PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Willem Kriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Marcus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kriel comes to the cage accompanied by Jack Parow & Freshlyground - Army Of One. Simon Marcus has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Willem Kriel's chin.

Kriel
vs
Marcus

178 cm
23
183 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willem Kriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Simon Marcus!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kriel feints a jab promting Marcus to slip. Kriel then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Marcus slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Simon Marcus has been cut.

Marcus drives through with a takedown into guard.

Marcus drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marcus jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kriel looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcus throws a big right hand that misses.
Marcus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kriel holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel is trying to control the position but Marcus postures up.
Marcus controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kriel pulls Marcus in to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kriel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Willem Kriel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kriel lands with a good body shot.
Nice jab there from Kriel.

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

Marcus drops back looking for a leg! Kriel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kriel manages to kick Marcus off! Marcus jumps back into Kriel's guard.
Kriel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marcus on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marcus is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kriel pulls Marcus in to control the position.
Marcus trying to control but Kriel is working from the bottom.
Kriel looking to control.
Kriel pulls Marcus in close to prevent any damage.
Kriel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus preventing the sweep.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Marcus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kriel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Marcus controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcus misses with a takedown attempt - Kriel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marcus closes the distance and clinches up with Kriel, looking for a takedown. Marcus pushes Kriel against the cage but Kriel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've been told by Kriel's head coaches at Black City that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Marcus looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kriel!
Marcus landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marcus is trying to get an arm triangle but Kriel is defending well.
Kriel can't do much from the bottom here.

Marcus goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kriel has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Marcus but great work by Kriel.

Kriel stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marcus is defended easily by Kriel.
Willem Kriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Marcus.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kriel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
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 Willem Kriel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Simon Marcus's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marcus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kriel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marcus tries for a takedown but Kriel circles away easily
and Kriel counters with a nice leg kick.
Marcus fails with the takedown
and Marcus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marcus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marcus shoots for a double leg takedown but Kriel sprawls well. He's pushed Marcus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kriel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Willem Kriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Marcus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Simon Marcus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marcus shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marcus passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kriel's head.
Kriel tries to get to full guard but Marcus has control of the leg.
Marcus is thwarting Kriel's attempts to control the position.
Marcus throwing shots but Kriel is blocking nicely.
Kriel gets full guard.
Marcus postures up in Kriel's guard and throws a big left but Kriel blocks it.
Marcus distracts Kriel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Marcus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Simon Marcus has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Marcus postures up.
Marcus keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kriel's head.
Marcus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marcus is pushing down on Kriel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kriel is fighting to maintain full guard but Marcus has managed to sneak the leg through.
Marcus prevents Kriel from improving his position.
Kriel controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Marcus with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel trying to control from the bottom.
Marcus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Marcus looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kriel trying to control but Marcus postures up.
Kriel manages to get to full guard.

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.
Marcus wants to control from the top but Kriel keeps moving.
Marcus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kriel is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marcus tries for a takedown but Kriel circles away easily
and Kriel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marcus is defended easily by Kriel.
Kriel is looking to counter with head kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simon Marcus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Simon Marcus's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! 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.

Kriel misses the shot to the body.
Marcus scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kriel doesn't seem bothered though.

Kriel closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Kriel on the inside.
Marcus goes for a takedown attempt but Kriel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marcus shoots in for a takedown but Kriel shows good takedown defense.
Marcus has his takedown stuffed
and Kriel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Willem Kriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Marcus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel connects with a leg kick. Marcus looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Willem Kriel is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Marcus.
Kriel throws a big counter combination but Marcus scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kriel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marcus has a takedown stuffed.
Marcus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Marcus darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kriel keeping hold of Marcus's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcus is thwarting Kriel's attempts to control the position.
Marcus is trying to control the action in half guard but Kriel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kriel gets back to full guard.
Kriel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Marcus thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kriel working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus throwing strikes from guard but Kriel blocks nicely.
Marcus wants to control from the top but Kriel keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marcus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marcus shoots and misses
and Kriel counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kriel scores with a leg kick.

Marcus shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Marcus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel is trying to control but Marcus passes into side control!
Kriel struggling a bit here.
Kriel is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Marcus goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kriel rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Marcus's guard! Nice work there by Kriel!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcus wants to sweep here but Kriel controlling him for the moment.
Kriel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willem Kriel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kriel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willem Kriel!
Willem Kriel bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.