PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riley Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Del Mar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall comes to the cage accompanied by I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Clapton. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Marshall
vs
Del Mar

187 cm
29
185 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

180 cm
31
180 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Devotion's Jacked shack ($99=Real 160Q) Laundry

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 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fabio Del Mar!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshall throws a nice looking combination but Del Mar bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Oooh a lovely combination from Marshall sends Del Mar down but not out. Marshall dives into side control looking to finish.
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!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Marshall working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Del Mar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Del Mar struggling a bit here.
Del Mar looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Del Mar is not content to let Marshall control the position.

Marshall tries for a kimura but Del Mar is defending well.

Marshall wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Del Mar, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Del Mar keeps working.
Del Mar manages to work his way to half guard, despite Marshall's best efforts.
Marshall has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Marshall with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Marshall has control of Del Mar's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Del Mar regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Marshall avoids the attempt from Del Mar to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Del Mar is wriggling around trying to escape.

Marshall jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Del Mar manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Marshall gets to mount! Del Mar was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Del Mar is working to get back to half guard.
Marshall looking to control but Del Mar is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marshall is really struggling to control Del Mar but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Marshall has hold of Del Mar's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Del Mar manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marshall working for a guillotine from mount but Del Mar is in no mood to give up.

Marshall goes for an armbar but Del Mar turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Del Mar.
Del Mar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marshall is adopting a defensive guard.
Del Mar content to stall in guard here.
Del Mar trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Marshall manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall looking to pass the guard.
Marshall trying to stand up but can't free himself from Del Mar's guard.
Del Mar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Del Mar keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
Del Mar keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Del Mar is trying to keep Marshall in close.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fabio Del Mar wasn't active enough on the ground.
Marshall swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Marshall dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Del Mar throws out a leg kick but Marshall moves out of range and Del Mar only half commits.
Marshall throws a shot from downtown. Del Mar moves away and avoids it.
Del Mar lands with a thumping leg kick.
Del Mar misses with a low kick.
Del Mar thuds a left hand into Marshall's body.

Del Mar gets caught napping as Marshall dives in and scores a takedown. Del Mar manages to retain guard.
Del Mar 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 manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Marshall moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Marshall instigates a clinch.
Del Mar with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Del Mar with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short left from Marshall.
Del Mar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall.
Del Mar tries for a takedown but Marshall manages to get underhooks.
Del Mar tries to work over Marshall's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Del Mar misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Del Mar in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Marshall lands a nice knee to the body.
Del Mar is breathing heavily.
Marshall unloads a knee to the mid-section. Del Mar lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Marshall's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marshall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Del Mar tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Marshall misses with a knee to the head.

Marshall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the liver by Marshall. Beautiful body shot.
Marshall cracks Del Mar with an open hand slap.
Marshall works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Del Mar has his takedown stuffed
and Marshall counters with a left to the body.
Del Mar thumps Marshall with a low kick.
Del Mar blocks a jab.
Del Mar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marshall swivels and escapes.
Riley Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Del Mar.
Del Mar ducks under a wild hook from Marshall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Del Mar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Del Mar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Del Mar tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.
Del Mar can't get the takedown.
Marshall tries to pull guard but Del Mar forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Del Mar tries for a takedown but Marshall manages to get underhooks.
Del Mar trying to land knees to the body.
Marshall slows down the pace here.
A short right from Marshall on the inside.
Marshall makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Marshall misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Del Mar.

Marshall pulls guard.

Marshall working for submissions but it's allowed Del Mar to get to half guard.
Del Mar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marshall keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Del Mar is looking for a kimura but Marshall is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Del Mar to get the leverage.

Del Mar is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marshall is just riding it out for now. Del Mar eventually gives up the hold.
Marshall trying to control from the bottom.
Del Mar is looking to advance position but Marshall won't allow it.

Del Mar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Del Mar stops Marshall from getting back to his feet.
Riley Marshall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall manages to get to full guard.

Marshall has his foot on Del Mar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Del Mar works his way back into a safe position though.

Marshall had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Del Mar defends it easily.
Marshall keeping full guard, as Del Mar tries to pass.

Del Mar avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Del Mar trying to control but Marshall is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Marshall dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Del Mar tries to clinch up
and Marshall finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Marshall looks for the body kick but Del Mar saw that one coming.
Marshall throws a front kick aimed at Del Mar's knee but Del Mar avoids it well.
Del Mar checks the leg kick.
Marshall looks to score with a jab to the body but Del Mar is just out of range.
Del Mar keeps Marshall at a distance using the push kick.
Marshall throws a jab when Del Mar was well out of range.
Marshall fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Del Mar has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Marshall wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marshall blocks a low kick nicely.
Marshall misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Del Mar scores with a shot to the body.
Del Mar cracks a nice hook into Marshall's ribs.
Marshall misses with a few strikes there.
Marshall throws a lazy right hand but Del Mar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Mar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Marshall moves into the clinch.
Marshall is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Del Mar is defending well for now.
Del Mar trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Del Mar.
Del Mar lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marshall scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Marshall trying to stall but Del Mar improves his position.
Marshall landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Del Mar tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Del Mar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Marshall works on Del Mar's body with a couple of short punches.
Marshall tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Del Mar avoids it.
Del Mar lands with a short shot to the head.
Del Mar tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Del Mar trying to land knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marshall is trying to pull guard but Del Mar turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall gets through Del Mar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Del Mar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marshall lands a right hand that snaps the head of Del Mar backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Del Mar.
Riley Marshall has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Marshall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Del Mar avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marshall lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Del Mar throws a sloppy head kick and Marshall moves out of range easily.
Del Mar tried to score with a low kick but Marshall checks it.
Marshall tries a head kick but it misses.
Del Mar throws a leg kick but Marshall moved away.
Del Mar misses with a head kick.
Del Mar lands a nice shot to the body.
Del Mar jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Marshall throws a head kick but Del Mar moves out of range.
Del Mar avoids the head kick by Marshall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Mar throws a head kick but Marshall moves out of range.
Marshall walks into a jab.
Fabio Del Mar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall leaves Del Mar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Del Mar throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Del Mar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marshall fails to land with a series of punches.

Marshall rushes Del Mar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Marshall managing to block the knees to the body from Del Mar.
Marshall stalling in the clinch.
Del Mar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marshall is defending well for now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Del Mar tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Marshall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall tries a head kick but it misses.
Riley Marshall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marshall stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Del Mar scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marshall keeps the fight on the outside.
Del Mar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riley Marshall is winning the standup battle so far.
Marshall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Del Mar is looking to clinch but Marshall is avoiding it.
Marshall displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Marshall checks a leg kick.
Fabio Del Mar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Del Mar tries a low kick but Marshall avoids it.
Marshall scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Marshall pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Marshall closes the distance and clinches.
Marshall avoiding damage as Del Mar throws knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Marshall throws an elbow but misses.
Del Mar misses with a knee strike.

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 Riley Marshall.
Well Marshall 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riley Marshall!
After the fight, Riley Marshall was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.