PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Marcel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nunchi Halonchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcel's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, city of angels. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marcel
vs
Halonchi

170 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

160 cm
18
159 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jesse Marcel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nunchi Halonchi!
The judges for this bout are , and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marcel misses with a head kick.
Marcel circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Marcel.
Marcel stuffs the takedown.
Halonchi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marcel. Marcel obviously looking to wear him down.
Marcel throws a head kick that misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marcel, right into the meat.
Marcel misses with a wild body shot.
Halonchi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marcel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Halonchi tries to clinch but Marcel is having none of it.
Marcel lands a head kick that stumbles Halonchi and the fighters go to the mat.

Halonchi is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Marcel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Halonchi is still in real trouble! Can Marcel finish him?
Marcel trying to control but Halonchi is working from the bottom.

Halonchi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marcel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marcel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcel slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Halonchi seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halonchi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Halonchi working for a triangle but Marcel defends it easily.
Halonchi keeping moving, preventing Marcel from controlling successfully.

Halonchi has his foot on Marcel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marcel works his way back into a safe position though.
Marcel trying to control but Halonchi is working from the bottom.
Marcel passes into half guard.
Marcel is tying to control. Halonchi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Marcel content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jesse Marcel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Marcel fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Halonchi checks it well.

That's two 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.
Marcel throws a series of punches but Halonchi avoids them all with ease.
Halonchi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marcel throws a series of punches but Halonchi avoids them all with ease.

Halonchi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Marcel trying to keep a closed guard but Halonchi is proving a slippery customer.
Marcel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Halonchi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Marcel is trying to keep Halonchi in close.

Marcel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Halonchi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Halonchi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marcel is breathing heavily.
Marcel keeping moving, preventing Halonchi from controlling successfully.

Halonchi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marcel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Halonchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marcel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marcel swats away the attempt to clinch by Halonchi.
Marcel misses with the combination.
Marcel is looking to slow Halonchi down with leg kicks.
Marcel throws a head kick that misses.
Marcel misses with a head kick.
Halonchi blocks a head kick by Marcel.
Halonchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halonchi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's four 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.
Marcel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Halonchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Halonchi wants to clinch up but Marcel keeps it at a distance.
Marcel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Halonchi tries to clinch but Marcel is having none of it.
Marcel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Halonchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Halonchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Marcel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Halonchi is looking to clinch.
Halonchi tries to clinch there but Marcel circles away.
Halonchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Marcel circles away.
Halonchi defending well as Marcel loads up on a big left hand.
Marcel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good work by Halonchi as he checks the leg kick.
Halonchi tries to clinch there but Marcel circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Marcel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Halonchi moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marcel.

Marcel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Halonchi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marcel's guard.
Marcel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Halonchi passes Marcel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Halonchi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marcel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Marcel is looking to control Halonchi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marcel avoid being mounted?
Halonchi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Halonchi wants to pass to mount but Marcel is defending the position.
Marcel is trying to get back to full guard.

Marcel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

Halonchi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Halonchi lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halonchi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Marcel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Halonchi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Halonchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcel is retaining full guard.
Halonchi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Marcel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Halonchi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Halonchi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Halonchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halonchi wants to pass the guard but Marcel is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Halonchi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

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.
Halonchi tries to clinch up.
Marcel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marcel tries a head kick but it misses.

Halonchi instigates a clinch.
Halonchi wants to break free but Marcel has control.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Marcel wants to break free but Halonchi has control.
Marcel has had enough of the clinch but Halonchi keeps him there for the moment.

Marcel breaks from the clinch.
Marcel feints and then cracks Halonchi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Halonchi down.
Marcel throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Halonchi blocks a head kick by Marcel.
Marcel stuffs the takedown attempt from Halonchi. Halonchi gets slowly back to his feet.
Marcel ducks under a wild hook from Halonchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Halonchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marcel throws a sloppy head kick and Halonchi moves out of range easily.

Halonchi closes the distance and clinches.
Halonchi prevents Marcel from breaking the clinch.
Halonchi stalling against the cage.

Marcel breaks from the clinch.

Halonchi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marcel's guard.

Marcel looking for a guillotine here but Halonchi defends easily.
Halonchi wants to control from the top but Marcel keeps moving.
Marcel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Halonchi connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcel keeping full guard, as Halonchi tries to pass.
Halonchi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Halonchi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Marcel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Halonchi manages to get himself to full guard.
Halonchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marcel is one step ahead there.
Marcel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Halonchi keeping moving, preventing Marcel from controlling successfully.
Marcel is really struggling to control Halonchi but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Halonchi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marcel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Halonchi working for a triangle but Marcel defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nunchi Halonchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Halonchi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marcel throws a nice inside leg kick.
Halonchi wants to clinch up but Marcel keeps it at a distance.
Marcel lands a high kick!
Halonchi blocks a head kick by Marcel.
Halonchi blocks a head kick by Marcel.
Marcel throws a sloppy head kick

and Halonchi counters by clinching up.

Marcel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Halonchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halonchi wants to clinch up but Marcel keeps it at a distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Halonchi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halonchi advances to full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halonchi working for a guillotine from mount but Marcel is in no mood to give up.
Halonchi working Marcel over with strikes here.
Marcel is trying desperately to improve position.

Halonchi looking for a guillotine from mount but Marcel is having none of it.
Marcel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Marcel trying to control here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Marcel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Marcel wants to stand but Halonchi is controlling the position.
Marcel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halonchi pushes down on Marcel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Halonchi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marcel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Halonchi stops Marcel from getting back to his feet.
Marcel tries to get to full guard but Halonchi has control of the leg.
Marcel trying to hold on to Halonchi's head to control him but Halonchi postures up.
Marcel wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marcel misses with a head kick.
Halonchi is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Marcel.
Halonchi avoids the head kick by Marcel.
Marcel throws a head kick that misses.
Marcel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Halonchi is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halonchi is looking to clinch but Marcel is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Marcel.
Marcel throws a head kick that misses.
Marcel scores with a jab to the jaw.

Halonchi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Halonchi lands in his opponent's guard.
Halonchi postures up.
Halonchi trying to control but Marcel is working from the bottom.
Halonchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marcel is keeping the position for now.
Halonchi trying to control but Marcel is working from the bottom.
Marcel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marcel wants to stand up but Halonchi is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marcel had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Halonchi is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Marcel Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Halonchi's back instead.
Halonchi looking very determined here, making life difficult for Marcel.
Halonchi is in bad spot here.
Marcel is not going to allow Halonchi to sit and survive in this position.

Halonchi defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Marcel has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Halonchi has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Halonchi breaks Marcel's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Marcel wants to sweep here but Halonchi controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jesse Marcel.
I think Marcel 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jesse Marcel!