PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Gabriel (ranked 2898 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall Marshall (ranked 2894 p4p, 71 weight class). Samuel Gabriel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gabriel
vs
Marshall

200 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marshall Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marshall closes the distance and clinches.
A bit of stalling here from Gabriel.
Marshall throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gabriel blocks it with crossed arms.
Gabriel is looking for a takedown.
Gabriel has Marshall pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Marshall manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gabriel jumps guard but Marshall turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gabriel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Marshall breaks from the clinch.
Marshall Marshall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gabriel slips a jab from Marshall.

Gabriel clinches up with Marshall and pushes him back against the cage.

Marshall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Marshall. No joy for Gabriel on that attempt.
Marshall rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gabriel counters with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marshall forces Gabriel back against the cage and clinches.
Gabriel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marshall to keep the fight standing.
A bit of stalling here from Gabriel.
Marshall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gabriel.
Gabriel jumps guard but Marshall turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel wants a takedown but no success here.
Gabriel tries to pull guard but Marshall holds him up against the cage and eventually Gabriel drops back down to his feet.
Gabriel tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall avoids the damage to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Marshall.

Gabriel has hold of one of Marshall's legs. Marshall is fighting the takedown attempt but Gabriel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Marshall is pulling down on Gabriel's head. It's preventing any offense from Gabriel, at least for the moment.
Gabriel wants to control from the top but Marshall keeps moving.
Marshall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gabriel is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Marshall is trying to control the position but Gabriel postures up.
Gabriel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marshall is keeping the position for now.
Marshall wants to sweep but no luck.
Gabriel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marshall's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gabriel under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel keeps the fight on the outside.
Gabriel blocks a head kick by Marshall.
Gabriel needs to keep his hands up - Marshall had a free shot at his head there.
Gabriel ducks under a wild hook from Marshall.
Marshall throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Gabriel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marshall, pushing him back against the cage.

Gabriel pulls guard successfully.
Marshall trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gabriel's guard.
Marshall showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gabriel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gabriel wants to stand and escape but Marshall is having none of it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gabriel is on top in guard.

Marshall looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gabriel prevents Marshall from getting back to his feet.
Gabriel wants to control from the top but Marshall keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marshall Marshall will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Marshall misses with a straight right.
Gabriel tries to counter by clinching up but Marshall breaks away and moves out of range.
Marshall attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Marshall throws a shot from downtown. Gabriel moves away and avoids it.
Marshall thuds his right hand into Gabriel's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
No luck for Gabriel with that takedown attempt.
Marshall misses with a body punch
and Gabriel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Marshall's knee momentarily.
Marshall connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Marshall tries to clinch but Gabriel moves out of range.
Gabriel throws a counter high kick but Marshall was just alert enough to avoid it.
A slow jab from Marshall misses its intended target.
Gabriel misses with a body kick.
Gabriel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marshall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall takes a swing at Gabriel's ribcage but misses.

Gabriel dives in and scores a takedown into Marshall's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gabriel is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marshall is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marshall has escaped and now he's on top!

Gabriel looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gabriel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marshall gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marshall has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gabriel looking for a sweep. Not yet Gabriel, not yet.
Gabriel looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Marshall puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gabriel is staying active underneath Marshall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gabriel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marshall pulls his head out easily.
Gabriel is refusing to be controlled, as Marshall sits in half guard.
Gabriel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marshall.
Gabriel moves into full guard.

Gabriel is looking for a triangle but Marshall pushes his legs off easily.

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

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gabriel passes into side control, despite Marshall's attempt to control the position.
Marshall is looking to regain half guard here but Gabriel keeps moving and retains side control.
Gabriel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Marshall is trying to control Gabriel's posture but Gabriel avoids it.

Gabriel stands up.
Samuel Gabriel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall tries to clinch up.

Gabriel tries to keep at a distance but Marshall has taken the fight into the clinch.

Marshall breaks from the clinch.
Marshall Marshall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gabriel misses with the combination.
Marshall throws a right hand that Gabriel ducks under and follows up with a left that Gabriel also avoids with ease.
Good shot there by Marshall.
Marshall stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marshall wants it to stay on the feet.
A jab from Marshall misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gabriel ducks under a wild hook from Marshall.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gabriel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marshall tries to clinch but Gabriel is having none of it.
Marshall throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gabriel stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Marshall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marshall drives through and clinches with Gabriel against the cage.
Gabriel fails to pull guard.
Gabriel tries to break the clinch but Marshall is controlling the position.
Gabriel working hard to break the clinch.
Marshall leaning against his opponent.

Marshall breaks the clinch.
Marshall avoids the head kick by Gabriel.
And Marshall tries to counter it with a takedown but Gabriel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gabriel takes one to the chin there.
Sloppy strikes from Marshall. Those never looked like landing.

Marshall cracks Gabriel with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Gabriel looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Marshall finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Marshall.
Marshall is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gabriel.
As Marshall looks to move away, Gabriel throws a big counter combo but Marshall just gets out of the way.
Marshall throws a hook but Gabriel avoids it easily.
Gabriel throws a quick counter head kick but Marshall was just out of range.
Marshall throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gabriel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marshall looks to land a combination but Gabriel avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall throws the kick towards the body but Gabriel avoids it.
Gabriel avoids the head kick by Marshall.
Marshall stuffs the takedown attempt from Gabriel. Gabriel gets slowly back to his feet.
Gabriel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
That kick from Marshall tenderised Gabriel's leg. Gabriel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gabriel misses with a takedown
and Marshall counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marshall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marshall uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gabriel has time to react.
Marshall swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gabriel dives in and grabs Marshall's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marshall pushes down on Gabriel's head and hops out.
Gabriel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Marshall moves into the clinch.

Marshall's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Look low, kick high! Marshall uses the oldest trick in the book to send Gabriel tumbling to the canvas, in a truly brutal knockout! Marshall is absolutely delighted - when Gabriel wakes up, I doubt he'll be quite so happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Marshall Marshall!