PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naoko Marui (ranked 1669 p4p, 1185 weight class) and Ibasour Sershurrapal (ranked 181 p4p, 139 weight class). Sershurrapal has chosen Smoking Snakes as his entrance music. Ibasour Sershurrapal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marui
vs
Sershurrapal

167 cm
31
158
15 - 14 - 1

175 cm
24
145
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Naoko Marui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ibasour Sershurrapal!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marui closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right from Marui on the inside.
Sershurrapal struggles to land a body shot inside as Marui controls his hands.
Sershurrapal lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marui.
Sershurrapal tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sershurrapal misses with the head strike.
Sershurrapal blocks an uppercut.
Marui takes a shot to the head.
Marui working aggressively here.
Sershurrapal blocks a body shot from Marui.
Marui can't find room to land a body shot as Sershurrapal controls the action.
Sershurrapal lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Marui misses with the head strike.
Sershurrapal blocks a body shot from Marui.
Marui misses with a punch to the body.
Sershurrapal prevents a body shot from Marui.
Sershurrapal tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marui smiles and moves away.
Sershurrapal throws a shot from downtown. Marui moves away and avoids it.
Marui fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sershurrapal looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sershurrapal moves in looking to clinch but Marui pushes him off.
Sershurrapal throws a body punch but Marui moves out of range.
Marui lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Marui misses with a series of wild punches.
Marui just misses with a punch to the body.
Sershurrapal takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sershurrapal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marui.

Sershurrapal darts in and clinches Marui up against the cage.
Marui blocks an uppercut.
Sershurrapal working aggressively here.
Sershurrapal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marui tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marui tries to throw a body punch but Sershurrapal avoids it by throwing Marui back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sershurrapal lands with a right to the head.
Sershurrapal lands with a light punch inside.
Marui misses with a punch to the body.
Marui misses with the head strike.
Marui misses with a hook to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sershurrapal struggles to land a body shot inside as Marui controls his hands.
Sershurrapal tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Naoko Marui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ibasour Sershurrapal.
Marui struggles to land a body shot inside as Sershurrapal controls his hands.
Marui doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Sershurrapal decides to pull guard.
Marui is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at JAG Battle Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marui accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sershurrapal throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Marui escapes and throws Sershurrapal's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sershurrapal is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sershurrapal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sershurrapal is not content to let Marui control the position.
Sershurrapal is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Marui's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Marui content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Marui works his way into side control.

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.
The referee asks Marui politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Marui prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sershurrapal is looking to regain half guard here but Marui keeps moving and retains side control.
Sershurrapal keeps trying to improve his position.
Sershurrapal manages to get back to half guard.
Marui knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sershurrapal on the ground.
Sershurrapal is refusing to be controlled, as Marui sits in half guard.

Sershurrapal looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sershurrapal tries to roll over but Marui keeps him under control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ibasour Sershurrapal will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marui fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sershurrapal manages to avoid it.
Sershurrapal throws a jab but it's blocked by Marui.
Sershurrapal lands a head shot.
Sershurrapal throws a big shot that misses.
Sershurrapal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sershurrapal feints the counter takedown.
Sershurrapal throws a right hand that misses

and Marui moves into the clinch.
Sershurrapal scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sershurrapal has a couple of punches blocked by Marui.
Marui tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sershurrapal's elbow.
Sershurrapal prevents a body shot from Marui.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marui throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sershurrapal lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sershurrapal blocking some punches.
Sershurrapal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marui backwards.
Sershurrapal working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Sershurrapal fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sershurrapal has a couple of punches blocked by Marui.

Sershurrapal ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sershurrapal no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Sershurrapal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Sershurrapal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Marui trying to control the position from guard on top but Sershurrapal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marui is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sershurrapal is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Sershurrapal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marui trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sershurrapal manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sershurrapal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marui is trying to control the position but Sershurrapal postures up.
Sershurrapal stands and throws Marui's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Sershurrapal thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sershurrapal throws a strike aimed at the side of Marui's head but Marui avoids it well.

Sershurrapal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Sershurrapal is trying to get an arm triangle but Marui is defending well.
Sershurrapal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marui is trying to get back to half guard.

Sershurrapal is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Marui has escaped the position, nice work there.

Sershurrapal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sershurrapal is trying to get an arm triangle but Marui is defending well.
Ibasour Sershurrapal has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sershurrapal wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marui, who protects the arm well.
Marui is trying to control Sershurrapal's posture but Sershurrapal avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sershurrapal is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Marui is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ibasour Sershurrapal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marui staying out of range there.
Sershurrapal moves into range and connects with a jab.
Marui lands a body shot.
Sershurrapal takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A punch lands to the side of Sershurrapal 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sershurrapal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marui shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sershurrapal eats them both and turns towards Marui to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Naoko Marui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - Sershurrapal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marui tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Sershurrapal manages to circle out of the way.
Marui throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marui swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Sershurrapal counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab, jab by Marui - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sershurrapal tries to clinch but Marui moves out of range.
Sershurrapal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marui throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sershurrapal.
Sershurrapal looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marui misses with a looping right.
Sershurrapal dodges the punch combination from Marui.
Sershurrapal misses with a double jab.
Marui throws a series of strikes that have Sershurrapal backpedaling.
Sershurrapal takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sershurrapal throws a jab but it's blocked by Marui.
Sershurrapal lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd cheers as Sershurrapal lands an impressive looking overhand right. Marui doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marui will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sershurrapal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marui misses with a left hand
and Sershurrapal counters with a left to the body.
Sershurrapal keeps the fight on the outside.
Marui throws a body shot but no joy.
Naoko Marui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sershurrapal swings for the body but Marui moves out of range.
Sershurrapal throws a lazy right hand but Marui sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marui darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sershurrapal might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sershurrapal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sershurrapal dodges the punch combination from Marui.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Marui both land. Nice combination.
Sershurrapal lands a nice shot to the body.
Sershurrapal is looking to clinch.
Marui misses the jab.
Marui dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ibasour Sershurrapal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Marui misses with a series of wild punches.
Marui on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Marui pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marui misses with a body shot
and Sershurrapal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marui misses with a wild combination.
Decent striking displayed by Sershurrapal there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marui staying out of range there.
Sershurrapal swings widly with a right hand

and Marui counters by clinching up.
A head punch on the inside from Marui fails to land.
Sershurrapal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sershurrapal has Marui pressed against the cage, preventing Marui from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sershurrapal is working Marui over against the cage.
Naoko Marui has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marui tries a body shot but Sershurrapal blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoko Marui showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sershurrapal 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ibasour Sershurrapal!
A very excited looking Ibasour Sershurrapal made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.