PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Marx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Komula Hartzheim (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.

Marx
vs
Hartzheim

181 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Marx!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Komula Hartzheim!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Russell Pearce and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hartzheim connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marx momentarily.

It looks like Chris Marx has been cut.

Hartzheim gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marx trying to control the position from guard on top but Hartzheim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hartzheim is looking to stand up but Marx isn't so interested in that idea.
Hartzheim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hartzheim keeping full guard, as Marx tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hartzheim is looking to stand up but Marx isn't so interested in that idea.
Marx stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hartzheim swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartzheim doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hartzheim is on top in guard.
Hartzheim prevents Marx from getting back to his feet.

Hartzheim gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hartzheim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marx paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marx closes the distance looking to clinch

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartzheim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hartzheim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marx is keeping the position for now.

Marx is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marx could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Marx is breathing heavily.

Hartzheim stands and steps away. Marx gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nice sprawl there from Marx as Hartzheim shoots in.
Hartzheim shoots in but no luck this time.

Marx closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Marx prevents Hartzheim from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marx tries to break the clinch but Hartzheim is controlling the position.
Marx lands a body shot.
Marx is trying to break free.
Marx gets underhooks to prevent Hartzheim's takedown attempt.
Chris Marx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Komula Hartzheim.
Hartzheim wants to get back to striking at distance but Marx won't allow it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hartzheim is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Marx is working for takedown but Hartzheim is calmly controlling the position for now.

Marx breaks from the clinch.

Marx shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hartzheim trying to keep a closed guard but Marx is proving a slippery customer.
Hartzheim wants to sweep here but Marx controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartzheim throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Marx wants to control from the top but Hartzheim keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hartzheim pushes Marx off and scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Komula Hartzheim dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris Marx's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Marx gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Marx has his foot on Hartzheim's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hartzheim works his way back into a safe position though.
Hartzheim is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Hartzheim has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marx has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hartzheim can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hartzheim sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two 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.
Hartzheim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hartzheim 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.

Marx is working an open guard so Hartzheim takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartzheim tries for a takedown but Marx circles away easily

and Marx counters by clinching up.
Marx tries to pull guard but Hartzheim won't allow it.
Hartzheim can't break the clinch.
Hartzheim prevents a body shot from Marx.
Hartzheim wants a takedown but no success here.

Marx manages to pull guard.

Marx working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hartzheim has passed into half guard!
Hartzheim not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marx looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hartzheim not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Komula Hartzheim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chris Marx's cut.
That's time! Marx's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hartzheim misses with a leg kick
and Marx counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hartzheim misses with a head kick.
Marx fails with a takedown attempt.

Hartzheim changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marx looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marx is trying to get back to half guard.
Marx prevents Hartzheim from improving position.
Komula Hartzheim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marx tries to bench press Hartzheim off him but Hartzheim keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartzheim slows the pace down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hartzheim tries to move to mount but Marx blocks the move with his legs.

Hartzheim stands up and beckons Marx to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Marx shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Marx was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hartzheim tries to control Marx's body but Marx pushes him off. Hartzheim squirms to his side and now Marx has his back!
Hartzheim is in bad spot here.

Marx is persistently looking for the submission but Hartzheim is defending it well.
Marx wants to control the position but Hartzheim frees himself and scrambles - Marx manages to regain control in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marx is trying to ground and pound but Hartzheim uses the momentary lack of control by Marx to regain half guard.
Marx looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marx misses with a head shot. Hartzheim uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four 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.
Hartzheim controlling Marx's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Komula Hartzheim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hartzheim 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Komula Hartzheim!