PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Flip Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cadogen Gruffudd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flip Marshall has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marshall
vs
Gruffudd

194 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Flip Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cadogen Gruffudd!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gruffudd drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marshall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gruffudd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marshall works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gruffudd throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Marshall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gruffudd.
Gruffudd throwing strikes from guard but Marshall blocks nicely.
Gruffudd is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gruffudd landing with the ground and pound.
Marshall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gruffudd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Marshall doesn't manage to clinch there - Gruffudd circles away.

Gruffudd closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gruffudd lands in his opponent's guard.
Gruffudd is looking to work some ground and pound but Marshall has wrist control.
Marshall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gruffudd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marshall wants to sweep here but Gruffudd controlling him for the moment.
Gruffudd throws and elbow that misses. Marshall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gruffudd's guard. Nice move by Marshall!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall forces his way into half guard.
Marshall thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Marshall is looking for a kimura here.
Marshall throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marshall tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gruffudd controls his leg.
Marshall will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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.
Marshall not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Marshall is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gruffudd is just riding it out for now. Marshall eventually gives up the hold.
Gruffudd keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Marshall thows a huge punch but Gruffudd dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marshall tries to clinch but Gruffudd moves out of range.
Marshall tries to clinch up.
Marshall doesn't manage to clinch there - Gruffudd circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marshall fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marshall really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Marshall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marshall fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gruffudd avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Gruffudd looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Marshall!
Marshall is in a horrible position here. Gruffudd smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Marshall is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Gruffudd scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Marshall?
Marshall knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gruffudd on the ground.
A nice elbow there by Gruffudd.
Gruffudd lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gruffudd raining down shots from the mount!
Gruffudd breaks from Marshall's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gruffudd landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marshall in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gruffudd postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Marshall looks a forlorn figure.
Gruffudd looks gassed!
Marshall can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marshall with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gruffudd counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gruffudd throwing strikes but missing.
Gruffudd postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gruffudd lands a couple of digs.
Gruffudd with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gruffudd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gruffudd content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gruffudd is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Marshall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gruffudd has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marshall doesn't manage to clinch there - Gruffudd circles away.
Marshall goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Marshall is looking to clinch but Gruffudd is avoiding it.
Gruffudd is breathing heavily.
Marshall shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gruffudd counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gruffudd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruffudd postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gruffudd postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Marshall is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Marshall thows a huge punch but Gruffudd dodges it nicely.
Gruffudd wants to get back to full guard.
Gruffudd avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marshall.
Marshall thows a huge punch but Gruffudd dodges it nicely.
Marshall throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marshall wants to stand up but Gruffudd manages to regain full 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.
Marshall postures up in Gruffudd's guard and throws a big left but Gruffudd blocks it.
Gruffudd has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch but Gruffudd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marshall fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gruffudd looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Marshall fails with an attempt to clinch.
Flip Marshall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gruffudd closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Marshall tries to bench press Gruffudd off him but Gruffudd keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruffudd working the head and body with strikes.
Gruffudd is putting a hurting on Marshall here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gruffudd is putting a hurting on Marshall here, landing some big shots from side control.
Marshall manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gruffudd lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Marshall wants to control but Gruffudd is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gruffudd drops an elbow to the side of Marshall's head.
Marshall looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gruffudd working over Marshall with some ground and pound. Marshall looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gruffudd landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gruffudd throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Marshall manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Marshall trying to control the position.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marshall has his takedown stuffed

and Gruffudd counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flip Marshall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marshall trying to control here.
Marshall is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gruffudd scores with a couple of nice shots.
Marshall is trying to stand back up but Gruffudd is controlling him
Gruffudd is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gruffudd connects with a nice short shot to Marshall's temple.
Gruffudd lands with a punch from half guard.
Marshall avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gruffudd.
Gruffudd not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marshall tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gruffudd decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Marshall's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gruffudd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadogen Gruffudd 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!

Gruffudd closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marshall to the mat! Marshall manages to get full guard.
Gruffudd throwing strikes but missing.
Gruffudd postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gruffudd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall has momentary wrist control but Gruffudd slips an elbow through the middle.
Marshall manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gruffudd manages to get himself to full guard.
Marshall throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gruffudd keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.
Marshall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gruffudd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marshall.
Marshall preventing the sweep.
Marshall in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marshall postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marshall pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marshall tries to clinch up.

Marshall gets caught flat footed, as Gruffudd shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gruffudd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Flip Marshall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gruffudd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gruffudd throwing strikes but missing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marshall is on top in guard.
Marshall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marshall has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gruffudd is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marshall throwing strikes but missing.
Gruffudd looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall wants to stand but Gruffudd has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Marshall postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cadogen Gruffudd has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gruffudd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gruffudd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marshall.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gruffudd drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Marshall has momentary wrist control but Gruffudd slips an elbow through the middle.
Gruffudd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gruffudd stops Marshall from standing up.
Gruffudd working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gruffudd lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gruffudd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marshall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gruffudd thows a big elbow that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marshall wants to clinch.
Gruffudd keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marshall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gruffudd was well out of range. Poor timing from Marshall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cadogen Gruffudd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gruffudd winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cadogen Gruffudd!