PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jushin Liger (ranked 24732 p4p, 23760 weight class) and George Marcus (ranked 590 p4p, 578 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Liger
vs
Marcus

170 cm
26
165
3 - 3 - 0

177 cm
26
168
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jushin Liger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Marcus!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liger throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marcus's waist but Marcus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Liger off to one side.
Marcus throws a wild body kick that Liger sees coming a mile off.

Marcus gets the takedown into side control.
Marcus is looking to take a break and control but Liger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Liger is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus trying to control the position but Liger is working away.
Liger is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Marcus off and has taken his back!
Marcus tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Liger working for the choke.
Marcus is in bad spot here.
Liger controls the action.
Marcus trying to control the action but Liger just sinks the hooks in.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Liger.
Marcus just trying to survive but Liger is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Liger has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Liger lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Marcus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liger biding his time, looking for the opening.
Liger is hanging on to Marcus's back as he tries to escape.
Marcus trying to control the hands but Liger breaks the grip.
Liger is riding his opponent, not letting Marcus buck him off.

Marcus is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Liger gets his way!
Marcus is trying to break free.
Liger controlling the position well here. Marcus rolled but Liger kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liger has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Liger is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Marcus has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Liger is hanging on to Marcus's back as he tries to escape.

Liger is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Marcus has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Marcus just trying to survive but Liger is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Liger keeps control of the position as Marcus tries to break free.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jushin Liger dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Liger shoots and misses
and Marcus counters with a left and a right that stings Liger.
Marcus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Liger.
Marcus goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Marcus shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Marcus showed some decent athleticism there.
Marcus is looking to take a break and control but Liger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liger gets back to full guard.
Marcus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Liger's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus prevents Liger from getting back to his feet.
Liger pulls Marcus in close to his closed guard and prevents Marcus from doing any damage or advancing position.

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

Marcus drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Liger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marcus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marcus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marcus postures up.
Marcus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marcus not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Liger on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Liger tries to get out of the position.
Liger looking to control.
Marcus looking to sit in guard and control but Liger gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Liger tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcus is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Liger tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcus is retaining full guard.
Jushin Liger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marcus is wriggling around but Liger manages to pass to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Liger in particular looking to stall.
Liger lands strikes from half guard.
Liger prevents Marcus from improving his position.
Marcus is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marcus tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Liger has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Marcus regains half guard.
Liger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Marcus is trying to get back to full guard.
Liger lands strikes from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marcus regains full guard. Nicely done.
Liger wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but George Marcus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Marcus has Liger up against the cage in a clinch.

Liger pulls guard successfully.
Liger keeping moving, preventing Marcus from controlling successfully.
Marcus must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Marcus decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Liger, up you get!

Marcus shoots in and bounces Liger off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus trying to control but Liger is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Liger is on top in guard.

Liger is stalling in the full guard.
Liger won't allow Marcus to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Marcus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Liger works over Marcus with some ground and pound from guard.
Marcus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marcus wants to sweep but no luck.
Liger controls from within his opponent's guard.
Marcus looking for a sweep. Not yet Marcus, not yet.
Liger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Marcus does no damage.
Marcus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Liger appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Liger goes for a double leg but Marcus avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Marcus continues to drive forward.
Liger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Marcus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Marcus bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marcus throwing strikes but Liger manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Marcus wants to control but Liger postures up.

Liger tries for a kimura but Marcus is defending well.

Liger looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcus regains half guard.
Marcus trying to hold on to Liger's head to control him but Liger postures up.
Marcus has hold of Liger's hands but Liger slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Marcus trying to control from the bottom.
Liger landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcus wants to control but Liger is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Marcus tries to kick Liger off but Liger keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Marcus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marcus.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to George Marcus.
I think Marcus 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Marcus!