PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mate Orsic (ranked 573 p4p, 575 weight class) and Marchrius Rossi (ranked 92 p4p, 93 weight class). Orsic's entrance music is KRS One - Rappaz R. N. Dainja. A fine choice. Rossi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Metal Slug Theme kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Marchrius Rossi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Orsic
vs
Rossi

185 cm
36
168
18 - 7 - 1

180 cm
33
160
19 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

Shadow Realm Apparel
Urban Fighter

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 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mate Orsic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Marchrius Rossi!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi slips under a jab from Orsic.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rossi.
Orsic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Rossi tries to sprawl but Orsic drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Orsic is working for a submission of some sort.

Orsic is looking for a kimura but Rossi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Orsic to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossi tries to kick Orsic off but Orsic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rossi taking some punishment here, with Orsic in his half guard.
Orsic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi wants to control but Orsic is keeping busy.
Orsic trying to mount his opponent but Rossi defends it.
Rossi controlling the position well.
Rossi is trying to control but can't.

Orsic is working for a submission of some sort.
Orsic wants to control but Rossi is keeping him busy.
Orsic trying to control from Rossi's half guard. Rossi has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two 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.
Rossi is pulling down on Orsic's head to control his posture.
Orsic postures up in Rossi's guard and throws a big left but Rossi blocks it.
Orsic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rossi keeping moving, preventing Orsic from controlling successfully.
Orsic is looking to work some ground and pound but Rossi has wrist control.
Rossi is trying to keep Orsic in close.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Orsic sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Orsic tries to clinch but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Orsic.
Rossi misses with a body shot.
Rossi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orsic defending well as Rossi loads up on a big left hand.
Rossi throws a right hand that misses
and Orsic counters with a straight right hand.
Rossi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Orsic manages to avoid it.
Orsic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rossi.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Orsic moves away.
A big left from Rossi misses.
Rossi misses with a looping right.
The fighters circle momentarily. Orsic darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Orsic needs to keep his hands up - Rossi had a free shot at his head there.
Orsic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rossi was well out of range. Poor timing from Orsic.
Orsic misses with a takedown attempt - Rossi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rossi misses with a head kick.
Rossi digs a good hook to Orsic's body.
Rossi avoids the body shot from Orsic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orsic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rossi.
Orsic slips a straight right by Rossi.
Orsic cracks Rossi with an open hand slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Orsic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rossi thows a body kick. Orsic tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rossi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Orsic.
Rossi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rossi looks to land a right hand but Orsic moved out of range.
Rossi misses with a hook.
Rossi throws a body punch but Orsic moves out of range.
Orsic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Orsic defending well as Rossi loads up on a big left hand.
Rossi connects with a body shot that sends Orsic's belly button to the back.
Rossi misses with a hook. Orsic ducked under it nicely.
Rossi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Orsic loads up on a big right hand but Rossi slips the punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marchrius Rossi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rossi throws a jab when Orsic was well out of range.
Orsic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rossi.
Rossi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rossi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Rossi tries to sprawl but Orsic drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Orsic works his foot free and advances to mount.
Orsic won't let Rossi get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Orsic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orsic is landing with some decent strikes but Rossi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns Rossi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Orsic is trying to take his opponent's back.
Orsic in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi wants to hold on but Orsic pushes him away.
Orsic breaks from Rossi's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Orsic looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Orsic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Orsic goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rossi turns into him and now he's in Orsic's guard.
Orsic seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Orsic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rossi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rossi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Orsic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rossi is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orsic being controlled here, momentarily.
Rossi preventing the sweep.
Orsic keeping moving, preventing Rossi from controlling successfully.

Orsic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rossi defends well.
Orsic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rossi is one step ahead there.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orsic is trying to get back to half guard.
Rossi slows the pace down.
Rossi trying to control the position but Orsic is working away.
Rossi controlling from side mount.
Mate Orsic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Orsic is trying to work for a sweep but Rossi has mounted him!

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.
Rossi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Orsic is trying to escape the mount.
Rossi controlling his opponent.
Orsic is looking to improve his position but Rossi isn't that keen on the idea.
Rossi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rossi wants to control the pace but Orsic is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Orsic can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mate Orsic dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rossi misses the shot to the body.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Orsic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rossi throws a poor cross that misses
and Orsic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Orsic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Rossi throws Orsic to one side and escapes!
Orsic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rossi throws a head kick that misses
and Orsic counters with a nice body shot.
Marchrius Rossi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Orsic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Orsic scores with a nice right hand.

Orsic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Rossi pushes Orsic off and gets back to his feet.
Orsic sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rossi scores with a kick to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Rossi there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi throws a hook but Orsic avoids it easily.
Orsic attempts a counter takedown but Rossi avoids it well and moves away.

Orsic gets a clinch.
Orsic just leaning against Rossi, taking a breather.
Orsic swings wildly with an uppercut but Rossi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Orsic just leaning against Rossi, taking a breather.
Rossi is pushing Orsic up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rossi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rossi stalls.
Rossi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Rossi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orsic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Orsic shoots for a takedown but Rossi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rossi throws a hook to the side of Orsic's head but Orsic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Orsic throwing a counter right hand but Rossi manages to avoid it.
Orsic slips a jab from Rossi.
Rossi tries a head kick but it misses.
Rossi connects with a high kick.
Rossi throws a lazy uppercut
and Orsic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Orsic steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rossi. That one must have hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Orsic was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rossi.
Orsic takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Orsic misses with a takedown attempt
and Rossi counters with a straight right hand.
Rossi misses with a straight right.
Rossi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rossi misses with a body kick.
Marchrius Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rossi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Rossi
and Orsic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Orsic moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Orsic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A punch combination from Orsic misses.
Rossi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Orsic takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Marchrius Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Rossi misses.
Orsic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Orsic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rossi.
Rossi connects with a body shot.
Rossi misses the shot to the body.
Orsic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rossi.
Rossi scores with a push kick.
Orsic defending well as Rossi loads up on a big left hand.
Rossi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Orsic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orsic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Orsic throws a hook but Rossi blocks it.
Orsic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Orsic loads up on a big right hand but Rossi slips the punch.
Orsic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rossi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rossi throws an overhand right that lands on Orsic's shoulder, as Orsic tries to avoid the shot.
Rossi lands a body shot.
Orsic scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rossi throws a wild body kick that Orsic sees coming a mile off.
Crunch! Rossi slams his shin into Orsic's torso.
A slow jab from Rossi misses its intended target.
Rossi slips under a jab from Orsic.
Rossi throws out a counter right but Orsic avoids it with no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marchrius Rossi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rossi 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marchrius Rossi!
An out of breath Marchrius Rossi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.