PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Praust (ranked 1236 p4p, 3604 weight class) and Xavier Dayton (ranked 193 p4p, 448 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Praust might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Holidays In The Sun. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Praust
vs
Dayton

191 cm
21
213
7 - 4 - 0

194 cm
21
205
1 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store
BRAZEN - Fight Gear

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marshall Praust!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Dayton!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dayton misses with a left hand

and Praust decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dayton's guard.
Dayton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dayton wants to stand and escape but Praust is having none of it.
Praust throws a big right hand that misses.

Praust drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dayton looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dayton looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dayton!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Praust tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dayton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Praust's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Praust is looking to reverse the position.
Praust 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Praust tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Dayton presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Praust manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Dayton wants to stand up but Praust is controlling the position.
Praust is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Praust is working hard here to advance position.

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.

Praust is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dayton pulls his head out easily.
Praust gets back to full guard.
Praust manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dayton manages to get himself to full guard.

Dayton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Praust accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Praust wants to control from the top but Dayton keeps moving.
Praust missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Praust is looking to advance position but Dayton has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Dayton is looking to stand but Praust has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Praust really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dayton blocks Praust's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Dayton wants to get back to his feet but Praust is holding on tight.
Praust gets back to half guard.
Praust is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Praust looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marshall Praust will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dayton swings away with a body shot that misses
and Praust connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Praust dodges the punch combination from Dayton.
Dayton swinging wildly here.
Dayton scores with a nice strike.
Dayton lands with a good body shot.
Dayton just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Praust avoids the body shot from Dayton.
Praust swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Dayton thows a leg kick but Praust checks it

and Praust counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Praust with a flurry of punches that miss.
Praust won't allow Dayton to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dayton is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Praust wants to pass the guard but Dayton is keeping the position.
Praust working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Praust content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dayton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Praust is controlling him.
Praust lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Praust stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dayton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dayton is looking to stand up but Praust isn't so interested in that idea.
Dayton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Praust. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Praust postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Praust trying to control but Dayton is working from the bottom.
Dayton is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Praust dives into side control.
Praust misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praust trying to control the position but Dayton is working away.
Praust landing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Dayton's face as Praust controls the position.
Praust tries to advance to mount but can't.
Praust creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dayton sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Praust is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Dayton's shoulder. That is not cool.
Praust throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Dayton wants to get back to his feet but Praust drags him back down.

Praust is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dayton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Praust looks up at the clock and then as Dayton takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Praust smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Praust tries to score with some ground and pound. Dayton controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Dayton defending against the ground and pound.
Praust tries to advance to mount but Dayton denies him.
Praust wants to control but Dayton is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Praust throws a strike aimed at the side of Dayton's head but Dayton avoids it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Praust dominated that second round.
That's time! Praust's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Praust blocks a head kick by Dayton.
Praust fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Dayton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Dayton misses with a wild body shot.
Dayton throws a head kick that misses.
Dayton swings for the body but Praust moves out of range.
Praust looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Praust steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dayton.
Nice uppercut lands for Praust. That snapped Dayton's head back.
Dayton lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Marshall Praust has been cut.
Dayton is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Praust rather than just go for the knockout.
Praust moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Praust takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Xavier Dayton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dayton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Praust moves away.
Dayton throws a nice looking combination but Praust bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Praust appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Praust shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Praust has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Praust looking to ground and pound but Dayton is blocking nicely.
Praust is landing with some decent strikes but Dayton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Praust goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dayton turns into him and now he's in Praust's guard.

Dayton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dayton stopping the sweep attempt from Praust.
Praust controls Dayton momentarily but Dayton frees himself.
Praust looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dayton is one step ahead there.
Dayton postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dayton won't allow Praust to sweep him here.
Praust has a closed guard, preventing Dayton from standing up.

Praust is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Praust has an active guard here but Dayton has managed to pass into half guard.

Praust is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dayton pulls his head out easily.

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.
Praust slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Praust seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Praust is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Praust tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Xavier Dayton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marshall Praust is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Praust seems keen to control Dayton's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Xavier Dayton.
I think Praust has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marshall Praust!
During a confident post fight interview, Marshall Praust thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.