PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buz Ionel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Marley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Marley is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ionel
vs
Marley

200 cm
18
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

197 cm
19
284 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Buz Ionel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Marley!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ionel's half guard.
Marley wants to control but Ionel is keeping him busy.
Ionel wants to improve his position but Marley is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ionel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Marley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ionel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ionel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marley.
Marley lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marley trying to control but Ionel is working from the bottom.
Ionel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marley working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ionel's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ionel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ionel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ionel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marley landing with the ground and pound.
Marley controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ionel trying to control the position.
Marley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Marley trying to control but Ionel is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Marley missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ionel pulls Marley in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Marley connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ionel's hands.
Marley throws a lazy uppercut
and Ionel counters with a stiff right hand.
Ionel misses with a double jab.
Marley scores with a body shot.
Ionel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ionel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Marley lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Marley moves into the clinch.
Ionel throws a head punch that misses.
Marley lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ionel is pressed up against the cage. Marley has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ionel down to the mat. Ionel avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Marley scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ionel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marley.
Marley avoids the body shot from Ionel.
Marley throws a sloppy head kick and Ionel moves out of range easily.
Ionel lands a jab to the nose.
Marley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ionel.
Marley misses with a head kick.
That kick from Marley tenderised Ionel's leg. Ionel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Marley cracks Ionel with an open hand slap.
Marley is looking to slow Ionel down with leg kicks.
Ionel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marley.
Ionel throws a big shot that misses.
Marley misses with a body kick.
Ionel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ionel misses with a body shot.
Marley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ionel is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Marley.
Ionel throws a leg kick that is checked
and Marley counters with a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marley steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ionel.
Ionel misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Marley misses.
Marley staying out of range there.
Marley lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Marley moves away from the strike by Ionel.
Marley is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ionel with a body shot.
Marley moves out of range of the strikes.
Marley is trying to counter with his kicks.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ionel.
Ionel misses with a body shot.
Marley slips under a jab from Ionel.
A shot to the body from Ionel misses
and Marley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Buz Ionel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marley misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Marley dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marley wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marley looks to land a right hand but Ionel moved out of range.
Ionel checks the leg kick.
Ionel misses with a jab to the body
and Marley counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marley connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ionel. Ionel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Marley looks to throw the jab but Ionel is out of range.
Ionel is looking to clinch.
Marley let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ionel just misses with a punch to the body.
Marley takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Marley scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Marley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ground and pound from Marley.
Ionel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ionel tries to get out of the position.
Marley seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ionel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ionel trying to get back to full guard but Marley takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ionel tries to lock up and control but Marley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marley misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ionel is looking to improve his position but Marley isn't that keen on the idea.
Marley thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Marley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
BOOM! Marley connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Marley throws some wild stikes that Ionel manages to avoid easily.
Marley thowing shots but they're missing.
Marley cracks Ionel with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Marley cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ionel manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Marley prevents Ionel from improving his position.
Ionel is in trouble now - Marley has advanced to mount!
Marley throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ionel because Marley loaded up on that one.
Marley is landing with some decent strikes but Ionel is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marley with good strikes from the mount here!
Marley has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ionel's face.
Marley lands with some strikes.
Marley in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Ionel is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marley is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Ionel goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Marley!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). James Marley!
Our winner, James Marley, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.