PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hamza Showaikh (ranked 4430 p4p, 370 weight class) and Greg Marshall (ranked 4261 p4p, 362 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Showaikh
vs
Marshall

178 cm
26
158 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
146 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hamza Showaikh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Greg Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Showaikh misses with a takedown attempt - Marshall sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Showaikh fails with the takedown

and Marshall counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Showaikh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.
Marshall working the head and body with strikes.

Marshall is looking for a kimura but Showaikh is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marshall to get the leverage.

Marshall 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.

Marshall is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Showaikh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Showaikh tries to get to full guard but Marshall has control of the leg.

Showaikh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Showaikh looking for submissions off his back.
Marshall working Showaikh over with strikes.
Marshall is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Showaikh actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Showaikh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Showaikh is looking for a sweep. Marshall is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marshall is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Showaikh looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Showaikh tries to roll over but Marshall keeps him under control.
Marshall really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Showaikh. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Marshall is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Showaikh!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marshall has control of Showaikh's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Showaikh regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Showaikh really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Marshall scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marshall is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Showaikh to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Showaikh shrugs it off.
Showaikh is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Showaikh slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Showaikh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.
Marshall drops an elbow to the side of Showaikh's head.

Marshall is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall working the head and body with strikes.

Showaikh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Showaikh looking for submissions off his back.

Marshall is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Showaikh has managed to free his arm - good work.

Showaikh looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Showaikh tries to get to full guard but Marshall has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Marshall dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Showaikh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marshall swivels and escapes.
Showaikh misses with a takedown attempt

and Marshall counters by clinching up.

Marshall manages to break the clinch.
Showaikh doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marshall holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hamza Showaikh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Showaikh is looking for a takedown.

Marshall pulls Showaikh into guard.
Marshall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Marshall bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Showaikh's guard.

Showaikh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marshall gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marshall trying to stand up but can't free himself from Showaikh's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Showaikh's head.
Marshall would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Showaikh is looking for a triangle but Marshall pushes his legs off easily.

Showaikh working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marshall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marshall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Greg Marshall has got the better of the ground game so far.

Showaikh looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Marshall passes into side control.
Showaikh looks to move to half guard but instead Marshall has passed into mount! Damn!
Showaikh sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Showaikh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marshall working Showaikh over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marshall is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Showaikh sees it coming and defends easily.

Showaikh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.

Marshall is working for a kimura but Showaikh is defending it quite comfortably.
Marshall drops an elbow to the side of Showaikh's head.
Marshall prevents Showaikh from improving his position.

Showaikh looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Showaikh tries to roll over but Marshall keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Showaikh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.
Marshall drops an elbow to the side of Showaikh's head.

Showaikh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.

Marshall is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Showaikh defends it well.

Showaikh is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.

Marshall is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Marshall is breathing heavily.

Showaikh has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Marshall escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Marshall!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Showaikh manages to work his way to half guard, despite Marshall's best efforts.
Showaikh is trying to get back to full guard.

Showaikh looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Marshall scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Showaikh actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Showaikh looking for submissions off his back.
Marshall seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Marshall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Showaikh shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marshall as he jumps to the side.
Showaikh closes the distance and clinches up with Marshall, looking for a takedown. Showaikh pushes Marshall against the cage but Marshall circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Marshall clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Marshall takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Marshall gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Marshall trying to stand up but can't free himself from Showaikh's guard.
Marshall postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Marshall landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall cracks Showaikh with a solid left hand.

Marshall has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Showaikh to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Marshall is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Showaikh pulls down on the head and he's put Marshall to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Hamza Showaikh!