PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marckus Reece (ranked 5313 p4p, 6553 weight class) and Rick Walling (ranked 618 p4p, 698 weight class). The key to victory for Marckus Reece has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Reece
vs
Walling

193 cm
27
205
5 - 5 - 0

188 cm
27
197
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marckus Reece!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Walling!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walling shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Reece counters with a left and a right that stings Walling.

Reece drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Walling tries to improve position but can't.
Walling looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Walling keeps trying to improve his position.
Walling regains half guard.

Walling actively working from the bottom here.

Walling is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reece pulls his head out easily.
Reece has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Walling is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've been hearing that Reece has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Reece is trying to take his opponent's back.
Reece prevents Walling from getting the reversal.
Walling sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Walling is staying active underneath Reece, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Reece stands up and beckons Walling to join him on the feet.
Walling fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Reece slaps away a takedown attempt from Walling, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Marckus Reece has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Walling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walling gets caught flat footed, as Reece shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Reece looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Walling is looking for a triangle but Reece pushes his legs off easily.
Walling keeping moving, preventing Reece from controlling successfully.

Reece avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Walling looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Reece passes into half guard.
Walling wants to improve his position but Reece is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walling looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Walling looks winded!
Walling has a hand on Reece's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Reece takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Reece manages to capitalize on a mistake by Walling to take his back!

Reece patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Walling prevents Reece from getting a body triangle.
Reece is really struggling to control Walling but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walling rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Walling is looking to get back to full guard here but Reece has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walling manages to work his way to half guard, despite Reece's best efforts.

Walling with the active half guard here but Reece passes nicely into side control.
Walling tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Walling is still trying to improve position.
Reece throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Reece passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Walling!
Walling is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marckus Reece dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Walling shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reece pinned against the cage. Reece gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Reece slaps away a takedown attempt from Walling, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Walling fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marckus Reece has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Walling.

Reece fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Walling sprawls well initially but Reece persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Reece moves into full mount! Walling won't be happy about that!
Walling wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Walling wants to escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reece looking for the RNC.
Walling is really stuck here.

Reece working for a choke but Walling is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reece is trying to stick to Walling's back but Walling is turning into Reece. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Reece's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Walling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walling wants to pass the guard but Reece is keeping the position.
Walling advances to half guard.

Walling is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Reece defends it well.
Reece looks like he's trying to stand up.
Reece gets back to full guard.
Walling is looking to advance position but Reece has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walling really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Walling is trying to reverse the position but instead Reece has taken his back - oops!
Reece trying to control.
Reece keeps control of the position as Walling tries to break free.

Reece is persistently looking for the submission but Walling is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walling wants to escape the position.
Walling breaks Reece's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Walling postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Reece is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Walling, into his guard.

Walling looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Walling throws his legs up looking for a submission but Reece uses it to pass to side control.
Walling is letting Reece control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reece wants to lay and pray for a moment but Walling keeps working.
Walling is letting Reece control him for a moment.
Walling manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Reece is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Reece wants to free his trapped foot but Walling is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Walling is trying to get back to full guard.

Reece is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marckus Reece dominated that second round.
That's time! 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.

Walling closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Walling is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Walling seems to be working for a kimura but Reece defends the submission attempt.
Walling is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Walling goes for an armbar but Reece turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Reece.

Walling is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reece is aware though and is defending well.
Walling takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Walling had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Reece defends it easily.
Reece passes into half guard.
Walling on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Walling looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Reece wants to take a breather but Walling is having none of it.

Walling is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reece pulls his head out easily.

Walling looking for a kimura from the bottom but Reece passes into side control!
Walling looking for a sweep but Reece has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Walling that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Reece lands a big elbow.
Reece trying to control but Walling is having none of it.
Reece controlling his opponent.
Walling regains half guard.

Walling is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reece pulls his head out easily.

Walling looking for submissions off his back.

Walling looking for submissions off his back.
Marckus Reece overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reece scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Reece keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Reece scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Walling looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Walling looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like Reece is going to stand back up.
Walling wants to get back to full guard but Reece has passed into side control.

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.
Walling is trying to improve his position.
Reece trying to control the position but Walling is working away.
Walling is looking to reverse the position.
Walling tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Reece presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Walling is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rick Walling has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reece punishing his opponent with strikes.
Reece prevents Walling from getting the reversal.
Marckus Reece is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reece sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marckus Reece showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reece has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marckus Reece!
Marckus Reece took some time post fight to say the following; 'I would like to thank my fans and training partners. I would also like to thank the promotion for giving me the opportunity.'.