PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Sloan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Marduk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marduk is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by DMX - Intro. Craig Marduk is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sloan
vs
Marduk

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
203 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victor Sloan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Marduk!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Steve Montenegro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloan motions for Marduk to come forward. Sloan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sloan tries to clinch up but Marduk circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloan wants to clinch up but Marduk keeps it at a distance.
Marduk staying out of range there.
Marduk throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
No joy there for Sloan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Sloan closes the distance and pushes Marduk back into the cage.
Marduk looking for a takedown.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Marduk prevents the takedown attempt.
Sloan is pressed up against the cage. Marduk has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sloan down to the mat. Sloan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloan misses with a two punch combination.
Marduk throws a half hearted mid kick.
Marduk lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Victor Sloan has been cut.

Sloan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sloan gets underhooks to prevent Marduk's takedown attempt.
Victor Sloan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Marduk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marduk has Sloan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sloan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Marduk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Sloan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sloan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sloan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Marduk keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sloan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Marduk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Marduk is trying to control. Sloan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Marduk not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Marduk is working for a kimura but Sloan is defending it quite comfortably.
Sloan tries to get to full guard but Marduk has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloan trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Marduk manages to pass to mount!
Sloan tries to hold on but Marduk postures up.

Marduk goes for an armbar but Sloan turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sloan.
Sloan looking to sit in guard and control but Marduk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marduk being controlled here momentarily.
Sloan wants to stand up but Marduk is controlling him.
Marduk postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marduk is stalling in the full guard.
Marduk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sloan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marduk would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sloan has his hands on Marduk's head, controlling the position.
Sloan trying to keep a closed guard but Marduk is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Marduk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Victor Sloan's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sloan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloan shoots and misses

and Marduk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sloan gets full guard.
Sloan keeping full guard, as Marduk tries to pass.
Marduk scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sloan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Sloan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Marduk gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marduk thows a huge punch but Sloan dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sloan kicks off Marduk and gets to his feet.

Marduk shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sloan is trying to defend but Marduk finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Marduk decides to stand up.
Sloan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloan darts in trying to clinch
and Marduk counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Marduk blocks the leg kick.
Sloan shoots and misses

and Marduk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marduk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sloan wants to sweep here but Marduk controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sloan looking to control.
Marduk working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sloan's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marduk prevents Sloan from getting back to his feet.
Marduk with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Marduk 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.
Marduk lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marduk content to stall in guard here.
Sloan wants to stand up but Marduk is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sloan working a defensive guard here.
Marduk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marduk scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Marduk with a nice head shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sloan keeping moving, preventing Marduk from controlling successfully.
Marduk landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Marduk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Victor Sloan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sloan wants to clinch but Marduk slips to the side

so Marduk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Sloan uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Marduk stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sloan darts in trying to clinch

and Marduk counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marduk working away.
Sloan prevents Marduk from improving position.
Sloan can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marduk goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sloan rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Marduk's guard! Nice work there by Sloan!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sloan trying to control but Marduk is working from the bottom.
Sloan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sloppy strikes there by Sloan.
Sloan is chipping away with strikes.
Marduk is trying to control Sloan's posture but Sloan avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Marduk's face as Sloan controls the position.
Sloan wants to control but Marduk is keeping him busy.

Sloan goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Marduk has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sloan but great work by Marduk.

Marduk tries for a kimura but Sloan is defending well.
Marduk in side control, throwing shots but Sloan defends.
Marduk connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sloan some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Sloan kicks off Marduk and gets to his feet.
Sloan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Marduk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sloan to the mat! Sloan manages to get full guard.
Marduk postures up in Sloan's guard and throws a big left but Sloan blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marduk is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sloan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marduk connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marduk is looking to work some ground and pound but Sloan has wrist control.
Craig Marduk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sloan is on top in guard.
Marduk has Sloan pulled in close to control his posture.
Sloan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marduk lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sloan!
Victor Sloan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sloan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Marduk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Marduk winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Marduk!