PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Head (ranked 24256 p4p, 2112 weight class) and Marquis Chriss (ranked 295 p4p, 84 weight class). Marquis Chriss has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Head
vs
Chriss

191 cm
22
250
2 - 6 - 0

169 cm
28
218
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Netherlands Nutrition
020 Clothing

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Richard Head!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marquis Chriss!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Head shoots in for a double leg but Chriss sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chriss ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Head moves away.
It appears Head was looking to counter with a kick there.
Chriss's coach down at 020 Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Chriss's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Chriss takes one to the side of the head.
Chriss loads up on a big right hand but Head slips the punch.
Head slips a jab from Chriss.
Head changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Chriss clinches with his opponent.
We've been hearing reports that Head has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chriss pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Chriss lands a jab to Head's midsection.
Head avoids the body shot from Chriss.

Chriss shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Head will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chriss pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Head is keeping the position for now.
Head wants to sweep here but Chriss controlling him for the moment.
Chriss is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Head looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Head is working hard here to advance position.
Head could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Head has control of Chriss's left arm, preventing Chriss from doing any damage.
Head looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Head looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Head keeping full guard, as Chriss tries to pass.
Chriss sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Chriss trying to control but Head is working from the bottom.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Head enables Chriss to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Head manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Head is trying to keep Chriss in close.
Chriss trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chriss works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Chriss is trying to work for a kimura but Head is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chriss prevents Head from improving his position.
Head is not content to let Chriss control the position.
Head is trying to get back to full guard.
Chriss moves into full mount! Head won't be happy about that!

Chriss goes for an armbar but Head turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Head.

Chriss working for a triangle but Head defends it easily.
Head trying to control but Chriss is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chriss looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Chriss looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Chriss has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Head can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Chriss working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Head doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Head manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marquis Chriss dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Chriss gets caught flat footed, as Head shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Chriss controlling the position.
Chriss wants to sweep here but Head controlling him for the moment.
Head trying to control the position from guard on top but Chriss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Head stands and throws Chriss's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Head slows the pace down.
Head tries to advance to mount but Chriss denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chriss tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Head wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Head tries to move into full mount but can't pass Chriss's legs.
Head wants to control but Chriss is keeping him busy.
Chriss prevents Head from improving position.
Head trying to control the position but Chriss is working away.
Chriss tries to bench press Head off him but Head keeps the position.
Head controls the position.
Chriss tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Head wants to control but Chriss is keeping him busy.
Chriss tries to bench press Head off him but Head keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Head wants to control but Chriss is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Chriss's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Head wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chriss keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marquis Chriss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Chriss rushes Head and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chriss is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Head can't fight it off and eventually Chriss manages to take the fight to the floor. Head looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Chriss stopping the sweep attempt from Head.
Chriss wants to pass the guard but Head is keeping the position.
Head wants to sweep here but Chriss controlling him for the moment.
Chriss trying to control the position from guard on top but Head is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chriss stays in close to Head's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chriss is continuing to stall.
Chriss tries to free his leg and advance position but Head is retaining full guard.
Chriss preventing the sweep.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Head bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chriss's guard.

Head trying to control but Chriss is working from the bottom.

Chriss is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Chriss escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Head gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Chriss keeping full guard, as Head tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Head dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Head fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Head takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Chriss shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Chriss must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Chriss stands and throws Head's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chriss is trying to get an arm triangle but Head is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head gets back to half guard.
Head trying to control here.
Head is looking to improve his position.
Head trying to hold on to Chriss's head to control him but Chriss postures up.

Chriss looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Chriss is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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.
Head manages to get to full guard.
Chriss trying to control the position from guard on top but Head is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Head wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chriss slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Chriss advances to half guard.
Head trying to control but Chriss postures up.

Chriss is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Head defends it well.

Chriss looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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.
Head wants to get back to full guard.

Chriss is trying to work for a kimura but Head is defending well.
Chriss is trying to control the action in half guard but Head is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big left from Head misses.
Chriss with the counter takedown but Head avoids it easily.

Chriss looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marquis Chriss comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Chriss 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marquis Chriss!
After winning the bout, Marquis Chriss thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.