PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stu Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marshall
vs
Smith

185 cm
23
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stu Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, George Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Marshall is concentrating on defense, preventing Smith from advancing position.
Marshall moves into full guard.
Marshall is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Marshall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wanted to stand there but Marshall had control of the position.
Marshall tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Marshall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Marshall darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to control but Marshall is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marshall is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marshall to get the leverage.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marshall is working away from the top position though.
Marshall could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smith tries to roll over but Marshall keeps him under control.
Marshall trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marshall's elbow.

Smith jumps into guard, dragging Marshall to the mat.

Marshall gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Marshall gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Marshall tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Marshall on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Marshall has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smith uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Marshall's head.
Smith prevents Marshall from getting back to his feet.
Marshall keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Marshall trying to control the position.
Marshall seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith wants to control from the top but Marshall keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. George Smith wasn't active enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Smith dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marshall shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marshall preventing the sweep.
Marshall trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marshall is controlling him.
George Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marshall sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.
Marshall trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marshall is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.

Marshall is working for a kimura but Smith is defending it quite comfortably.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marshall is working away from the top position though.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith has hold of Marshall's hands but Marshall slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith trying to hold on to Marshall's head to control him but Marshall postures up.
Marshall trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Marshall has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

Marshall avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall preventing the sweep.

Marshall drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marshall jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Marshall from standing up.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

Marshall decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Marshall will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stu Marshall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Marshall has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Marshall lands a body shot.
Marshall jumps guard but Smith stands there with Marshall around his waist. Marshall gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marshall avoids it.
Marshall swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Marshall works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marshall looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall pulls Smith in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Marshall dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marshall rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Marshall jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.

Marshall working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marshall trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

Smith stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Marshall throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smith's waist but Smith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marshall off to one side.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Marshall moves out of range easily.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
A bit of stalling here from Smith.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marshall looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marshall tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stu Marshall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Marshall has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Marshall with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Smith to score with a decent uppercut.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marshall's guard.
Smith passes Marshall's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marshall's head.
Smith works his way into full mount!

Smith stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Smith drives through with a takedown into Marshall's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Marshall working for submissions but it's allowed Smith to get to half guard.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marshall keeps working.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Marshall slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marshall is keeping the position for now.
Smith wants to stand but Marshall is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Marshall.
Marshall manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Marshall trying to control but Smith is having none of it.

Marshall is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Smith is surviving well by controlling Marshall's body position as best he can.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

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