PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Maldonado (ranked 23973 p4p, 0 weight class) and FH Marshall (ranked 5585 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Offer Your Light. Lenny Maldonado has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Maldonado
vs
Marshall

200 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lenny Maldonado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, FH Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch but Maldonado swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldonado. Marshall does a little dance to reset his feet.

Maldonado fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Marshall to the ground. Maldonado is now in Marshall's guard.
Maldonado works over Marshall with some ground and pound from guard.
Marshall controls Maldonado momentarily but Maldonado frees himself.
Maldonado stopping the sweep attempt from Marshall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marshall looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maldonado's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marshall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maldonado is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marshall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marshall working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Marshall gets caught napping as Maldonado dives in and scores a takedown. Marshall manages to retain guard.

Marshall has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Maldonado is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado stalling.

Marshall gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshall wants to control but Maldonado is keeping him busy.

Marshall is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Maldonado still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Maldonado has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Marshall is looking to reverse the position.
Marshall looks winded!

Maldonado looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maldonado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Maldonado decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Maldonado wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Marshall tries to clinch up.
Maldonado tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marshall swivels and escapes.

Maldonado gets the takedown into side control.
Maldonado working away.
Marshall is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maldonado looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Marshall is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Maldonado asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Maldonado lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Maldonado dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marshall leaves Maldonado with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Marshall on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Maldonado closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Marshall's guard.
Lenny Maldonado overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marshall wants to stand up but Maldonado is controlling him.

Marshall has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Maldonado off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Maldonado connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall tries to clinch up.
Maldonado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maldonado fails with a takedown attempt.
Maldonado backing away here, and Marshall unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Marshall looks for the body kick but Maldonado saw that one coming.
Maldonado lands a nice looking body shot.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch but Maldonado swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maldonado fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lenny Maldonado. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marshall takes the fight into the clinch.
Marshall lands a body shot.

Marshall pulls Maldonado into guard.
Maldonado is working Marshall over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maldonado has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Maldonado with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Marshall is looking to stand up but Maldonado isn't so interested in that idea.

Marshall has an active guard here but Maldonado has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maldonado decides to stand up.

Maldonado shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marshall's guard.
Maldonado throws a strike but Marshall rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Marshall would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Maldonado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall looking to pass the guard.
Marshall trying to control but Maldonado is working from the bottom.
Marshall is breathing heavily.
Maldonado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marshall drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Maldonado dives on top into guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lenny Maldonado will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Maldonado scores with a nice strike.
Maldonado swats away the attempt to clinch by Marshall.
Maldonado wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Maldonado lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Maldonado closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marshall to the mat! Marshall manages to get full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maldonado preventing the sweep.
Marshall working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado sitting in guard here, content to control.

Maldonado stands up from Marshall's guard - Maldonado perhaps looking for a knockout.

Maldonado shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maldonado showed some decent athleticism there.
Marshall tries to kick Maldonado off in order to stand up. Maldonado Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall wants to get back to his feet but Maldonado drags him back down.
Maldonado content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Marshall tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Marshall takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Maldonado jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Marshall is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Marshall and Maldonado has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall manages to work his way to half guard, despite Maldonado's best efforts.
Maldonado prevents Marshall from improving his position.

Maldonado is trying to work for a kimura but Marshall is defending well.
Marshall is trying to stand up here but Maldonado is controlling him well.

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.
Ground and pound from Maldonado.
Maldonado scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Marshall wants to improve his position but Maldonado is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lenny Maldonado showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maldonado, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lenny Maldonado!