PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brooke Marsden (ranked 2976 p4p, 2921 weight class) and Denis Denisov (ranked 333 p4p, 328 weight class). Marsden kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lunatic Fringe. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Marsden
vs
Denisov

170 cm
33
143
17 - 18 - 1

167 cm
35
140
13 - 31 - 3

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

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 17 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brooke Marsden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 31 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Denisov!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marsden shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Denisov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Marsden postures up.
Marsden connects with a couple of short punches.
Denisov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marsden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Denisov is keeping the position for now.
Marsden being controlled here momentarily.
Marsden looking to pass the guard.
Marsden is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Marsden trying to control but Denisov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Denisov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Denisov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marsden ducks under a wild hook from Denisov.
Denisov tries to bum rush Marsden with a series of wild strikes but Marsden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Denisov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Marsden takes the fight into the clinch.
Marsden is pressed up against the cage. Denisov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marsden down to the mat. Marsden avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've been informed that Denisov has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Marsden.

Denisov throws Marsden to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big left from Denisov misses.
Denisov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marsden.
Denisov tried to score with a low kick but Marsden checks it.
Denisov fails to land with a series of punches.
Denisov throws an off balance right hand
and Marsden cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Marsden throws a hook but Denisov blocks it.
Denisov shoots in looking for a takedown but Marsden manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Denisov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Marsden throws an overhand right that lands on Denisov's shoulder, as Denisov tries to avoid the shot.
Denisov tries to clinch but Marsden is having none of it.
Denisov takes one to the chin there.
Denisov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Marsden counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brooke Marsden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Denisov.

Marsden drives through with a takedown into guard.

Denisov wriggles free and stands up.
Marsden misses the jab.
Denisov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsden cracks Denisov with an open hand slap.
Marsden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Denisov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Denisov throws a counter combo.
Denisov misses with a double jab
and Marsden counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marsden stuffs the takedown.
Denisov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Denisov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marsden's guard.
Denisov throws a big right hand that misses.
Denisov trying to control but Marsden is working from the bottom.

Marsden has his foot on Denisov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Denisov works his way back into a safe position though.

Marsden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marsden being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov won't allow Marsden to sweep him here.
Denisov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Denisov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denisov chips away with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Denisov lands a couple of digs.
Denisov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marsden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marsden trying to keep a closed guard but Denisov is proving a slippery customer.
Denisov is in close to Marsden's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Denisov with a nice head shot there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brooke Marsden will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Denisov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Good standup being displayed there by Marsden as he connects with a hook.
Denis Denisov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marsden throws a big shot that misses.
Denisov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Denisov ducks under a wild hook from Marsden.

Denisov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Marsden is pressed up against the cage. Denisov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marsden down to the mat. Marsden avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Denis Denisov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Denisov misses.
Denisov misses with a looping left.
Denisov tries for a takedown but Marsden circles away easily
and Marsden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Marsden avoids the body shot from Denisov.
Marsden catches Denisov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Marsden gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Marsden won't allow Denisov to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsden looking to sit in guard and control but Denisov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Marsden seems keen to control Denisov's posture.
Denis Denisov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Denisov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Denisov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Denisov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Denisov is looking to work some ground and pound but Marsden has wrist control.
Denisov chips away with some ground and pound.
Denisov working some strikes from top position.
Denisov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marsden looking for a sweep. Not yet Marsden, not yet.
Denisov working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov working some strikes from top position.
Denisov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Denisov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Marsden is working an open guard so Denisov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Marsden tries to sprawl but Denisov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marsden is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Denisov jumps into side control!
Marsden tries to buck Denisov off but Denisov is having none of it.
Denisov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Denisov is looking to take a break and control but Marsden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Denisov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov scoring with punches and elbows.
Denisov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marsden takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Marsden tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Denisov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Denisov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Marsden in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Marsden can't escape the position.
Denisov with the ground and pound from mount.
Marsden tries to lock up and control but Denisov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Denisov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Denisov working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Marsden is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denisov wants to control the pace but Marsden is squirming around nicely.
Oh Marsden is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Denisov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov controlling the pace for now.
Marsden seems to have got his legs back now.
Marsden tries to reverse the position but Denisov maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Denisov.
Marsden bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Denisov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Denisov tries to strike from the bottom.
Marsden is looking to stand up but Denisov won't let him.
Denisov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Denisov scores with a short punch from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Denisov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Denisov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marsden throws a hook to the side of Denisov's head but Denisov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Denisov throws a series of strikes that have Marsden backpedaling.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Marsden connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Denisov avoids the head kick by Marsden.
Marsden misses with an uppercut. Denisov saw that one coming.
Denisov lands a glancing blow to the side of Marsden's head.
Denisov tries to land a leg kick but Marsden saw it coming and moves away.
Denisov throws a series of punches but Marsden avoids them all with ease.
Denisov throws an overhand right that lands on Marsden's shoulder, as Marsden tries to avoid the shot.

Denisov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Marsden napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marsden manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Marsden on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Denisov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Marsden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marsden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Marsden is trying to get back to full guard.
Denisov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Denisov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Denisov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Denisov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Denisov with the ground and pound from mount.
Denisov lands a big shot there that rocks Marsden but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Denisov postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Marsden bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Denisov and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Denis Denisov!
Denis Denisov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.