PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dmitri Yurkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mason Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Yurkov
vs
Marshall

191 cm
26
178 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

177 cm
25
180 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitri Yurkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mason Marshall!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yurkov misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Marshall to counter with a crisp jab.
Yurkov shoots for a takedown but Marshall saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yurkov wants to clinch up but Marshall keeps it at a distance.
Yurkov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Marshall counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Yurkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yurkov tries to clinch up
and Marshall counters with a left and a right that stings Yurkov.

Yurkov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Marshall is looking for a sweep. Yurkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yurkov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Yurkov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall is looking to improve his position.
Yurkov wants to pass the guard but Marshall is defending well.
Yurkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Marshall is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Marshall tries to get to full guard but Yurkov has control of the leg.
Marshall is staying active underneath Yurkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Marshall trying to control but Yurkov postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Marshall avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marshall stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marshall wants it to stay on the feet.
Yurkov fails with the takedown
and Marshall counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yurkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marshall moves away.
Yurkov scores with a one two! Marshall had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Yurkov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marshall walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Yurkov clinches.
Marshall is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yurkov pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Marshall wants the takedown. Yurkov is fighting it off but Marshall persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Yurkov's guard against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall wants to control from the top but Yurkov keeps moving.
Yurkov keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
Yurkov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Yurkov trying to control the action but Marshall is working from the bottom.
Yurkov content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall manages to get to full guard.
Yurkov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yurkov won't allow Marshall to sweep him here.
Yurkov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Yurkov moves into the clinch.
Yurkov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Marshall tries to score a body lock takedown but Yurkov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Marshall gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Yurkov is trying to maintain the position but Marshall is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yurkov tries to get to full guard but Marshall has control of the leg.
Marshall is looking to advance position but Yurkov won't allow it.
Yurkov is looking to improve his position.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Yurkov is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yurkov is controlling Marshall's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Yurkov trying to control but Marshall postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yurkov has his takedown stuffed
and Marshall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yurkov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marshall sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marshall with the counter takedown but Yurkov avoids it easily.
Yurkov with a poor takedown
and Marshall counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Yurkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yurkov misses with a takedown attempt - Marshall sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yurkov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A countering left hand to the body from Marshall misses.
Yurkov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yurkov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marshall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yurkov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Marshall counters with a takedown into side control.
Marshall wants to control but Yurkov is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yurkov stops Marshall from passing to mount.

Marshall is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yurkov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Marshall trying to control the position but Yurkov is working away.
Yurkov is trying to improve his position.

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

Marshall tries for a kimura but Yurkov is defending well.
Marshall trying to control the position but Yurkov is working away.

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.
You can see the frustration on Yurkov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Marshall trying to control the action but Yurkov is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Yurkov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Yurkov is looking for a sweep.
Marshall has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marshall tries to advance to mount but Yurkov denies him.
You can see the frustration on Yurkov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Yurkov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Marshall counter with a right hand.
Yurkov goes for a double leg but Marshall avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Marshall continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yurkov darts in trying to clinch
and Marshall makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Yurkov tries to clinch up
and Marshall counters with a nice body shot.
Yurkov shoots in for a takedown but Marshall shows good takedown defense.
And Marshall tries to counter it with a takedown but Yurkov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Yurkov scores with a jab to the head.
Dmitri Yurkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall stuffs the takedown attempt from Yurkov. Yurkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Despite the aggression on Marshall's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Horrible takedown attempt by Yurkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Marshall, which made it look bad.
Marshall with the counter takedown but Yurkov avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yurkov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Marshall on his heels. He'll look to pass Marshall's guard now, I'm sure.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marshall is on top in guard.
Marshall sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've been hearing good reports from Yurkov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Yurkov keeps moving.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Yurkov is keeping the position.
Yurkov keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yurkov is keeping the position for now.
Mason Marshall has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marshall wants to control from the top but Yurkov keeps moving.
Yurkov 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Marshall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Yurkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yurkov wants to clinch but Marshall slips to the side
and Marshall counters with a stiff right hand.
Yurkov fails with a takedown attempt.
Marshall keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marshall tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yurkov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marshall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitri Yurkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yurkov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Marshall decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yurkov's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yurkov trying to control the position here.
Yurkov keeping moving, preventing Marshall from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yurkov's guard.
Marshall is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Marshall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yurkov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yurkov can't keep his opponent in guard - Marshall advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Marshall looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marshall wants to control but Yurkov is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Yurkov throws a body shot but no joy.
Marshall is looking for the big counter here.
Yurkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yurkov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Marshall counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marshall on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yurkov shoots for a takedown but Marshall saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marshall is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yurkov misses with a left hand
and Marshall counters with a right hand to the body.
Yurkov wants to clinch but Marshall slips to the side
and Marshall counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yurkov thinking.

Marshall gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marshall not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marshall wants to sweep here but Yurkov controlling him for the moment.
Marshall is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yurkov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Marshall is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yurkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marshall keeps working.
Marshall tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yurkov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Marshall is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Yurkov fails to land the takedown.
Marshall leaves Yurkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Marshall. No joy for Yurkov on that attempt.
As Yurkov backs off Marshall throws a huge counter combo but Yurkov manages to avoid it all.
Marshall defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yurkov.
As Yurkov backs off Marshall throws a huge counter combo but Yurkov manages to avoid it all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Yurkov clinches up against the cage.
Yurkov is pressed up against the cage. Marshall has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Yurkov down to the mat. Yurkov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yurkov with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Marshall counter with a right hand.
Marshall swats away the attempt to clinch by Yurkov.
Marshall changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Yurkov is looking to clinch.
Marshall drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yurkov defends it well.
Yurkov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Marshall counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yurkov misses with a jab to the body
and Yurkov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yurkov closes the distance but Marshall moves to the side
and Marshall counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Marshall comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Marshall 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Marshall!
A relieved looking Mason Marshall thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.