PBP Commentary

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

Summers
vs
Polo

217 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benedict Summers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marco Polo!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Summers tries to keep at a distance but Polo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Polo stalling in the clinch.
Polo lands with a short shot to the head.
Polo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Polo digs a right hand underneath Summers's ribcage. Summers let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Summers jumps into guard, dragging Polo to the mat.
Summers has his hands on Polo's head, controlling the position.
Summers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Summers trying to keep a closed guard but Polo is proving a slippery customer.
Polo preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Polo gets to his feet - Summers follows without any prompting.

Polo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo controlling the position from side mount.
Summers tries to escape but Polo is in control.
Summers is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Polo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Summers to his feet.
Polo fails with a takedown attempt.
Summers changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Polo instigates a clinch.
Summers blocks an elbow strike.
Summers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Polo smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Polo closes the distance and clinches.
Polo trying to stall but Summers improves his position.
Polo effectively controlling the action here.

Summers gets control of Polo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Summers will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Summers is controlling Polo's posture.

Summers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Polo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Polo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Polo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Summers has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Polo has managed to get both his arms back between Summers's legs - danger averted.
Polo wants to pass the guard but Summers is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo stays in close to Summers's body and controls the position.
Summers pulls Polo in close to his closed guard and prevents Polo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Summers is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Polo is controlling him.
Polo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Summers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Summers seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Summers has his foot on Polo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Polo works his way back into a safe position though.
Summers trying to control the position.

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.
Summers wants to improve his position but instead Polo has moved into half guard.
Summers works his way to full guard. Good work.
Polo passes Summers's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Polo is looking to take a break and control but Summers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Summers is looking to escape.
Summers avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Polo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Summers wants to get back to full guard.
It looks like Polo is going to stand back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Polo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Benedict Summers's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Polo moves into the clinch.
Summers avoiding damage as Polo throws knees to the body.
Summers misses with a knee to the head.
Polo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Summers avoids it.
Polo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Polo has a couple of punches blocked by Summers.
Polo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Summers has Polo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Polo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Polo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Summers is defending well for now.
Summers can't break the clinch.
Polo misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Summers ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Summers no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Summers manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Polo has Summers pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Summers slowing the pace effectively.
Polo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Polo trying to land knees to the body.
Polo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Summers's efforts to push away.
Polo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Summers in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Polo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Summers blocks it with crossed arms.
Polo has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Summers seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Polo can turn it around.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Polo obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Summers tries to circle away but Polo has him pinned against the cage.
Summers jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Polo walks away with a smile on his face. Summers gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Polo has managed to clinch.
Polo trying to land knees to the body.
Summers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Polo landing knees to the body.
Polo digs a right hand into Summers's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Summers's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polo lands a damaging elbow.
Summers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Polo stalling against the cage.
Polo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Summers is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Polo to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Summers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polo lands an elbow that stopped Summers in his tracks for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Polo missing with knees to the body.
Polo stalls.
Polo crunches a lovely knee into Summers's ribcage.
Polo lands a hook that snaps the head of Summers backwards.
Polo tries to work over Summers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Summers avoiding damage as Polo throws knees to the body.
Polo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Polo stalling in the clinch.
Polo receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Summers jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Polo walks away with a smile on his face. Summers gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Polo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Summers, pushing him back against the cage.
Summers blocks a body shot from Polo.
Summers wants to break the clinch but can't.
Polo is struggling to control the position.
Summers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Summers is looking to control Polo's arms but Polo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Summers has his back to the cage.
Polo dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Polo trying to land knees to the body.
Summers has had enough of the clinch but Polo keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Summers managing to block the knees to the body from Polo.
Summers looking to stall.
Summers blocks the elbow strike.
Summers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Polo fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Polo forces Summers back against the cage and clinches.
Polo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Polo is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Summers fails to pull guard.
Polo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Summers avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Polo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Benedict Summers's cut.
That's time! Summers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Summers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Polo avoids it really well and circles away.

Summers gets a takedown into half guard.
Polo tries to kick Summers off but Summers keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Summers is looking to stall here but Polo recovers full guard.
Polo being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Summers trying to control but Polo is working from the bottom.
Summers looking to sit in guard and control but Polo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Summers wants to stand but Polo is controlling the position.
Summers trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Polo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Summers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Polo defends it easily.
Polo postures up.
Polo content to stall in guard here.
Summers is pulling down on Polo's head. It's preventing any offense from Polo, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo wants to stand but Summers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Summers tries for a takedown but Polo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Polo closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Polo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Summers can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Summers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Summers is defending well for now.
Polo effectively controlling the action here.
Summers wants to get back to striking at distance but Polo won't allow it.
Polo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Summers lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Polo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Summers avoids it.
Marco Polo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Polo trying to land knees to the body.
Summers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo lands a knee to the body.
Polo slows down the pace here.
Polo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Polo leaning his opponent against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on Polo's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Polo stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marco Polo.

Polo moves into range and clinches up with Summers.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Polo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Polo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Polo!
Marco Polo took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'That's right madafakas!'.