PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sheraton Paul II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Marduk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marduk has chosen DMX - Intro as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Craig Marduk has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sheraton Paul II's chin.

Paul II
vs
Marduk

198 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
203 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Mundo Green - World Verde

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sheraton Paul II!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Marduk!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marduk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Paul II looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Marduk postures up and lands a big shot to Paul II's brow.
Paul II is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marduk pushes down on Paul II's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Marduk perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Marduk winds up and cracks Paul II with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Marduk with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Marduk working Paul II over with strikes.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Marduk in particular looking to stall.
Marduk lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marduk controlling the action here.
Marduk's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Paul II is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marduk winds up and cracks Paul II with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Marduk content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paul II is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marduk is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Marduk is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Paul II is just riding it out for now. Marduk eventually gives up the hold.
Marduk has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Paul II is looking to escape.
Marduk is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Paul II!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul II tries to hold on but Marduk pushes him away.
Marduk breaks from Paul II's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Marduk content just to control the position here.
Marduk postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Paul II looks a forlorn figure.
Marduk content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Craig Marduk just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Marduk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Marduk seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Paul II trying to hold on to Marduk's head to control him but Marduk postures up.

Marduk decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Marduk dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marduk shoots in and bounces Paul II off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marduk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Marduk with a nice head shot there.
Paul II tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paul II being controlled here, momentarily.
Paul II wants to control the position but Marduk says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marduk winds up and cracks Paul II with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Marduk stands up and beckons Paul II to join him on the feet.

Marduk drives through with a takedown into guard.

Marduk stands up and waves to Paul II to follow him.
Marduk tries to close the distance and clinch but Paul II swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Marduk gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul II is looking to improve his position.
Paul II wants to control but Marduk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Paul II tries to get to full guard but Marduk has control of the leg.
Marduk takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Craig Marduk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Marduk in particular looking to stall.
Paul II is trying to maintain the position but Marduk is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marduk passes the guard and advances to mount!
Marduk controlling his opponent.
Paul II is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Marduk looking to finish Paul II with some ground and pound. This is bad for Paul II!
Marduk in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Marduk working Paul II over with strikes here.
Marduk controlling his opponent.
Paul II is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Marduk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Marduk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paul II, pushing him back against the cage.
Paul II has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marduk avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Marduk fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Marduk jumps into guard, dragging Paul II to the mat.

Paul II got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marduk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paul II has managed to get both his arms back between Marduk's legs - danger averted.
Marduk wants to sweep here but Paul II controlling him for the moment.
Paul II pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marduk is keeping the position for now.
Paul II looking to sit in guard and control but Marduk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paul II looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marduk works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Paul II wants to get back to full guard.
Paul II trying to get back to full guard but Marduk takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Paul II is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Paul II defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Marduk.
Paul II is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marduk prevents Paul II from getting the reversal.
Marduk controlling his opponent.
Paul II is bucking up trying to escape but Marduk cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Marduk controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul II wants to hold on but Marduk pushes him away.
Paul II is trying to escape the mount.
Marduk scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Paul II?
Paul II is trying to escape the mount.
Paul II wants to control but Marduk is having none of it.
Marduk content just to control the position here.

That's four 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.
Marduk unloading with bombs!
Craig Marduk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marduk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marduk lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Paul II hang on?
Marduk with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Marduk cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Marduk controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Marduk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marduk 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight for Craig Marduk!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Craig Marduk!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Craig Marduk!

Craig Marduk wins by unanimous decision!