PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fox Marsh (ranked 5468 p4p, 24898 weight class) and Muhammad Arslan (ranked 629 p4p, 746 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Marsh
vs
Arslan

185 cm
21
170
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
170
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fox Marsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Muhammad Arslan!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marsh throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Marsh does no damage.
Fox Marsh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Marsh misses.
Arslan moves in looking to clinch but Marsh pushes him off.
We've been told by Marsh's head coaches at Cozad MMA Sydney that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Arslan shoots for a double leg takedown but Marsh sprawls well. He's pushed Arslan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marsh throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arslan dodges the punch combination from Marsh.
Arslan connects with the punch.

Arslan moves into the clinch.
Marsh looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Marsh has had enough of the clinch but Arslan keeps him there for the moment.

Arslan pulls guard successfully.
Arslan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Marsh stands up from Arslan's guard - Marsh perhaps looking for a knockout.

Arslan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Arslan decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Marsh misses with the combination.
Marsh will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Arslan gets a takedown into half guard.
Arslan stops Marsh from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh is not content to let Arslan control the position.
Arslan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Marsh kicks Arslan off and gets back to his feet.
Marsh throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marsh is breathing heavily.

Arslan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marsh looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
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!
Arslan in side control lands a decent elbow.
Marsh tries to escape but Arslan is in control.
Marsh trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Marsh takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Arslan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Marsh wants to get back to his feet but Arslan drags him back down.

Arslan decides to stand back up. Arslan steps back and let's Marsh get back to his feet.

Arslan clinches up against the cage.

Arslan jumps guard.
Arslan pulls Marsh in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsh wants to get up but he can't break Arslan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Arslan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marsh doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marsh manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Arslan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marsh defends well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marsh wants to stand but Arslan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Arslan has his hands on Marsh's head, controlling the position.
Marsh has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Marsh preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arslan looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marsh wants to stand but Arslan is controlling his posture from full guard.

Arslan uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Arslan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Arslan dives in and grabs Marsh's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marsh pushes down on Arslan's head and hops out.
Marsh swinging wildly here.
Arslan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arslan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fox Marsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muhammad Arslan.
Marsh misses with the combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Muhammad Arslan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Marsh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Arslan dodges the punch combination from Marsh.
Marsh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Arslan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Marsh is trying to stand back up but Arslan is controlling him
Arslan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Marsh has one foot on Arslan's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Arslan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Arslan tries to clinch up.
Arslan tries to clinch up.
Arslan wants to clinch up but Marsh keeps it at a distance.
Marsh throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arslan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arslan shoots in looking for a takedown but Marsh manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Arslan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Marsh does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsh throws a nice looking combination but Arslan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Arslan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marsh swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marsh tries to bum rush Arslan with a series of wild strikes but Arslan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marsh throws a left and a right that both miss

so Arslan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Arslan stops Marsh from standing up.
Arslan looking to pass the guard.
Arslan postures up and lands a big shot to Marsh's brow.
Arslan lands a couple of elbows.
Marsh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Arslan is controlling him.

Arslan gets to his feet - Marsh follows without any prompting.
Arslan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fox Marsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muhammad Arslan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsh swinging wildly here.
Arslan lands a head kick!
Arslan shoots in and drives through. Marsh sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Marsh. No joy for Arslan on that attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Arslan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Marsh's half guard.

Marsh pushes Arslan off and gets back to his feet.
Marsh misses with a combination
and Arslan counters with a one-two to the body.
Marsh misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Arslan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fox Marsh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Arslan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Arslan trying to control the position from guard on top but Marsh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arslan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marsh is keeping the position for now.

Arslan gets to his feet - Marsh follows without any prompting.
Arslan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marsh throws a series of punches but Arslan avoids them all with ease.
Marsh keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marsh shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Arslan eats them both and turns towards Marsh to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Marsh throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arslan.

Arslan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Arslan prevents Marsh from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsh has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Marsh is pressed up against the cage. Arslan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marsh down to the mat. Marsh avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Arslan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Marsh did well to prevent Arslan getting side control.
Marsh is looking to escape.
Muhammad Arslan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arslan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marsh keeps working.
Marsh wants to get back to his feet.
Arslan is pressing down on Marsh's thigh, looking to free his foot. Marsh is holding on for now.

Arslan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marsh throws a combination that misses
and Arslan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Marsh's knee momentarily.

Arslan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Marsh manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Marsh manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fox Marsh dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Marsh throws a nice looking combination but Arslan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marsh misses with a two punch combination.
Arslan feints the counter takedown.

Arslan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Arslan decides to stand and escape the position.
A punch combination from Arslan misses.
Arslan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marsh throws a combination that misses
and Arslan counters with a big head kick but Marsh shrugs it off.
Nice body punch from Arslan.
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!
Arslan connects with a solid leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Arslan is defended easily by Marsh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marsh tries to bum rush Arslan with a series of wild strikes but Arslan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arslan connects with a single shot there.
Marsh throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Arslan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Arslan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marsh does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Marsh wants to get back to his feet.
Arslan is controlling the pace.

Arslan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Marsh tries to kick Arslan off but Arslan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arslan moves nicely into side control.
Marsh is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Arslan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Arslan moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Marsh is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Arslan has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Arslan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Arslan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Marsh down.
Marsh is not content to let Arslan control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arslan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Arslan controlling from side mount.

Marsh bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Arslan darts in looking for a takedown but Marsh gets double underhooks and turns Arslan into the cage.
It looked like Marsh was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Arslan scores with a head kick.
Fox Marsh is winning the standup battle so far.
Marsh will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Arslan throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arslan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marsh misses with a jab, cross combination.
Arslan fails with a takedown attempt.
Fox Marsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muhammad Arslan.
Arslan dodges the punch combination from Marsh.

Arslan has managed to clinch.
Arslan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marsh avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Arslan fails to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marsh tries to circle away but Arslan has him pinned against the cage.
Marsh wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Arslan has him pressed against the cage.
Marsh looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Arslan breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Muhammad Arslan.
I think Arslan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Muhammad Arslan!