PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lac Duc Lao (ranked 22727 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toby Marsh (ranked 6060 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Toby Marsh enters the cage!

Duc Lao
vs
Marsh

174 cm
27
189 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

172 cm
28
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Lac Duc Lao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Toby Marsh!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Marsh checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Marsh wants to counter the offense by Duc Lao and move into the clinch position.
Duc Lao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Marsh is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Duc Lao throws a punch but it's blocked by Marsh.
Duc Lao looking to slow down the pace here.

Marsh manages to break the clinch.

Duc Lao closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marsh is trying to control Duc Lao's posture but Duc Lao avoids it.
Duc Lao has control of an arm but Marsh manages to advance to Duc Lao's back!
A lull in the action here.
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.
Marsh has the hooks in. Duc Lao is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Duc Lao is keeping busy.
Marsh not allowing Duc Lao to control his hands.
Marsh struggling to keep hold of the position.
Duc Lao trying to control the hands but Marsh breaks the grip.
Marsh misses with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Duc Lao rolls, trying to escape but Marsh keeps control of the position.
Duc Lao trying to control the hands but Marsh won't let him.
Duc Lao just looking to survive in the bad position.
The referee is taking a good look at Duc Lao as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Marsh!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Marsh is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Duc Lao knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Duc Lao for a finish.
Marsh lands punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duc Lao trying to get back to his feet but Marsh is in full control for now.

Marsh is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Duc Lao has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Duc Lao looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Duc Lao can't escape the position.
Duc Lao looking very determined here, making life difficult for Marsh.
Duc Lao tries to break free.
Duc Lao trying to get back to his feet but Marsh is in full control for now.

Duc Lao is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Duc Lao trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Marsh dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marsh circles away from the clinch attempt
and Marsh counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lac Duc Lao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Duc Lao tries to clinch but Marsh is having none of it.
Marsh appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Marsh closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Marsh gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Marsh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Duc Lao seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Duc Lao is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marsh defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Duc Lao is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Marsh presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Duc Lao wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh is trying to pull guard but Duc Lao has him pressed against the cage.

Marsh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Duc Lao misses.
Marsh dives in and grabs Duc Lao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Duc Lao pushes down on Marsh's head and hops out.
Marsh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Duc Lao swivels and escapes.
Lac Duc Lao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toby Marsh.
Marsh uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Duc Lao.
Duc Lao shoots in for a takedown but Marsh shows good takedown defense.
Duc Lao fails with an attempt to clinch.

Marsh moves into the clinch.
Marsh has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Duc Lao avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Marsh breaks from the clinch.
Duc Lao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marsh paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marsh flicks out a counter leg kick but Duc Lao steps away.
Marsh lands with a straight right. Duc Lao didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Duc Lao as he avoids it easily.
Duc Lao has his takedown stuffed
and Marsh makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Marsh tries to clinch up but Duc Lao circles away and keeps his distance.
Duc Lao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marsh as he avoids it easily.
Marsh shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Duc Lao defends it nicely.
Duc Lao wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Marsh moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duc Lao drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marsh jumps guard but Duc Lao turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Marsh jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Duc Lao walks away with a smile on his face. Marsh gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Duc Lao swinging wildly here.
Nice takedown defense from Duc Lao. No joy for Marsh on that attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Duc Lao or perhaps it was just good defense by Marsh, which made it look bad.
Marsh shoots in for a takedown but Duc Lao shows good takedown defense.
Duc Lao does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marsh closes the distance and clinches.
Marsh avoiding damage.

Duc Lao pulls guard effortlessly.

Duc Lao is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marsh trying to control but Duc Lao is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Toby Marsh will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Marsh gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Marsh should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Marsh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Duc Lao moves in looking to clinch but Marsh pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Marsh. No joy for Duc Lao on that attempt.
Duc Lao throws a leg kick but Marsh sees it coming and moves out of range.
Duc Lao shoots in looking for a takedown but Marsh manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Duc Lao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Duc Lao sets himself, and Marsh steps forward looking for the clinch! Duc Lao avoids it this time.
Duc Lao misses with a takedown attempt

and Marsh counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lac Duc Lao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duc Lao tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marsh pulls Duc Lao into guard.

Marsh looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Marsh trying to keep a closed guard but Duc Lao is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duc Lao engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Duc Lao wants to control from the top but Marsh keeps moving.

Duc Lao gets to his feet - Marsh follows without any prompting.
Duc Lao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marsh is fending him off so far but Duc Lao persists. Nope, Marsh circles away and we're back to standing.
Duc Lao dips to his left and cracks Marsh with an uppercut!
Marsh takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh lands a nice shot to the body.

Duc Lao drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marsh is trying to keep Duc Lao in close.
Marsh wants to sweep but no luck.
Marsh working a defensive guard here.
Marsh trying to control the position here.
Marsh is trying to keep Duc Lao in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duc Lao looking to pass the guard.
Marsh manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Duc Lao manages to get himself to full guard.

Duc Lao is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marsh trying to control but Duc Lao is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Duc Lao holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duc Lao looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marsh is one step ahead there.
Marsh wants to control from the top but Duc Lao keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duc Lao lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Toby Marsh.
Well Marsh has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toby Marsh!