PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eliah Marshal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toshi Matoshin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshal's entrance music is Remember the name. A fine choice. Matoshin has chosen Mortal Kombat theme as his entrance music. Eliah Marshal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marshal
vs
Matoshin

179 cm
29
159 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

180 cm
30
158 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

DC Unrivaled
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eliah Marshal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Toshi Matoshin!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshal is looking to clinch but Matoshin is avoiding it.
Matoshin misses with a hook. Marshal ducked under it nicely.
We've been told by Marshal's head coaches at Demon's Progym, LOP that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Matoshin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Marshal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Matoshin is trying to trip Marshal. He has hold of a leg but Marshal is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Matoshin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Matoshin is standing up over Marshal. Marshal looks to escape but Matoshin dives into side control.
Marshal wants to control but Matoshin postures up.
Matoshin trying to control the position but Marshal is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matoshin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Marshal has escaped the position, nice work there.
Matoshin trying to control the position but Marshal is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matoshin lands an elbow.

Matoshin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Marshal knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matoshin trying to control the position but Marshal is working away.
Marshal struggling a bit here.
Marshal keeps Matoshin under control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marshal parries the strikes from Matoshin easily there. Matoshin is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Marshal to escape.
Marshal keeping his opponent close.
Marshal wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Matoshin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Matoshin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Marshal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin happy to just control the position for now.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matoshin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Matoshin trying to control the action but Marshal is working from the bottom.
Marshal tries to bench press Matoshin off him but Matoshin keeps the position.

Matoshin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matoshin is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Marshal's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A big right from Matoshin misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Matoshin. That's going to slow Marshal down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Marshal.
Matoshin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marshal.
Marshal slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Matoshin moves out of range of the body kick.
Marshal avoids the head kick by Matoshin.
Matoshin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Marshal thuds his shin into the meat of Matoshin's side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Matoshin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Marshal doesn't seem phased though.
Marshal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matoshin.
Marshal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matoshin.
As Matoshin tries to get set, Marshal tries to push him back and clinch up but Matoshin manages to avoid the attempt.
Marshal defending well as Matoshin loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matoshin throws a nice inside leg kick.
Matoshin looks to throw the jab but Marshal is out of range.
Marshal tries to counter by clinching up but Matoshin breaks away and moves out of range.

Matoshin clinches with his opponent.
Marshal lands with a short shot to the head.
Matoshin is trying to pull guard but Marshal has him pressed against the cage.
Marshal throws a head punch that misses.
Marshal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matoshin managing to block the knees to the body from Marshal.

Matoshin is trying to trip Marshal. He has hold of a leg but Marshal is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Matoshin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Matoshin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marshal is keeping the position for now.
Marshal not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marshal pulls Matoshin in close to his closed guard and prevents Matoshin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Matoshin wants to control from the top but Marshal keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshal controlling Matoshin's posture.
Marshal trying to control the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Matoshin working his ground and pound in the gym.
Marshal keeping full guard, as Matoshin tries to pass.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Marshal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin moves out of range as Marshal throws a body kick.
Matoshin throws a lazy right hand but Marshal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matoshin throws a jab but it's blocked by Marshal.
Matoshin throws out a powerful jab.
Toshi Matoshin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marshal has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Marshal there as he acknowledges the shot.
Marshal looks to land a right hand but Matoshin moved out of range.
Marshal connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Matoshin's hands.
Marshal lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Toshi Matoshin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshal throws a jab but it's blocked by Matoshin.
Nice shot lands for Matoshin.
Matoshin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matoshin tries to keep at a distance but Marshal has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matoshin jumps guard but Marshal stands there with Matoshin around his waist. Matoshin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Marshal pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marshal missing with knees to the body.
Marshal keeps control of Matoshin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Marshal lands an elbow inside.
Matoshin can't break the clinch.
Matoshin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marshal prevents it.
Eliah Marshal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toshi Matoshin.
Matoshin can't break the clinch.
Matoshin goes for a takedown attempt but Marshal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Matoshin loads up on a big right hand but Marshal slips the punch.

Marshal closes the distance and clinches.
Matoshin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Marshal has him pressed against the cage.
Matoshin tries to pull guard but Marshal won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Eliah Marshal will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Matoshin scores with a nice head shot.
Matoshin tries to score with a low kick but Marshal moves his leg out of the way.
Matoshin takes a swing at Marshal's ribcage but misses.
Marshal tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Matoshin manages to circle out of the way.
Matoshin misses with a hook.
Marshal seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matoshin.
Matoshin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matoshin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Marshal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matoshin was well out of range. Poor timing from Marshal.
Matoshin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Marshal has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matoshin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Marshals jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matoshin throws a right and a left that both miss.
As Matoshin tries to get set, Marshal tries to push him back and clinch up but Matoshin manages to avoid the attempt.

Matoshin looking to score a takedown here. Marshal is defending well but Matoshin drives through and ends up in Marshal's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matoshin trying to control but Marshal is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Marshal holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshal keeping moving, preventing Matoshin from controlling successfully.
Matoshin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Marshal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Matoshin looking to pass the guard.
Toshi Matoshin has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Matoshin postures up in Marshal's guard and throws a big left but Marshal blocks it.
Marshal is controlling Matoshin's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matoshin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matoshin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marshal as he jumps to the side.
Marshal cracks Matoshin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matoshin throws a lazy right hand but Marshal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Eliah Marshal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marshal connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Matoshin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Marshal. Marshal circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Matoshin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marshal as he avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matoshin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marshal.
Matoshin misses with a straight right.
Matoshin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marshal momentarily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Matoshin.
Marshal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matoshin.
Marshal is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Matoshin.
Marshal throws a half hearted mid kick.
Matoshin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marshal.
Marshal tries to counter by clinching up but Matoshin breaks away and moves out of range.
Matoshin misses with a hook.
Marshal leaves Matoshin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Marshal is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Matoshin.
Eliah Marshal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toshi Matoshin.
Matoshin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matoshin.
As Matoshin tries to get set, Marshal tries to push him back and clinch up but Matoshin manages to avoid the attempt.
Matoshin throws a jab when Marshal was well out of range.
Marshal swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshal takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Matoshin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marshal.
Marshal slips a straight right by Matoshin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toshi Matoshin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matoshin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toshi Matoshin!
Toshi Matoshin very nearly forgot to thank DC Unrivaled amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.