PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tobias Marshall (ranked 2775 p4p, 153 weight class) and Kylar Sensei (ranked 1225 p4p, 76 weight class). Kylar Sensei is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Marshall
vs
Sensei

170 cm
39
139 lbs
25 - 25 - 0

165 cm
31
150 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tobias Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kylar Sensei!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sensei thuds his right hand into Marshall's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Marshall moves away from the strike by Sensei.
A lazy left from Sensei finds it's target.
Marshall misses with a right hand

and Sensei counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Marshall!
Marshall regains half guard.
Marshall is staying active underneath Sensei, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sensei throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sensei looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marshall has hold of Sensei's hands but Sensei slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Marshall taking some punishment here, with Sensei in his half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marshall tries to get to full guard but Sensei has control of the leg.
Sensei thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sensei is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marshall doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sensei.
Sensei has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sensei looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marshall with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sensei's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sensei's back!
Marshall controlling well, preventing Sensei from escaping the position.
Marshall has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marshall looking for the choke but no joy.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Marshall's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Sensei rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sensei is trying to control but can't.
Marshall prevents Sensei from improving his position.
Sensei moves into full guard.
Sensei tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Sensei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sensei not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sensei wants to sweep but no luck.
Sensei lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Marshall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sensei postures up in Marshall's guard and throws a big left but Marshall blocks it.
My spies in Valhalla MMA inform me that Sensei has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Sensei throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sensei keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Marshall's head.
Marshall bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sensei's guard.

Sensei utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marshall won't allow Sensei to sweep him here.
Sensei trying to control the position.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sensei is keeping the position for now.
Sensei keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sensei is keeping the position for now.
Sensei controls Marshall momentarily but Marshall frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sensei is keeping the position for now.

Sensei throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sensei had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marshall defends it easily.
Marshall preventing the sweep.
Marshall has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sensei looking for subs off his back but Marshall has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sensei wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kylar Sensei dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Marshall throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sensei has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marshall lands a jab.
Marshall takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Marshall lands with a shot to the body.
Sensei throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sensei keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sensei looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sensei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marshall slips a straight right by Sensei.
Marshall just misses with a punch to the body.
Sensei scores with a shot to the body.
Sensei keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marshall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sensei avoids the body shot from Marshall.
Marshall throws a body punch but Sensei moves out of range.
Sensei misses with a hook.
Marshall throws a right hand that misses
and Sensei counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sensei swings widly with a right hand
and Marshall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Marshall lands a jab to Sensei's midsection.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sensei darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Marshall throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tobias Marshall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sensei throws a body shot but no joy.
Marshall misses with a straight left.
Kylar Sensei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall works the jab nicely.
Sensei will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sensei tries for a takedown but Marshall circles away easily
enabling Marshall to counter with a crisp jab.
Marshall leaves Sensei with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Marshall misses the target.
Tobias Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kylar Sensei.
Marshall misses with a two punch combination.
Marshall moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marshall. Sensei does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sensei drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Marshall defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall cracks a nice hook into Sensei's ribs.
Marshall throws a combination that misses
and Sensei connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marshall stuffs the takedown attempt from Sensei. Sensei gets slowly back to his feet.
Sensei slips under a jab from Marshall.
Sensei looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marshall throws a jab when Sensei was well out of range.
Sensei digs a good hook to Marshall's body.
Sensei scores with a hook.
Marshall throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marshall throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marshall throws a right hand that misses
and Sensei counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marshall throws a shot from downtown. Sensei moves away and avoids it.
Sensei pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marshall has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sensei finds it's way round the side to connect with Marshall's head.
Marshall throws a body shot but no joy.
Sensei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marshall was well out of range. Poor timing from Sensei.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sensei scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Marshall ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Marshall takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sensei throws a body shot but no joy.
Marshall throws an overhand right that lands on Sensei's shoulder, as Sensei tries to avoid the shot.
Sensei changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sensei blocks a jab.
It seemed like Sensei was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sensei with a hook.
Marshall takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Marshall stuffs the takedown attempt from Sensei. Sensei gets slowly back to his feet.
Sensei scores with a jab to the head.
Sensei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marshall moves away.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Marshall throws a series of punches but Sensei avoids them all with ease.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sensei lands with a hook. Marshall tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sensei uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marshall.
Sensei wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Sensei closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Marshall did well to prevent Sensei getting side control.

Sensei wants to work for an arm triangle but Marshall is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Marshall is trying to maintain the position but Sensei is very close to passing his half guard.
Marshall has hold of Sensei's hands but Sensei slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Marshall moves into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marshall keeping moving, preventing Sensei from controlling successfully.
Sensei postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kylar Sensei will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Marshall slips under a jab from Sensei.
Marshall misses with a two punch combination.
Sensei scores with a nice strike.
Kylar Sensei seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sensei scores with a jab to the body.
Sensei dives in for a single leg takedown but Marshall sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Marshall displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sensei.
Sensei has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Marshall finds it's way round the side to connect with Sensei's head.
Marshall takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sensei scores with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall ducks under a wild hook from Sensei.
Marshall lands a slapping body shot.
Sensei keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marshall.
Marshall throws out a loose jab but Sensei uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marshall moves away from the strike by Sensei.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sensei is looking to clinch.
Marshall jabs Sensei to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sensei cracks a nice hook into Marshall's ribs.
A shot to the body from Marshall misses
and Sensei counters with a straight right hand.
Sensei lands an overhand right.
A swing and a miss from Sensei.
Sensei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marshall misses the jab.
Sensei tries to clinch there but Marshall circles away.

Marshall closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sensei blocks a body shot from Marshall.
Sensei lands a shoulder strike.
Sensei is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Marshall pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tobias Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kylar Sensei.
Marshall lands with a short shot to the head.
Sensei tries a body shot but Marshall blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marshall.
Sensei misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tobias Marshall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kylar Sensei is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sensei is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marshall to keep the fight standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sensei breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Sensei throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sensei swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marshall is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sensei.
Marshall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sensei was well out of range. Poor timing from Marshall.
Sensei lands with a right hand.
Marshall throws a shot from downtown. Sensei moves away and avoids it.
Marshall smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sensei throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sensei throws a jab but it's blocked by Marshall.
Sensei uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marshall.
Sensei shoots in for a takedown but Marshall shows good takedown defense.
Sensei takes a swing at Marshall's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Marshall. Those never looked like landing.
A big left from Marshall misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sensei lands a slapping body shot.
Marshall on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sensei shoots in for a takedown but Marshall shows good takedown defense.
Marshall circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marshall jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sensei takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Marshall missing with a left hand there. Sensei was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marshall throws the left hand but Sensei avoids the punch easily.
Marshall tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sensei manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sensei looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marshall misses with a wild body shot.
Sensei lands a jab.
Marshall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sensei.

Marshall gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sensei to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kylar Sensei has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sensei controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall keeping moving, preventing Sensei from controlling successfully.
Marshall is trying to keep Sensei in close.
Sensei working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marshall tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sensei is working Marshall over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marshall is on top in guard.

Sensei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall is one step ahead there.
Sensei preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tobias Marshall.
I think Sensei has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kylar Sensei!
A relieved looking Kylar Sensei thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.