PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martin Magnus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and dennis lion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Magnus
vs
lion

200 cm
23
255 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

210 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Martin Magnus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, dennis lion!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
lion connects with a good right hand that stumbles Magnus. Magnus circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
lion looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
lion throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Magnus.
lion closes this distance looking for a takedown but Magnus circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Magnus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
lion shoots for a takedown but Magnus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Martin Magnus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of dennis lion.
Magnus wants to clinch.
Magnus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Magnus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
lion shoots in for a takedown but Magnus shows good takedown defense.
lion misses with a low kick.
lion darts in trying to clinch

and Magnus counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Magnus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
lion wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Magnus has him pressed against the cage.
Magnus throws a punch but it's blocked by lion.
lion is looking to break free of the clinch but Magnus has double underhooks.
Magnus is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Magnus digs a right hand into lion's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on lion's gas tank.
Magnus digs a right hand underneath lion's ribcage. lion let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Magnus stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Magnus lands a hook that snaps the head of lion backwards.
lion is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Magnus throws a blind hook that connects with the side of lions head.
Stalling in the clinch from Magnus.
Magnus gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

lion gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
lion looks gassed!
lion is thwarting Magnus's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnus tries to roll over but lion keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magnus is pressing down on lion's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Magnus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
lion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magnus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
lion stopping the sweep attempt from Magnus.
Magnus is trying to control the position from the bottom.
lion really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Magnus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Magnus moves in looking to clinch but lion pushes him off.
dennis lion seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
lion shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Magnus moves into the clinch.
Magnus lands a nice shot to the body.
Magnus stalling the fight.
lion wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Magnus has him pressed against the cage.
Magnus lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
lion changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Magnus fights it off and pushes away nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magnus works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Magnus is trying to stall.
Magnus is leaning against lion and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
lion tries for a takedown. No joy.
Magnus will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning lion up against the cage.
Magnus lands a right hand that snaps the head of lion backwards.
Magnus softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A hook to the body from lion.
Magnus looking to slow down the pace here.
Magnus lands a shot to the body.
lion blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Magnus dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

lion lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by lion.
Magnus tries to clinch but lion is having none of it.
Magnus tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and lion counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by lion.
lion scores with a shoulder strike.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Magnus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magnus misses with some punches.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Magnus looking to slow down the pace here.
Magnus works on lion's body with a couple of short punches.
lion wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Magnus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnus is trying to stall.
lion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Magnus leaning against his opponent.
lion can't break the clinch.
Magnus misses with some punches.
Magnus trying to stall but lion improves his position.
lion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Magnus wants to stall.
Stalling in the clinch from Magnus.
lion can't break the clinch.
Magnus is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Martin Magnus.

lion has managed to clinch.
lion has had enough of the clinch but Magnus keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Magnus keeps control of lion as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
lion tries to pull guard but Magnus won't allow it.
Magnus is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Magnus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
lion is looking to break free of the clinch but Magnus has double underhooks.
lion tries to pull guard but Magnus holds him up against the cage and eventually lion drops back down to his feet.
lion is looking to break free of the clinch but Magnus has double underhooks.
Magnus's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A short left from lion.
Magnus digs a right hand underneath lion's ribcage. lion let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Magnus misses with a punch to the body.

lion breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magnus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and lion counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

lion clinches.

Magnus is fighting off a takedown attempt but lion is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Magnus to the mat. Magnus regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
lion is stalling in the full guard.

lion stands and steps away. Magnus gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

lion forces Magnus back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
lion takes a shot to the head.
lion is looking to break free of the clinch but Magnus has double underhooks.
lion is working for takedown but Magnus is calmly controlling the position for now.
Martin Magnus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of dennis lion.
Magnus trying to stall but lion improves his position.
lion blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Magnus is trying to maintain a safe position but lion gets an underhook and turns Magnus into the cage.
Magnus can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
lion lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Martin Magnus.

lion closes the distance and clinches.
A hook to the body from lion.

lion breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

lion changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Magnus looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dennis lion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

lion shoots and misses
and Magnus counters with a head kick. That will keep lion thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
lion with a poor takedown
and Magnus counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. lion is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Magnus tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and lion counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
lion stopping the sweep attempt from Magnus.
lion trying to control but Magnus is working from the bottom.

Magnus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Magnus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
lion wants to control from the top but Magnus keeps moving.
lion tries to stand but Magnus is controlling from the bottom.
Magnus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Magnus is pulling down on lion's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
lion is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
lion trying to control but Magnus is working from the bottom.
Magnus looking for a sweep. Not yet Magnus, not yet.
Magnus keeping moving, preventing lion from controlling successfully.
lion postures up.
Magnus being controlled here, momentarily.
lion pushes down on Magnus's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magnus trying to control from the bottom.
Magnus is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Magnus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because lion is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
lion is nestled in close to Magnus, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

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.
lion sitting and controlling from the half guard.
lion trying to control from half guard but Magnus is working away.
lion is thwarting Magnus's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
lion shoots and misses

and Magnus counters by clinching up.
Martin Magnus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of dennis lion.
Magnus looking to slow down the pace here.
lion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Magnus doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Magnus lands with a left to the head.
Magnus looking to slow down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to dennis lion.
I think lion 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... dennis lion!