PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcellus York (ranked 6976 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Honik (ranked 5511 p4p, 641 weight class). Marcellus York has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

York
vs
Honik

203 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcellus York!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luke Honik!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Honik closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

York breaks the clinch.

Honik shoots in and gets a takedown into York's guard.
Honik trying to control the position from guard on top but York is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Honik working some strikes from top position.
Honik content to stall in guard here.
York is trying to control the position but Honik postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honik tries to stand but York is controlling from the bottom.
York keeping moving, preventing Honik from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honik wants to get up but he can't break York's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Honik feints and as York raises his hands in defense, Honik changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
York has a closed guard, preventing Honik from standing up.
York keeping moving, preventing Honik from controlling successfully.
Honik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. York is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York looking to hit a scissor sweep but Honik is one step ahead there.
Honik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Honik wants to get up but he can't break York's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Honik tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
York half committed to a counter leg kick.

Honik throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. York tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Honik is in York's guard.
Honik wants to get up but he can't break York's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honik tries to free his leg and advance position but York is retaining full guard.
Honik wants to control from the top but York keeps moving.
Honik wants to stand but York is controlling his posture from full guard.
Honik engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
York seems keen to control Honik's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.

Honik has York up against the cage in a clinch.

Honik has picked York up - he's going for a ride! Honik dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
York trying to control from the bottom.
Honik tries to stand and escape but York is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Honik is looking to take a break and control but York is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
York is trying to stand up here but Honik is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Honik dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Honik drives through with a takedown into York's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

York has his feet on Honik's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

A momentary lapse in concentration from York enables Honik to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. York manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Luke Honik has got the better of the ground game so far.
Honik would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Honik controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honik sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed York's guard.
York is in trouble now - Honik has advanced to mount!

Honik quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Honik but it's paid off an York is forced to tap! Nice work by Honik.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Luke Honik!