PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Clarkson (ranked 4649 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Marino (ranked 23280 p4p, 0 weight class). Marino comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "Real American" by Rick Derringer kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Clarkson
vs
Marino

160 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
28
230 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Clarkson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Marino!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marino shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Clarkson as he avoids it easily.
Clarkson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Clarkson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Clarkson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Clarkson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marino is trying to defend but Clarkson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Clarkson wants to control but Marino is keeping him busy.
Marino desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Marino felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Clarkson trying to control the action but Marino is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marino keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marino is defending against the submission attempts here by Clarkson.
Marino is controlling Clarkson's trapped leg to prevent Clarkson from advancing to side control.
Marino is staying active underneath Clarkson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Marino works his way to full guard. Good work.

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.

Clarkson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Marino manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Clarkson has Marino in his guard.

Clarkson wants to sweep but no luck.
Marino 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.
Marino has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Clarkson is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Clarkson wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Marino is now in half guard.
Marino moves into full mount! Clarkson won't be happy about that!
Clarkson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Clarkson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marino working the head and body with strikes.
Marino with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Clarkson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Clarkson pushes Marino off looking to stand but Marino dives back in and keeps control.
Marino frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Clarkson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Clarkson regains half guard.
Clarkson is trying to get back to full guard.
Marino seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Marino is thwarting Clarkson's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marino lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Marino sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Clarkson tries to kick Marino off but Marino keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Marino keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Marino landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Marino tries to stand but can't do so whilst Clarkson controls his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marino tries to pass to full mount but Clarkson defends it.
Clarkson is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Marino dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Marino closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Clarkson to the mat! Clarkson manages to get full guard.
Clarkson working a defensive guard here.
Marino has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marino controlling from the top position.
Clarkson wants to control but Marino passes easily into half guard.
Marino tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Clarkson.
Clarkson gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marino won't allow Clarkson to sweep him here.
Marino has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Clarkson is proving hard to escape from.
Marino works over Clarkson with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marino lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marino would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marino looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Clarkson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Clarkson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Marino, up you get!
Clarkson stuffs the takedown.

Marino forces Clarkson back against the cage and clinches.
Clarkson tries to pull guard but Marino won't allow it.
Clarkson has a couple of punches blocked by Marino.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarkson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marino smiles and moves away.
Marino throws a right and a left that Clarkson avoids nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clarkson.
Marino drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Clarkson defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Clarkson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clarkson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marino momentarily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Marino!

It looks like Jason Clarkson has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clarkson shoots in but Marino avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Marino fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Clarkson to the ground. Marino is now in Clarkson's guard.
Marino connects with a couple of short punches.
Marino wanted to stand there but Clarkson had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarkson trying to control the position.
Marino postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Marino slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Marino is staying tight to Clarkson's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Marino tries to stand but Clarkson is controlling his head.
Clarkson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marino tries to stand but Clarkson is controlling his head.
Clarkson wants to get back to his feet but Marino drags him back down.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarkson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Marino connects with a decent elbow.
Clarkson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Clarkson is letting Marino control him for a moment.
Marino lands an elbow.
Marino takes a little break here. Clarkson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Marino working the head and body with strikes.
Clarkson is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marino working away.
Marino is working Clarkson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Marino is staying tight to Clarkson's torso, preventing him from escaping.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Marino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jason Clarkson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Marino drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Clarkson is striking off his back. Marino thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Clarkson is trying to control but can't.
Clarkson is trying to stand.

Marino is working for a kimura but Clarkson is defending it quite comfortably.
Clarkson is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marino lands with a punch from half guard.
Clarkson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Marino scores with a couple of nice shots.
Marino perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Marino is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarkson is looking for a sweep. Marino is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marino stalling.
Clarkson trying to control but Marino postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marino wants to free his trapped foot but Clarkson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Marino is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Clarkson!
Clarkson tries to reverse the position but Marino maintains control.
Steve Marino has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marino dominating with strikes here.
Marino pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Marino tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Marino prevents Clarkson from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marino controlling from mount.
Clarkson wants to try and get back to his feet.
Marino raining down shots from the mount!
Marino controlling from mount.
Marino is continuing to stall.
Marino cracks Clarkson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Clarkson wants to control but Marino is having none of it.

Marino jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Clarkson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Clarkson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marino working away.
Clarkson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Marino cracks Clarkson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Marino just content to control the position.
Clarkson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Marino asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Marino happy to just control the position for now.
Marino lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Clarkson down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarkson connects with an elbow from the bottom.
Clarkson regains half guard.
Clarkson is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Marino seems content to control.
Clarkson is looking to control Marino's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clarkson avoid being mounted?
Marino working Clarkson over with strikes.
Marino seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Clarkson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marino is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clarkson wants to improve his position but Marino is controlling well.
Jason Clarkson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Marino is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Marino takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Marino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marino has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

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