PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Marcell (ranked 2941 p4p, 116 weight class) and Oleg Liguy (ranked 2725 p4p, 69 weight class). Marcell comes to the cage accompanied by Russia National Anthem. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marcell
vs
Liguy

225 cm
26
274 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

170 cm
34
185 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Groove Gear
Sin City Allstars

RESISTANCE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Niko Marcell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oleg Liguy!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liguy fails with the takedown.

Liguy scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Marcell tries to get to full guard but Liguy has control of the leg.
Marcell is trying to control but can't.
Marcell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Liguy scores with a couple of nice shots.
Liguy prevents Marcell from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liguy scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Marcell taking some punishment here, with Liguy in his half guard.
Marcell misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marcell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Liguy pulls his head out easily.
Liguy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marcell with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Marcell's coaches at Northern Lights Fight Team have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Marcell wants to improve his position but Liguy is controlling well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Liguy lands a nice short elbow.
Marcell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Marcell is trying to control but can't.
Marcell makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marcell.
Liguy working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marcell has his foot on Liguy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Liguy works his way back into a safe position though.
Marcell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Marcell drops an elbow to the side of Liguy's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Liguy's head.
Liguy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marcell is working away from the top position though.

Marcell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Liguy is just riding it out for now. Marcell eventually gives up the hold.
Marcell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Marcell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Marcell misses with a head shot. Liguy uses the momentum to regain guard.
Marcell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marcell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marcell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Liguy's head.
Marcell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Liguy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marcell pushing down on Liguy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Liguy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Marcell wants to control from the top but Liguy keeps moving.
Marcell lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Marcell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Liguy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marcell is one step ahead there.
Marcell passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marcell wants to control but Liguy is keeping him busy.
Marcell working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Marcell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Marcell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marcell thows a huge punch but Liguy dodges it nicely.
Marcell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Marcell works his way into side control.
Liguy taking a bit of punishment here - Marcell scoring with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcell tries to score with some ground and pound. Liguy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Liguy avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Marcell.
Marcell throws a strike aimed at the side of Liguy's head but Liguy avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Marcell 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.

Liguy fails to land the takedown.

Marcell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marcell wants to control from the top but Liguy keeps moving.
Marcell won't allow Liguy to sweep him here.
Marcell looking to pass the guard.
Marcell works over Liguy with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marcell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marcell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Liguy can do to turn this around?

Marcell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Liguy looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Liguy looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Liguy!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marcell manages to get back to half guard.
Liguy lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Marcell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Liguy connects with a nice short shot to Marcell's temple.
Liguy lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Marcell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Liguy stopping the sweep attempt from Marcell.

Marcell working for a triangle but Liguy defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marcell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Liguy is aware though and is defending well.

Marcell is looking for a triangle but Liguy pushes his legs off easily.
Marcell keeping full guard, as Liguy tries to pass.
Marcell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marcell looking for a sweep. Not yet Marcell, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liguy trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liguy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Liguy with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Marcell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Liguy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Liguy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marcell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Liguy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Marcell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Liguy landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liguy distracts Marcell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

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

Liguy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marcell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Liguy has managed to get both his arms back between Marcell's legs - danger averted.
Liguy lands a couple of digs.
Liguy throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Liguy's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Liguy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Liguy 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Liguy preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Marcell dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marcell darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Marcell winds up and cracks Liguy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Marcell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Liguy defending well though.
Marcell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Marcell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Liguy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Marcell.
Marcell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Marcell connects with a nice short shot to Liguy's temple.
Liguy keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liguy trying to control from the bottom.
Marcell slips a nice elbow through Liguy's hands, connecting with Liguy's forehead.
Marcell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Marcell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marcell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Marcell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Liguy is pressing down on Marcell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Marcell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marcell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Liguy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marcell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcell is pushing down on Liguy's leg trying to pass to half guard. Liguy is fighting to maintain full guard but Marcell has managed to sneak the leg through.
Liguy is refusing to be controlled, as Marcell sits in half guard.
Liguy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marcell.

Marcell is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Marcell is keen to just control but Liguy is a slippery customer.
Liguy is trying to get back to full guard.

Marcell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Liguy is just riding it out for now. Marcell eventually gives up the hold.
Marcell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liguy keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marcell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Liguy has managed to free his arm - good work.
Liguy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marcell.
Oleg Liguy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Marcell is working for a kimura here but Liguy manages to reverse the position and he's now in Marcell's guard.
Liguy trying to control but Marcell is working from the bottom.
Liguy working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liguy throwing strikes from guard but Marcell blocks nicely.
Liguy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Marcell's head.
Marcell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Liguy wants to control from the top but Marcell keeps moving.
Marcell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Marcell tries to get out of the position.
Marcell has his hands on Liguy's head, controlling the position.
Niko Marcell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marcell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Liguy landing some decent shots from guard.
Liguy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Marcell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marcell 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Marcell!
Niko Marcell seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.