PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naoko Marui (ranked 1583 p4p, 846 weight class) and Christopher Irwin (ranked 175 p4p, 101 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marui
vs
Irwin

167 cm
33
158
17 - 16 - 1

150 cm
32
148
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, Naoko Marui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christopher Irwin!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marui will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A bone on bone clash there as Marui blocks the leg kick.
Irwin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Irwin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marui.

Irwin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Irwin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marui does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Marui tries to get to full guard but Irwin has control of the leg.

Irwin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Irwin trying to control the action but Marui is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marui slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Marui is trying to control the position but Irwin postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marui working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Irwin.
Marui knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Irwin on the ground.
Irwin pushes down on Marui's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Irwin is looking for a kimura but Marui is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Irwin to get the leverage.
Irwin is controlling the pace.
Let's hope that Irwin 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.
Marui wants to improve his position but Irwin is controlling well.

Marui makes his way to full guard, as Irwin worked for a kimura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Irwin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Marui keeping moving, preventing Irwin from controlling successfully.
Irwin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Irwin looking to pass the guard.
Irwin pushes down on Marui's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Well, if Irwin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marui does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Irwin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Irwin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marui tries to reverse the position but Irwin maintains control.
Irwin looking to control but Marui is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marui really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Irwin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Irwin looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Irwin.

Irwin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Marui is surviving well by controlling Irwin's body position as best he can.
Marui is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Marui defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Irwin.
Marui is squirming around, avoiding Irwin's attempts to control the action.
Marui is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Irwin goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Marui turns into him and now he's in Irwin's guard.

Irwin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Irwin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marui throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marui closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Irwin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marui.
Marui keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Marui misses the target.
Marui cracks a nice hook into Irwin's ribs.
Irwin throws a body shot but no joy.
Marui lands with a cross.
Irwin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Irwin misses with a takedown
and Marui counters with a straight right hand.
Irwin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Marui blocks the leg kick.
A jab from Marui finds it's way through Irwin's defenses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Marui lands a left and a right that send Irwin crashing to the mat, dazed. Marui thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Irwin is rocked!

Irwin closes the distance and pushes Marui back into the cage.
Marui is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Naoko Marui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Irwin.

Marui escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slow jab from Marui misses its intended target.

Irwin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Marui sprawls well initially but Irwin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Irwin is keen to just control but Marui is a slippery customer.
Marui wants to get back to his feet.

Irwin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Irwin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two 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.
Irwin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Irwin trying to control the action but Marui is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Marui is trying to get back to full guard.
Irwin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Marui scores with a nice right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marui. Irwin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Irwin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marui manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Irwin shoots for a double leg takedown but Marui sprawls well. He's pushed Irwin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Irwin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marui manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marui throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Irwin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Marui works the jab nicely.
Irwin fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marui throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Irwin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Irwin misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Marui counter with a right hand.
Irwin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Marui cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Irwin has taken the fight to the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Irwin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Marui prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marui lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Marui manages to break the clinch.
Irwin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Irwin tries to clinch there but Marui circles away.
Marui uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Irwin.
Irwin takes one to the side of the head.
Marui lands with a nice body punch.
Marui is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Irwin slips a jab and a cross from Marui.
Marui throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marui showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Irwin.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Naoko Marui dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Irwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marui jabs at Irwin's body.
Marui circles away from the clinch attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Marui.
Irwin walks into a left hand.
Irwin fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Marui was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Irwin.
Marui lands a jab to Irwin's midsection.
Irwin throws a combination. Marui tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Marui works the jab nicely.
No joy there for Irwin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
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!

Irwin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Marui napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Marui is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Irwin has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Irwin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marui, who protects the arm well.
Marui on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Marui tries to get out of the position.
Marui is trying to control Irwin's posture but Irwin avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Irwin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marui, who protects the arm well.
Marui is looking for a sweep.
Marui sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Irwin is looking for a kimura here.
Irwin controlling the pace.
Marui is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Irwin can do to turn this around?
Marui is refusing to be controlled, as Irwin sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Marui avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Irwin.
Marui is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marui trying to control from the bottom.
Irwin is trying to control the action in half guard but Marui is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Irwin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marui doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Irwin.
Irwin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marui does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Marui is trying to control but can't.
Christopher Irwin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Irwin trying to control from half guard but Marui is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Irwin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Marui is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Irwin misses with a series of wild punches.

Irwin rushes Marui and presses him up against the cage.
Irwin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marui gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Marui lands a right hand.
Marui lands with a light punch inside.
Marui prevents a takedown attempt there.
Naoko Marui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Irwin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marui breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Irwin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marui circles away.
Marui is looking to counter punch.
Marui fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Irwin manages to avoid it.
Marui changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Irwin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Irwin throws a sloppy body shot
and Marui counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marui misses with a wild body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marui feints a jab promting Irwin to slip. Marui then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Irwin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Marui throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Irwin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marui as he avoids it easily.
Marui is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Irwin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Irwin is still on wobbly legs! Can Marui finish him?
Marui lunges at Irwin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Irwin's hand.
Naoko Marui is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marui wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
It looks like Marui has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Marui jabs Irwin right on the nose. Irwin blinks but takes it well.
Marui avoids the body shot from Irwin.
Marui rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Irwin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoko Marui showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marui has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naoko Marui!
Naoko Marui decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.