PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Crispino Nicolosi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Marl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicolosi comes into the arena with Sworn Enemy - Time to Rage blaring out of the sound system. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Bob Marl was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Nicolosi
vs
Marl

189 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
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 Rio de Janeiro, Crispino Nicolosi !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bob Marl!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicolosi looks for the body kick but Marl saw that one coming.

Nicolosi moves into the clinch.
Nicolosi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Nicolosi breaks the clinch.
Nicolosi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marl counters with a three punch combo that has Nicolosi backing up. Nicolosi nods at Marl to acknowledge the strikes.
Nicolosi misses with a body shot
and Marl counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Nicolosi gets a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Nicolosi .
Nicolosi can't find room to land a body shot as Marl controls the action.
Nicolosi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Marl avoiding damage as Nicolosi throws knees to the body.
Nicolosi misses with an elbow over the top.
Nicolosi missing with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicolosi tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolosi has Marl pressed against the cage, preventing Marl from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nicolosi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Marl blocks a body shot from Nicolosi .
Nicolosi is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Marl blocks an elbow strike.
A short uppercut from Nicolosi .
Marl is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nicolosi is keeping busy.
Nicolosi tries to land knees in the clinch but Marl avoids the damage to the body.
Marl managing to block the knees to the body from Nicolosi .
Marl is trying to force a seperation but Nicolosi has the dominant position.
Nicolosi stalling against the cage.
Nicolosi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Marl pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi trying to land knees to the body.
Marl working hard to break the clinch.
Nicolosi swings wildly with an uppercut but Marl uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nicolosi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marl prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crispino Nicolosi . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicolosi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nicolosi misses with an elbow strike.
Marl managing to block the knees to the body from Nicolosi .
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nicolosi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nicolosi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marl is defending well for now.
A bit of stalling here from Nicolosi .
The referee is keeping an eye on Nicolosi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi is struggling to control the position.
Nicolosi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nicolosi lands with a right to the head.
Nicolosi missing with knees to the body.
Marl is looking to control Nicolosi 's arms but Nicolosi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marl has his back to the cage.

Nicolosi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marl avoids a kick to the body.
Marl feints the counter takedown.

Nicolosi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nicolosi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Marl up against the cage.
Marl is trying to maintain a safe position but Nicolosi gets an underhook and turns Marl into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Marl fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nicolosi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Marl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nicolosi .

Nicolosi clinches.
Marl can't break the clinch.
Nicolosi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marl backwards.
Nicolosi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Marl's efforts to push away.
Nicolosi throws an elbow but it misses.
Nicolosi misses with a punch to the body.

Nicolosi breaks from the clinch.
Nice cross by Nicolosi .
Nicolosi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nicolosi has closed the distance and engaged Marl in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Crispino Nicolosi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nicolosi shoots for a takedown but Marl saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marl steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Nicolosi .

Nicolosi gets a clinch.

Nicolosi 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nicolosi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Marl tries to clinch there but Nicolosi circles away.
Nicolosi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marl can do to turn this around?
Nicolosi loads up on a big right hand but Marl slips the punch.

Nicolosi gets a clinch.
Marl stalling in the clinch but Nicolosi improves position.
Nicolosi misses with a punch to the body.
Marl avoids the elbow strike from Nicolosi , against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nicolosi stops a takedown attempt from Marl.
Nicolosi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Marl trying to stall but Nicolosi improves his position.
Marl has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nicolosi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicolosi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nicolosi closes the distance and pushes Marl back into the cage.
Nicolosi tries to land knees in the clinch but Marl avoids the damage to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Marl dodges an elbow strike from Nicolosi .
Marl blocks the elbow strike.
Marl blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nicolosi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nicolosi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Marl blocks an elbow strike.
Come on Nicolosi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Nicolosi slows down the pace here.
Nicolosi seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi lands with a short shot to the head.
Nicolosi misses with an elbow strike.

Nicolosi manages to break the clinch.
Nicolosi misses with a kick to the body.
Nicolosi keeps Marl at a distance using the push kick.
Nicolosi leaves Marl with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Crispino Nicolosi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Marl.

Nicolosi takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Nicolosi content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Nicolosi .
Marl trying to stall but Nicolosi improves his position.
Nicolosi blocks an uppercut.
Nicolosi looking to throw knees to the head but Marl is blocking nicely.
Nicolosi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nicolosi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Marl drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nicolosi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nicolosi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nicolosi misses with an elbow over the top.
Nicolosi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Marl is breathing heavily.
Nicolosi looking for a takedown.
Good body shot from Nicolosi .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marl is defending well for now.
Nicolosi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Nicolosi .
Crispino Nicolosi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Marl trying to control the position but instead, Nicolosi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Marl into the cage.
Nicolosi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marl is defending well for now.
Marl drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicolosi scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hand to the body from Nicolosi .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Crispino Nicolosi dominated that second round.
That's time! Nicolosi 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Marl checks a leg kick.

Nicolosi forces Marl back against the cage and clinches.
Nicolosi misses with an elbow strike.
Marl misses with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Marl letting Nicolosi take a breather here.
Nicolosi gets through Marl's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nicolosi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Marl dodges an elbow strike from Nicolosi .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marl is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Marl trying to control the position but instead, Nicolosi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Marl into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Nicolosi .
Nicolosi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marl.
Marl prevents the takedown attempt.
Nicolosi is working Marl over against the cage.
Marl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A body shot lands from Nicolosi .
Nicolosi scores with a hook to the body.
Nicolosi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nicolosi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Marl up against the cage.
Nicolosi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nicolosi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marl backwards.
Crispino Nicolosi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nicolosi stalling.
Marl prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nicolosi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nicolosi prevents Marl from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Marls head.
Marl drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nicolosi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nicolosi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Marl counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crispino Nicolosi . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nicolosi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marl defends it nicely.
Nicolosi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marl.
Marl is looking for the big counter here.
Nicolosi throws a body punch but Marl moves out of range.
Marl keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marl tries to clinch but Nicolosi is having none of it.
Bob Marl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nicolosi throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marl checks a leg kick nicely.

Nicolosi forces Marl back against the cage and clinches.
Marl is looking for a takedown.
Marl is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Nicolosi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nicolosi controlling the action here for a moment.

Nicolosi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Crispino Nicolosi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nicolosi 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Crispino Nicolosi !
An out of breath Crispino Nicolosi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.