PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernand Legrand (ranked 2691 p4p, 2367 weight class) and Marshall Praust (ranked 351 p4p, 315 weight class). Marshall Praust has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Fernand Legrand's chin.

Legrand
vs
Praust

190 cm
26
210
2 - 2 - 0

191 cm
17
213
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fernand Legrand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marshall Praust!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Legrand.

Legrand shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Praust wants to improve his position but Legrand is controlling well.
Legrand wants to take a breather but Praust is having none of it.
Praust is trying to control but can't.
Legrand sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Praust defending well though.
Legrand is stalling here. Praust is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Legrand seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Praust has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legrand tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Praust tries to advance to mount but Legrand denies him.
Legrand taking a bit of punishment here - Praust scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legrand is trying to improve his position.
Praust throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Legrand tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Praust wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Praust is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Legrand is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Legrand's coaches at Thunder Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Legrand dodges the ground and pound from Praust.
Praust has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Legrand tries to get back to half guard but can't.
My spies in LA Fitness inform me that Praust has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Praust avoids the attempt from Legrand to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praust can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Legrand is looking to escape.
Praust controlling from mount.
Legrand is in a horrible position here. Praust smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Praust prevents Legrand from getting the reversal.
Praust lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legrand really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Praust avoids the attempt from Legrand to control.
Legrand wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Praust punishing his opponent with strikes.
Legrand slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Legrand on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Legrand trying to hold on to Praust's head to control him but Praust postures up.
Legrand wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Praust winds up and cracks Legrand with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Legrand wants to get back to full guard.
Praust is trying to control the action in half guard but Legrand is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Legrand wants to control but Praust is keeping busy.
Nice strikes from Praust there.
Legrand is trying to get back to full guard.
Legrand is refusing to be controlled, as Praust sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Legrand tries to get to full guard but Praust has control of the leg.
Legrand holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Praust dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Praust lands with a thumping leg kick.
Praust tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Legrand was well out of range. Poor timing from Praust.
Legrand defending well as Praust loads up on a big left hand.
Legrand bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Legrand shoots for a takedown but Praust saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Praust lands a body shot.

Praust feints and as Legrand raises his hands in defense, Praust changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Praust is standing up over Legrand. Legrand looks to escape but Praust dives into side control.

Legrand tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Praust trying to control the position but Legrand is working away.
Praust has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Praust lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Legrand down.
Legrand is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legrand wants to get back to full guard.
Legrand is working hard here to advance position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Praust connects with a nice short shot to Legrand's temple.
Legrand tries to kick Praust off but Praust keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Praust is looking to take a break and control but Legrand is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Legrand knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Praust on the ground.
Praust is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Legrand is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marshall Praust has got the better of the ground game so far.
Legrand pushes Praust off looking to stand but Praust dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Praust lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Praust controlling the pace.
Legrand is looking to improve his position.
Praust is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Praust seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Praust winds up and cracks Legrand with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Legrand is trying to maintain the position but Praust is very close to passing his half guard.
Legrand taking some punishment here, with Praust in his half guard.
Legrand wants to improve his position but Praust is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praust drops an elbow to the side of Legrand's head.
Praust moves nicely into side control.
Praust moves into full mount!
Praust punishing his opponent with strikes.
Legrand is looking to improve his position but Praust isn't that keen on the idea.
Praust looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Praust trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Praust has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Praust with shots to the head and body - Legrand looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legrand is trying desperately to improve position.
Legrand wants to hold on but Praust pushes him away.
Praust controlling from the full mount.
Legrand working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Praust working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice elbow there by Praust.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Praust showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Praust closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Praust wants to lay and pray for a moment but Legrand keeps working.
Legrand wants to get back to his feet.
Legrand is not content to let Praust control the position.
Legrand is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Praust wants to lay and pray for a moment but Legrand keeps working.
Legrand is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legrand takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Legrand is looking for a sweep.
Legrand is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Legrand is looking to reverse the position.
Praust trying to control the action but Legrand is working from the bottom.
Praust creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
A control attempt from Legrand but he's now mounted!
Marshall Praust is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praust landing strikes from the mount and Legrand is in trouble!
Legrand is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Praust lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Praust cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Legrand is in a horrible position here. Praust smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Praust is landing with some decent strikes but Legrand is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You get the feeling that Legrand really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Praust landing strikes, looking to finish!
Legrand working to try and regain half guard.
Praust lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praust takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Praust connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Praust with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Legrand is working to get back to half guard.

Praust is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Legrand is surviving well by controlling Praust's body position as best he can.
Legrand is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Praust connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Legrand is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Praust lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Legrand hang on?
Praust trying to control but Legrand is having none of it.
Legrand can't escape the position.
Legrand wants to control but Praust is having none of it.
Legrand is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fernand Legrand has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Praust controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marshall Praust comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Praust 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marshall Praust!
A very excited looking Marshall Praust made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.