PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norman Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bates comes to the cage accompanied by Hmmm... Interesting.... Marciano is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 2PAC - NO MORE PAIN. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Bates
vs
Marciano

190 cm
25
217 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

184 cm
24
215 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Norman Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy Marciano!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marciano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Marciano throws a lazy uppercut
and Bates counters with a straight right hand.
Marciano throws a lazy uppercut
and Bates counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tommy Marciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marciano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bates moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bates throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Marciano on the side of the head.
Marciano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marciano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bates.
Bates walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bates throws an off balance right hand
enabling Marciano to counter with a crisp jab.
Marciano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bates moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bates lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marciano throws a poor cross that misses
and Bates counters with a stiff right hand.
Bates swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Marciano.
Bates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marciano on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Bates pushes Marciano up against the cage in a clinch.
Marciano misses with a punch on the inside.
Bates blocks an uppercut.

Bates breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bates throws a shot from downtown. Marciano moves away and avoids it.
Marciano gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bates throws a nice looking combination but Marciano bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bates is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bates uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marciano.
Bates throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab lands there for Bates.
Marciano just misses with a punch to the body.
Marciano walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bates checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A decent looking cross lands there for Marciano.
Marciano throws a right hand that misses
and Bates counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marciano throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bates counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marciano is staying active underneath Bates, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bates performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bates winds up and cracks Marciano with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Marciano is looking for a sweep. Bates is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marciano preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Bates thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates content to control rather than advance.

Bates is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Marciano defends it well.
Bates missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marciano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bates.
Nice strikes from Bates there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bates is looking to take a break and control but Marciano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bates prevents Marciano from improving his position.
Bates working the head and body with strikes.

Bates is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marciano is just riding it out for now. Bates eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano is not content to let Bates control the position.
Marciano keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bates prevents Marciano from improving his position.
Marciano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bates is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Marciano preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nice strikes from Bates there.

Bates is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marciano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bates.
Bates throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marciano can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Bates seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Marciano trying to control here.
Bates not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bates seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Marciano looks like he's trying to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marciano tries to roll over but Bates keeps him under control.
Marciano is concentrating on defense, preventing Bates from advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norman Bates dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Marciano throws an off balance right hand
and Bates counters with a left and a right that stings Marciano.
Bates takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Marciano throws a combination that misses

and Bates counters with a takedown into side control.
Bates trying to control the position but Marciano is working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marciano wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bates landing a few strikes.
Bates in side control lands a decent elbow.
Bates is looking to take a break and control but Marciano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bates has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bates in side control, throwing shots but Marciano defends.
Marciano takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bates wants to control but Marciano is keeping him busy.
Bates throws a strike aimed at the side of Marciano's head but Marciano avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano tries to bench press Bates off him but Bates keeps the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Bates.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Bates working the ground and pound from side control.
Marciano tries to improve position but can't.
Bates misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bates sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Marciano is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Marciano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bates wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bates looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Marciano is avoiding damage well.
Bates working away.
Bates throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bates prevents Marciano from escaping the position.
Marciano is breathing heavily.
Bates throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bates controlling the position.
Bates scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates is staying tight to Marciano's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Norman Bates overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The strikes coming from Bates are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Bates cracks Marciano with a big right hand but Marciano just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bates trying to control the position but Marciano is working away.
Marciano keeping his opponent close.
Marciano is trying to get back to half guard.
Marciano wants to control but Bates postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bates misses with the ground and pound.

Bates decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Marciano throws a poor cross that misses
and Bates counters with a straight right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Marciano. Those never looked like landing.
Bates works the jab nicely.
Marciano throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bates counters with a nice uppercut.
Bates fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Marciano on the side of the head.
Tommy Marciano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bates throws a hook but Marciano blocks it.
Norman Bates is winning the standup battle so far.
Marciano lands a slapping body shot.
Marciano throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bates counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Marciano thinking.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bates shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bates throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bates moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bates paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Marciano on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bates lands a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates with a nice cross.
Bates closes the distance and clinches up with Marciano, looking for a takedown. Bates pushes Marciano against the cage but Marciano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bates with a poor takedown
and Marciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norman Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marciano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bates cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Marciano misses with an uppercut
and Bates counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bates with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bates is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marciano throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bates counters with a nice body shot.
Bates doesn't manage to clinch there - Marciano circles away.
Marciano throws a lazy uppercut
and Bates counters with a right hand to the body.
Bates connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bates will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bates misses with the combination.
Marciano misses the body punch
and Bates connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bates is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bates is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marciano can do to turn this around?
Bates takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norman Bates dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Marciano throws a predictable looking body shot
and Marciano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bates misses with a hook.
Marciano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bates was well out of range. Poor timing from Marciano.
Bates throws a jab but it's blocked by Marciano.
Marciano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bates moves away.
Marciano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marciano falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bates counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marciano throws a right hand that misses

so Bates counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bates stands and throws Marciano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Marciano trying to remain calm as Bates controls from the top position.
Bates trying to control the position but Marciano is working away.
Bates landing strikes.
Marciano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marciano is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates controlling the position from side mount.
Bates postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bates working away.

Bates is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Marciano has escaped the position, nice work there.

Bates tries for a kimura but Marciano is defending well.
Marciano dodges the ground and pound from Bates.
Marciano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bates working the ground and pound but Marciano is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bates in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Bates tries for a kimura but Marciano is defending well.
Bates working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Marciano is not content to let Bates control the position.
Marciano wants to get back to his feet but Bates drags him back down.
Bates is looking to take a break and control but Marciano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano is trying to control Bates's posture but Bates avoids it.
Bates controlling the position from side mount.
Marciano takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Marciano takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bates is looking to take a break and control but Marciano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marciano is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bates asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Marciano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bates wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marciano trying to remain calm as Bates controls from the top position.
Norman Bates is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bates fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Marciano tries to bench press Bates off him but Bates keeps the position.
Marciano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bates. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bates tries for a kimura but Marciano is defending well.
Marciano is not content to let Bates control the position.
Bates fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bates working the ground and pound but Marciano is defending the strikes.
Marciano wants to control but Bates postures up.
Tommy Marciano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bates trying to control the action but Marciano is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norman Bates showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bates has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:25
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norman Bates!