PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mason Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson has chosen Don't Mean A Thing as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marshall
vs
Nelson

177 cm
29
180 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

176 cm
31
183 lbs
17 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Mason Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roy Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshall misses the jab.

Nelson throws a left that rocks Marshall and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Nelson dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Marshall regain composure!

It looks like Mason Marshall has been cut.
Marshall is trying to improve his position.

Nelson decides to stand back up. Nelson steps back and let's Marshall get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Nelson counters with a big uppercut that knocks Marshall off his feet! Nelson dives into side control looking to finish!
Nelson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marshall keeps working.
Marshall is trying to control Nelson's posture but Nelson avoids it.
Nelson tries to advance to mount but Marshall denies him.
Marshall is trying to control Nelson's posture but Nelson avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall is looking for a sweep.
Marshall sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Marshall is looking to improve his position.
Marshall regains full guard. Nicely done.
Marshall trying to control the position.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

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

Marshall has an active guard here but Nelson has managed to pass into half guard.
Marshall wants to get back to full guard.
Nelson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nelson wants to control the pace but Marshall is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nelson avoids the attempt from Marshall to control.
Marshall is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nelson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Marshall wants to control but Nelson is having none of it.
Marshall is looking to get to half guard.
Marshall wants to hold on but Nelson pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to control but Marshall wriggling away.
Nelson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Marshall is looking to get to half guard.
Marshall is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Nelson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mason Marshall's cut.
That's time! Marshall's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Marshall fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nelson on the side of the head.

It looks like Roy Nelson has been cut.
Nelson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Marshall counters with a shoot takedown. Nelson fights it but they end up in guard.
Marshall trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Marshall seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nelson keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Marshall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.
Nelson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Nelson is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nelson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nelson misses with a two punch combination.
Marshall attempts a counter takedown but Nelson avoids it well and moves away.
Nelson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marshall manages to avoid it.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Roy Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nelson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nelson misses the body punch
and Marshall counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson misses with a few strikes there.
Nelson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marshall connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nelson momentarily.
Nelson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nelson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nelson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marshall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marshall ducks under a wild hook from Nelson.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Marshall throws a right hand that Nelson ducks under and follows up with a left that Nelson also avoids with ease.
Marshall scores with a sloppy right hand. Nelson should have avoided that one.
Nelson throws a poor cross that misses
and Marshall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marshall takes a swing at Nelson's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Marshall misses the target.
Nelson throws a series of punches but Marshall moves out of range.
Nice cross by Marshall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson throws a right hand that Marshall ducks under and follows up with a left that Marshall also avoids with ease.
It looked like Marshall wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nelson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Marshall walks into a left hand.
Roy Nelson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marshall lands a right hook to the body.

Marshall gets caught flat footed, as Nelson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Marshall keeps moving.
Marshall is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nelson is pressing down on Marshall's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall stands and throws Nelson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Marshall is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nelson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Marshall tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Marshall has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nelson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Nelson can't escape the position.
Marshall can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nelson is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Marshall dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Marshall dodges the punch combination from Nelson.
Marshall misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Nelson counter with a right hand.
Nelson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Marshall gets a takedown into half guard.
Marshall keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Marshall is thwarting Nelson's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marshall is working for a submission of some sort.

Marshall is working for a kimura but Nelson is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is looking for a sweep. Marshall is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Marshall is trying to work for a kimura but Nelson is defending well.
Marshall is keen to just control but Nelson is a slippery customer.
Marshall wants to pass to mount but Nelson is defending the position.
Marshall is looking to stall here but Nelson recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Marshall advances position into side control!
Marshall tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nelson's legs.
Marshall trying to control the position but Nelson is working away.

Marshall tries for a kimura but Nelson is defending well.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson prevents Marshall from improving position.
Nelson is trying to buck Marshall off.
Marshall tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Nelson can't do much from the bottom here.
Marshall tries to advance to mount but Nelson denies him.

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.
Nelson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Marshall moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Nelson has worked his arm free - good work by Nelson!
Nelson regains half guard there - taking advantage of Marshall's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Nelson is pressing down on Marshall's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marshall trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Marshall showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marshall 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Marshall!
Mason Marshall seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.