PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rod Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Marcolini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanders comes to the cage accompanied by I Have a Dream. Marcolini has chosen Raffaella Carra - Rumore as his entrance music. Marco Marcolini has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rod Sanders's chin.

Sanders
vs
Marcolini

195 cm
26
250 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
40
259 lbs
31 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)
Spartan Nutrition

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rod Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 23 - 0, fighting out of London, Marco Marcolini!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanders has managed to clinch.
Sanders lands a hook to the side of the head.
Marcolini trying to land knees to the body.

Sanders turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Marcolini can't do much from the bottom here.
We've been hearing that Sanders has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Sanders is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Marcolini has escaped the position, nice work there.
Marcolini tries to bench press Sanders off him but Sanders keeps the position.
Marcolini is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Marcolini takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Marcolini takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sanders tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Marcolini is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sanders off and has taken his back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders tries to break free.
Sanders staying busy and making it hard for Marcolini to control.
Sanders tries to escape but Marcolini has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders wants to control his opponent's hands but Marcolini gets his hands free.
Sanders is really stuck here.
Sanders trying to control the position but Marcolini manages to sink in the hooks.
Marcolini throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Sanders staying busy and making it hard for Marcolini to control.
Marcolini might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sanders haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Marcolini gets his hands free as Sanders looks to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcolini misses with a punch to the head.
Marcolini trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Marcolini throwing damaging strikes from the back! Sanders could be in trouble here!
Marcolini trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Sanders doesn't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini throwing sloppy strikes.
Sanders 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.
Marcolini is looking to control Sanders but Sanders is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Sanders is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Marcolini throwing sloppy strikes.
Marcolini throwing sloppy strikes.
Marcolini throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Sanders is trying to get back to his feet but Marcolini has full control of the position and if anything, Sanders has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Sanders is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Marcolini wants to control but Sanders is keeping busy.
Marcolini missing with strikes from the back.
Marcolini thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Marcolini throwing shots but Sanders is blocking nicely.
Sanders keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sanders manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Marcolini stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanders swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanders lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sanders works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sanders is looking to advance position but Marcolini won't allow it.

Sanders is working for a submission of some sort.
Marcolini gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Marcolini misses with a head shot. Sanders uses the momentum to regain guard.
Marcolini trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanders is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanders wants to sweep here but Marcolini controlling him for the moment.
Marcolini trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marco Marcolini will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sanders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Marcolini scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sanders in his tracks.

It looks like Rod Sanders has been cut.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Marcolini sprawls well. Marcolini wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sanders gets slowly back to his feet.

Sanders gets a takedown into half guard.

Sanders is looking for a kimura but Marcolini is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanders to get the leverage.
Marcolini regains full guard. Nicely done.
Marcolini looking for a sweep. Not yet Marcolini, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sanders stopping the sweep attempt from Marcolini.
Marcolini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanders manages to get himself to full guard.

Marcolini trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marcolini avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Marcolini throws a big elbow that misses.
Sanders keeping full guard, as Marcolini tries to pass.
Marcolini wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Sanders is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Marcolini manages to get to full guard.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcolini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcolini can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanders advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanders throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marcolini on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Marcolini is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marcolini is still trying to improve position.
Marcolini keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini is pressing down on Sanders's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sanders trying to stand up but can't free himself from Marcolini's guard.
Sanders wants to pass the guard but Marcolini is keeping the position.
Marcolini is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marcolini is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marcolini lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Marcolini wants to control from the top but Sanders keeps moving.
Marcolini's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Marcolini wants to pass the guard but Sanders is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanders manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marcolini manages to get himself to full guard.

Our spies down at at English Top Team - THE Hybrid Gym (11 ELITE ) inform us that Marcolini has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Sanders lands a couple of digs.
Sanders scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Marcolini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Marcolini had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanders defends it easily.
Sanders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sanders makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Marcolini wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanders keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Marcolini's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rod Sanders dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rod Sanders's cut.
That's time! Sanders's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Sanders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sanders swings wildly with an uppercut but Marcolini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marcolini trying to control the position but instead, Sanders has worked for underhooks and has pushed Marcolini into the cage.
Marcolini trying to land knees to the body.
Sanders lands a right hand.
Sanders wants a takedown but no success here.
Marcolini crunches a lovely knee into Sanders's ribcage.
Sanders tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marcolini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanders avoids it.
Sanders has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marcolini avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rod Sanders. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders avoids a wild elbow strike from Marcolini.
Sanders lands a hook that snaps the head of Marcolini backwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marcolini lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sanders on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sanders takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marcolini missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcolini pushes off an throws an elbow but Sanders leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Marcolini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sanders is defending well for now.
Marcolini blocks an uppercut.
Marcolini tries to work over Sanders's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sanders wants to take the fight to the mat but Marcolini manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Marcolini scores a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Marcolini obliges.
Marcolini crunches a lovely knee into Sanders's ribcage.
Marcolini using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sanders has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Marcolini is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Marcolini lands a good knee to the midsection. Sanders won't want to take too many of those.
Marcolini looking to throw knees to the head but Sanders is blocking nicely.
Still in the clinch, Marcolini scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sanders is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Marcolini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanders avoids it.
Sanders managing to block the knees to the body from Marcolini.
Marcolini tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanders avoids the damage to the body.
Sanders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marcolini is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanders avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanders has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marcolini avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sanders tries to pull guard but Marcolini forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sanders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marco Marcolini seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Marcolini has Sanders pushed against the cage.
Sanders has Marcolini pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Marcolini manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A right hand to the body from Marcolini.
Sanders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Marcolini pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marcolini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sanders is defending well for now.
Marcolini lands a nice shot to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Marcolini tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sanders blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marcolini putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sanders in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Marcolini stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcolini tries to land a knee to the head but Sanders blocks with his arms.
Sanders managing to block the knees to the body from Marcolini.
Marcolini is trying to stall.
Marcolini misses with a knee strike.

Sanders lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Marcolini is looking to control Sanders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marcolini avoid being mounted?
Sanders tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marcolini knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marcolini trying to hold on to Sanders's head to control him but Sanders postures up.
Marcolini is looking for a sweep. Sanders is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sanders seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marcolini has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Sanders is on him like a limpet, forcing Marcolini back against the cage.
Sanders wants to take the fight to the mat but Marcolini manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Marcolini gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sanders.
Marcolini is trying to stall.
Marcolini putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sanders in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Marcolini with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanders as Marcolini tries to tie him up.
Marcolini blocks an uppercut.
Marcolini lands a body punch in the clinch.
Marcolini lands a nice elbow.
Sanders is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Marcolini is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sanders is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Marcolini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marcolini 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Marcolini!
Marco Marcolini very nearly forgot to thank GREEN!160 amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
Rod Sanders spoke after the fight, saying 'best 2 of 3?'.