PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eliah Marshal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshal has chosen "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA as his entrance music. Bruce Armstrong is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Armstrong
vs
Marshal

188 cm
28
155 lbs
17 - 3 - 1

179 cm
33
155 lbs
34 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Mohito Fightwear
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Bruce Armstrong!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eliah Marshal!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marshal throws a leg kick which misses Armstrong's front leg but catches the back leg as Armstrong tries to avoid it.
Marshal misses with a straight left.
A big left from Marshal misses.
Armstrong is looking to counter punch.

Armstrong shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Marshal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Armstrong trying to control but Marshal is working from the bottom.
Marshal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marshal keeping full guard, as Armstrong tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshal keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
Armstrong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Armstrong wants to control from the top but Marshal keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong postures up in Marshal's guard and throws a big left but Marshal blocks it.
Armstrong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Marshal's head.
Armstrong trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshal has Armstrong pulled in close to control his posture.
Armstrong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Armstrong has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Armstrong trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshal looking for a sweep. Not yet Marshal, not yet.
Armstrong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marshal is looking to stand up but Armstrong isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Marshal moves in looking to clinch but Armstrong pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Armstrong on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Marshal clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshal throws a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marshal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Armstrong is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Marshal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Marshal throws an elbow but misses.
Marshal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Armstrong is trying to drag Marshal to the mat but Marshal just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Armstrong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marshal is pressed up against the cage. Armstrong has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marshal down to the mat. Marshal avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Armstrong uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marshal.
Armstrong fails with a takedown attempt.
Armstrong takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Marshal swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Marshal clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong pulls guard.
Armstrong 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.

Armstrong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Armstrong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Marshal stands up from Armstrong's guard - Marshal perhaps looking for a knockout.
Marshal looks to land a right hand but Armstrong moved out of range.
As Marshal backs away, Armstrong returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Armstrong has his takedown stuffed
and Marshal counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Armstrong misses with a takedown attempt
and Marshal counters with an outside leg kick.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Marshal sprawls well. Marshal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Armstrong gets slowly back to his feet.

Marshal gets caught napping as Armstrong dives in and scores a takedown. Marshal manages to retain guard.

Marshal pushes Armstrong off and scrambles back to his feet.
Marshal has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Armstrong is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marshal scores with a jab to the jaw.
Marshal misses with an uppercut. Armstrong saw that one coming.
Armstrong appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Armstrong fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Armstrong fails with a takedown attempt.
Marshal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marshal misses with an uppercut.
Armstrong is looking to counter the offense by Marshal and move into the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Armstrong.
Eliah Marshal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Armstrong shoots in and bounces Marshal off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marshal wants to stand but Armstrong is controlling the position.
Armstrong wants to control from the top but Marshal keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eliah Marshal dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Armstrong darts in looking for a takedown but Marshal gets double underhooks and turns Armstrong into the cage.
Armstrong darts in looking for a takedown but Marshal gets double underhooks and turns Armstrong into the cage.
Armstrong shoots in and drives through. Marshal sprawls well.
Armstrong backing away here, and Marshal unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Armstrong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Armstrong takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Armstrong on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marshal. Marshal obviously looking to wear him down.
Armstrong shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marshal defends it nicely.
Marshal misses with an uppercut.
Armstrong fires out a quick counter leg kick but Marshal just manages to avoid it.
Armstrong ducks under a wild hook from Marshal.
Marshal with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Marshal attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marshal gets a clinch.
Marshal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Armstrong backwards.
Marshal pushes Armstrong back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Marshal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Marshal is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

Armstrong has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Marshal uses from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Armstrong is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marshal defends well.
Marshal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.
Armstrong wants to sweep but no luck.

Armstrong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marshal showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armstrong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Armstrong isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Marshal stacks Armstrong on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Marshal!
Armstrong is looking for a sweep.
Armstrong is trying to control Marshal's posture but Marshal avoids it.
Marshal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Armstrong tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bruce Armstrong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Armstrong wants to control but Marshal postures up.
Armstrong is looking for a sweep.

Marshal stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong blocks a low kick nicely.
Armstrong changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marshal tries to avoid it but Armstrong manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marshal to the ground. Marshal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marshal stuffs the takedown attempt from Armstrong. Armstrong gets slowly back to his feet.
It seemed like Marshal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Armstrong looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Armstrong looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Armstrong walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Marshal lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Armstrong wants to take the fight to the mat but Marshal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Armstrong tries to pull guard but Marshal holds him up against the cage and eventually Armstrong drops back down to his feet.
Marshal lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is working for takedown but Marshal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Armstrong fails to pull guard.
Marshal lands with a left to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Marshal.
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!
Marshal is pressed up against the cage. Armstrong has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marshal down to the mat. Marshal avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Armstrong gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Armstrong is rocked!
Eliah Marshal seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Marshal darts in and clinches Armstrong up against the cage.
Oh Armstrong is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Marshal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marshal lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Armstrong on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marshal. Marshal obviously looking to wear him down.
Are you kidding me?! Marshal ducked down and unloaded an uppercut from hell that sent Armstrong clean off his feet! Someone make me a GIF - that's knockout of the night for sure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Eliah Marshal! Eliah Marshal retains his featherweight title!
Eliah Marshal spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.