PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luka Marka (ranked 1336 p4p, 2329 weight class) and Roman Ship (ranked 52 p4p, 94 weight class). Marka's entrance music is HADES. A fine choice. Luka Marka had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Marka
vs
Ship

180 cm
28
185
15 - 10 - 1

195 cm
27
283
12 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
HELLBENT

Vegan Gains

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 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Luka Marka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Roman Ship!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ship takes a swing at Marka's ribcage but misses.
Ship shoots in for a double leg but Marka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Ship gets a clinch.
Marka lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Marka.
Ship is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marka to keep the fight standing.
Marka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ship backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Marka.
Ship jumps guard but Marka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Luka Marka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Ship.

Marka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ship tries to clinch but Marka is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ship is looking to clinch but Marka is avoiding it.
Marka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ship was well out of range. Poor timing from Marka.
Ship throws a sloppy head kick and Marka moves out of range easily.
Marka has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ship throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Marka was covering up waiting for the punch and Ship finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ship wants to pass the guard but Marka is keeping the position.
Marka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ship is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marka has escaped and now he's on top!

Ship had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marka defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ship working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Marka has passed into half guard!

Ship looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Marka performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ship looking for a kimura from the bottom but Marka passes into side control!
Marka has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ship!
Ship is looking to get to half guard.
Marka controlling from mount.
Ship is squirming around, avoiding Marka's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marka wants to control but Ship has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

Ship is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marka pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marka wants to take a breather but Ship is having none of it.

Ship actively working from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Marka dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ship tries to score with a low kick but Marka moves his leg out of the way.
Ship throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marka feinted with a counter takedown.
Ship tries to clinch up but Marka circles away and keeps his distance.

Ship looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Ship has gone for a leg lock! Marka slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ship's guard.

Marka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Marka wants to control from the top but Ship keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ship wants to improve his position but instead Marka has moved into half guard.
Marka is trying to control. Ship wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ship wants to improve his position but Marka is controlling well.
Marka content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ship looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Marka pushes past his half guard into mount!
Ship keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Marka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ship is looking to improve his position but Marka isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ship is looking to escape.
Ship is looking to improve his position but Marka isn't that keen on the idea.
Marka looking to control but Ship is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ship is desperately trying to improve his position but Marka has a good base and remains in mount.
Marka wants to control the pace but Ship is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marka is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ship is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Marka dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A slow jab from Ship misses its intended target.
Marka attempts a counter takedown but Ship avoids it well and moves away.
Marka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ship can do to turn this around?
Ship is looking to clinch but Marka is avoiding it.
Marka half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ship fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marka feinted with a counter takedown.
Marka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ship moves away.

Ship gets a takedown into half guard.

Ship is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marka is just riding it out for now. Ship eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marka moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marka controls Ship momentarily but Ship frees himself.

Ship is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marka has escaped and now he's on top!

Ship looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Luka Marka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ship keeping full guard, as Marka tries to pass.

Ship looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Marka has picked Ship up and slammed him! Ship can't keep hold of the triangle and Marka manages to pass to side control!
Marka wants to control but Ship is keeping him busy.
Ship trying to remain calm as Marka controls from the top position.
Ship is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ship sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marka stalling.

Ship with the active half guard here but Marka passes nicely into side control.
Ship is letting Marka control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ship is looking for a sweep.
Ship is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Good shot there by Marka.
Roman Ship seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Marka. Ship does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ship throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roman Ship has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ship ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marka moves away.
Marka half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

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 Luka Marka.
Well Marka 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luka Marka!
A victorious Luka Marka thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.