PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Train (ranked 2826 p4p, 254 weight class) and Luka Ilic (ranked 4702 p4p, 375 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Train
vs
Ilic

195 cm
25
275 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marshall Train!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luka Ilic!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilic tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Train manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Train keeps the fight on the outside.
Train attempts a counter takedown but Ilic avoids it well and moves away.
A combination from Train does no damage.
Train misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ilic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Train.

Ilic gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Train to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ilic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Train is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Train has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Train sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ilic wants to get back to his feet but Train is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Train tries to stand but Ilic is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Train slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Train is looking to stand up but Ilic won't let him.
Train postures up in Ilic's guard and throws a big left but Ilic blocks it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Train throws a shot to the body.
Train has a takedown stuffed.
Ilic dodges the punch combination from Train.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Train throws a push kick but Ilic slaps the foot to one side.
Ilic moves in looking to clinch but Train pushes him off.

Train manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ilic on his heels. He'll look to pass Ilic's guard now, I'm sure.
Train wants to get up but he can't break Ilic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ilic wants to get back to his feet but Train is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've been hearing that Train has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Train scoring with some ground and pound.
Ilic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Train. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Train is stalling in the full guard.
Train chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Train working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Train controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Train missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Train passes into half guard.
Train content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Train closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ilic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Train.
Train throwing shots but Ilic is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Train seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Train works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Train dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Train tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ilic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ilic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Train fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ilic checks it well.

Ilic tries to keep at a distance but Train has taken the fight into the clinch.
Train tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Train escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Train tries to clinch but Ilic moves out of range.
Train shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ilic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ilic wants it to stay on the feet.
Ilic tries to clinch up but Train circles away and keeps his distance.
Ilic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Train moves in looking to clinch but Ilic pushes him off.
Ilic jabs at Train's body.
Train shoots in looking for a takedown. Ilic tries to sprawl out of it but Train keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Ilic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Train. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilic tries to clinch up but Train circles away and keeps his distance.
Ilic misses with a series of wild punches.
Train avoids a punch combination nicely.
Train tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ilic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Train somewhat.
Ilic avoids a kick to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Ilic misses.

Train forces Ilic back against the ropes and clinches.
Ilic prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ilic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ilic misses with the head strike.

Train manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Train gets a double leg takedown into Ilic's guard.
Train is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Train missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Train slips nicely into half guard.
Train wants to stand but Ilic has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ilic taking some punishment here, with Train in his half guard.
Marshall Train overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Train seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ilic won't allow Train to pass to mount.
Ilic is breathing heavily.
Train seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Train is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ilic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Train thows a huge punch but Ilic dodges it nicely.

That's four 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.

Train is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ilic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Train.
Still in half guard, Train seems content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Train seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Train dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Train slips under a jab from Ilic.
Train will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Train shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ilic manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Train controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Train pushing down on Ilic's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Train seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ilic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Train.
Ilic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Train is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ilic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Train.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Train sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ilic defending well though.
Train perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Train is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

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.
Train looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ilic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Still in half guard, Train seems content to control.
Train tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ilic.
Train performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Train.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Train swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Train changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ilic tries to avoid it but Train manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ilic to the ground. Ilic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Luka Ilic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ilic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Train backs up against the ropes.

Ilic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Train breaks the clinch.
Train shoots in for a double leg but Ilic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Train. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Train fails in his attempt to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Ilic's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ilic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ilic clinches with his opponent.
Ilic swings wildly with an uppercut but Train uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ilic has a couple of punches blocked by Train.
Ilic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Train breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ilic tries to clinch but Train moves out of range.

Train drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Train scores with punches from side control.
Luka Ilic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marshall Train is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Train is staying tight to Ilic's torso, preventing him from escaping.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marshall Train.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Train, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marshall Train!