PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Lima (ranked 1133 p4p, 1120 weight class) and Marshall Praust (ranked 164 p4p, 163 weight class). Praust is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Holidays In The Sun. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lima
vs
Praust

187 cm
33
220
13 - 4 - 0

191 cm
21
213
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Fast

Shadow Realm Apparel

Sakura Style

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricardo Lima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marshall Praust!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jonathan Paton and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lima fails with the takedown
and Praust counters with a left and a right that stings Lima.
Lima looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lima.
Lima fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Lima. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lima scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Praust slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lima wants to control from the top but Praust keeps moving.

Lima has gone for a leg lock! Praust slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lima's guard.

Praust passes Lima's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lima looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lima looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.

Praust moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lima.
Praust working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Lima is not content to let Praust control the position.
Lima looks to move to half guard but instead Praust has passed into mount! Damn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lima is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lima manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Praust is nestled in close to Lima, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lima won't allow Praust to pass to mount.
Praust winds up and cracks Lima with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.
Lima tries to roll over but Praust keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.
Praust is looking to take a break and control but Lima is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lima has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Praust escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Praust!
Lima is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Lima looking for submissions off his back.
Praust moves nicely into side control.
Lima is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Praust's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Praust is keen to just control but Lima is a slippery customer.
Lima tries to roll over but Praust keeps him under control.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.
Praust working Lima over with strikes.

Lima looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Praust is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lima looking for submissions off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marshall Praust dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lima shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lima was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Praust is looking to get back to his feet here but Lima is keeping cool and he's managed to take Praust's back.

Praust is having to fend off submission attempts from Lima, who is looking to sink in the choke. Lima doesn't have the hooks in though and Praust manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Praust with a nice head shot there.

Lima had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Praust defends it easily.

Lima is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Praust defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lima looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Praust pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lima is keeping the position for now.
Praust working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lima can't keep his opponent in guard - Praust advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lima manages to get to full guard.
Praust is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Praust trying to control the position from guard on top but Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

Lima working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Praust has passed into half guard!
Lima is trying to get back to full guard.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.
Praust wants to control but Lima is keeping him busy.

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

Praust moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lima.
Praust passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Lima!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praust dominating with strikes here.
Lima is in all sorts of trouble here.
Praust landing strikes from the mount and Lima is in trouble!
Lima is working to get back to half guard.
Praust lands a big elbow.
Lima is squirming around, avoiding Praust's attempts to control the action.
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.
Lima is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lima is working hard here to advance position.
Praust is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Praust controlling from the full mount.
Lima is squirming around, avoiding Praust's attempts to control the action.
Lima really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Praust raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lima gets back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Praust is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lima doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time 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.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Praust lands with a straight right. Lima didn't see that one coming.
Ricardo Lima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lima gets tackled into the cage by Praust. Praust maintains the clinch.
Praust pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A short right from Praust.
Lima jumps guard but Praust turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lima tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lima tries to throw a body punch but Praust avoids it by throwing Lima back against the cage.

Lima works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Praust wants to get back to his feet but Lima passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Praust avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lima.
Praust has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Praust tries to kick Lima off but Lima keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lima is looking to take a break and control but Praust is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lima is working for a kimura but Praust is defending it quite comfortably.
Praust regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lima working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Praust trying to keep a closed guard but Lima is proving a slippery customer.
Praust keeping full guard, as Lima tries to pass.
Lima looking to sit in guard and control but Praust gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Praust is looking to advance position but Lima has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Lima wants to take Praust's back here but Praust is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Lima tries to control but Praust wriggling away.
Lima controlling the pace for now.
Praust is squirming around, avoiding Lima's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praust tries to hold on but Lima pushes him away.
Praust holds on for dear life.
Praust is controlling an arm, preventing Lima from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Praust tries to lock up and control but Lima gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Praust is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Lima is staying active.
Praust is looking to improve his position but Lima isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Lima has hold of Praust's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Praust manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Praust is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lima misses with a head shot.
Lima punching from mount but Praust doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Lima prevents Praust from getting the reversal.
Praust is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Praust really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Marshall Praust has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lima misses with a head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Lima showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marshall Praust!
An out of breath Marshall Praust thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.