PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mamadou Sakho (ranked 4990 p4p, 569 weight class) and Jean-Claude Marceau (ranked 3473 p4p, 437 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sakho
vs
Marceau

190 cm
21
215 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

186 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

IniTech Nutrition

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mamadou Sakho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jean-Claude Marceau!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sakho gets tackled into the cage by Marceau. Marceau maintains the clinch.
Sakho blocking some punches.
Marceau blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Our sources have told us that Sakho has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Sakho is trying to pull guard but Marceau has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Marceau.
Marceau misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marceau doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Sakho lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Marceau wants to improve his position but Sakho is controlling well.
Sakho is looking to advance position but Marceau won't allow it.
Sakho is trying to control the action in half guard but Marceau is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Marceau keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marceau controlling the position for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marceau can do anything to dispel that myth.
Marceau is not content to let Sakho control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marceau is trying to maintain the position but Sakho is very close to passing his half guard.

Sakho is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marceau doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sakho.
Sakho trying to mount his opponent but Marceau defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marceau wants to improve his position but Sakho is controlling well.
Marceau is positioning himself well to prevent Sakho advancing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sakho has managed to clinch.
Sakho lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Jean-Claude Marceau has been cut.
Marceau misses with some punches.
Marceau has a couple of punches blocked by Sakho.
Sakho has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marceau after a bit of a struggle.
Marceau tries a body shot but Sakho blocks it.
Marceau tries a body shot but Sakho blocks it.
Sakho can't find room to land a body shot as Marceau controls the action.
A nice left hand lands by Marceau.
Sakho goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marceau prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamadou Sakho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marceau lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marceau just leaning against Sakho, taking a breather.
Sakho gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Marceau scores with a shoulder strike.
Sakho lands a damaging elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marceau.
Sakho looking to throw knees to the head but Marceau is blocking nicely.
Marceau tries to throw a body punch but Sakho avoids it by throwing Marceau back against the cage.
Marceau prevents a body shot from Sakho.

Marceau escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakho closes the distance and clinches up with Marceau, looking for a takedown. Sakho pushes Marceau against the cage but Marceau circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Marceau! But no joy.
A lazy left from Marceau finds it's target.
Sakho checks a low kick from Marceau.
Sakho fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakho is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marceau feints and then cracks Sakho's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sakho down.
Marceau chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Marceau throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sakho tries to clinch but Marceau is having none of it.
Marceau swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marceau swats away the attempt to clinch by Sakho.
Marceau lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sakho misses with a series of wild punches.
Marceau checks the leg kick.
Marceau leaves Sakho with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean-Claude Marceau dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jean-Claude Marceau's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A decent looking body kick lands there for Marceau.
Sakho tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters circle momentarily. Marceau darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sakho tries to clinch but Marceau moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Marceau on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mamadou Sakho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sakho fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marceau, pushing him back against the cage.
Marceau misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Marceau.
Marceau lands a shoulder strike.
Marceau tries to throw a body punch but Sakho avoids it by throwing Marceau back against the cage.
Marceau misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sakho lands an elbow inside.
Good body shot from Marceau.
Marceau misses with a short punch on the inside.
Marceau avoids a wild elbow strike from Sakho.
Sakho stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakho lands a hook that snaps the head of Marceau backwards.
Sakho is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Marceau is keeping busy.
Sakho blocking some punches.
Sakho is working for takedown but Marceau is calmly controlling the position for now.
Marceau blocks a body shot from Sakho.
Marceau misses with a punch on the inside.
Marceau lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Jean-Claude Marceau seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sakho throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marceau blocks it with crossed arms.
Marceau blocks a body shot from Sakho.
Sakho tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marceau misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Marceau.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marceau tries a body shot but Sakho blocks it.
A hook to the body from Marceau.
Good body shot from Marceau.
Marceau lands a right hand.
Sakho's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marceau misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marceau's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sakho misses with a body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Marceau.
Sakho walks into a left hand.
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!
Marceau stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Marceau lands with a thumping leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sakho, as that shot connected.
Marceau connects with a body shot that sends Sakho's belly button to the back.
Mamadou Sakho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marceau clinches up against the cage.
Marceau lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Marceau prevents a body shot from Sakho.
Sakho pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sakho trying to control the position but instead, Marceau has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sakho into the cage.
Sakho blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marceau tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marceau goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sakho tries a body shot but Marceau blocks it.
Sakho blocks an uppercut.
Sakho misses with a punch to the body.

Marceau escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sakho tries to close the distance and clinch but Marceau swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marceau appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Marceau showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sakho.
Jean-Claude Marceau seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marceau throws a head kick that misses.
Sakho half committed to a counter leg kick.
Sakho changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marceau tries to avoid it but Sakho manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marceau to the ground. Marceau escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamadou Sakho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakho takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sakho tries to clinch up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Marceau.
Marceau sizes up Sakho with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marceau jabs at Sakho's body.
Marceau fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sakho.
Marceau feints and then cracks Sakho's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sakho down.
Sakho on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakho throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Marceau counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marceau scores with a jab to the jaw.

Marceau clinches up with Sakho and pushes him back against the cage.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Marceau in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Marceau tries to work over Sakho's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Marceau.

Sakho is rocked!
Marceau holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Marceau scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Oh Sakho is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sakho throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sakho seems to have got his legs back now.
Sakho misses with a knee to the head.
Sakho scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean-Claude Marceau showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jean-Claude Marceau's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sakho tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Marceau defends well and Sakho ends up having to push Marceau into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sakho throws a leg kick but Marceau sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sakho fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sakho tries to clinch up
and Marceau counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marceau lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Marceau has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marceau uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Marceau scores with a body shot.
Marceau dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sakho. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marceau moves into range and clinches up with Sakho.
Sakho misses with an elbow strike.
Marceau content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sakho is trying to maintain a safe position but Marceau gets an underhook and turns Sakho into the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Marceau.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Sakho fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Marceau fails to land.
Sakho tries to stall but Marceau uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sakho drops down looking for an ankle pick but Marceau pulls his leg out and moves away.
Marceau checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Marceau instigates a clinch.
Sakho is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Marceau goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marceau.
Sakho throws an elbow that misses.
Marceau lands a nice shot to the body.
Sakho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sakho struggles to land a body shot inside as Marceau controls his hands.
A short right from Marceau.
Sakho blocking some punches.
A short body shot lands from Marceau as the two fighters clinch.

Marceau manages to break the clinch.
Sakho dodges the punch combination from Marceau.
Mamadou Sakho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marceau lands with a cross.
Marceau connects with a body shot.
Marceau throws a shot to the body.
Marceau has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sakho dives in for a single leg takedown but Marceau sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mamadou Sakho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marceau cracks Sakho with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Marceau drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Sakho right on the button. Sakho goes down! Marceau follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Marceau gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jean-Claude Marceau!
After winning the bout, Jean-Claude Marceau thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.