leg kick.
Paschal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ja pinned against the ropes. Ja gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ja throws a quick counter kick to the body but Paschal avoids it.
Ja lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paschal can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ja lands with a nice body punch.
Paschal closes the distance and clinches up with Ja, looking for a takedown. Paschal pushes Ja against the ropes but Ja circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hwai Ja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlin Paschal.

Ja has closed the distance and engaged Paschal in a clinch.
Ja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Paschal's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paschal throws a head punch that misses.
Ja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paschal has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Paschal tries to score a body lock takedown but Ja shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ja is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Paschal is breathing heavily.
A knee to the head by Ja.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Paschal as Ja tries to tie him up.
Paschal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ja landing knees to the head.
Paschal has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ja after a bit of a struggle.
Ja misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ja landing knees to the body.

Ja lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ja seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paschal does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Paschal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ja passes to side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ja trying to control the action but Paschal is working from the bottom.
Ja controls the position.
Paschal tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ja staying calm.
Paschal is trying to get back to half guard.
Ja is looking to take a break and control but Paschal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paschal gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ja is trying to control. Paschal wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Paschal actively working from the bottom here.
Ja takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Paschal won't allow Ja to pass to mount.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Paschal wants to get back to full guard.
Hwai Ja overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ja has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Paschal is desperately trying to improve his position but Ja has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hwai Ja dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marlin Paschal's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Paschal scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Ja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Paschal pulls his head out easily.

Ja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Paschal pulls his head out easily.
Paschal drops an elbow to the side of Ja's head.
Ja is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Paschal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Paschal's back!
Paschal rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Paschal throws a strike from the bottom but Ja passes into side control!
Ja working away.
Ja trying to control the action but Paschal is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paschal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ja trying to control the action but Paschal is working from the bottom.

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.
Paschal is trying to improve his position.
Ja working away.
Paschal tries to buck Ja off but Ja is having none of it.
Paschal sneaks back into half guard.
Ja seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paschal does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paschal looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ja passes into side control!
Paschal is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ja off and has taken his back!
Ja trying to control the hands but Paschal breaks the grip.
Hwai Ja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ja defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Paschal's arms.
Paschal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ja has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Paschal.

Paschal working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Ja breaks Paschal's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paschal working for submissions but it's allowed Ja to get to half guard.
Paschal moves into full guard.

Paschal throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Paschal keeping moving, preventing Ja from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ja passes Paschal's left leg - he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marlin Paschal.
Well Ja has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hwai Ja!
A relieved looking Hwai Ja thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.