PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Firestone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Magnus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Firestone
vs
Magnus

197 cm
22
253 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
255 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Firestone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Martin Magnus!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Firestone throws a nice looking combination but Magnus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Firestone scores with a body shot.

Magnus tries to keep at a distance but Firestone has taken the fight into the clinch.

Firestone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Firestone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Magnus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Magnus displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Firestone throws out the jab.
Magnus moves forwards but Firestone connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Firestone shoots in for a double leg but Magnus sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Firestone instigates a clinch.
Magnus leaning against his opponent.
Firestone lands a right hand that snaps the head of Magnus backwards.
Magnus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Firestone's elbow.
Firestone blocking some punches.
Firestone wants to break the clinch but can't.

Firestone breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Firestone tries a head kick but it misses.
Firestone connects with a jab.
A big right from Firestone misses.
Firestone tries to clinch there but Magnus circles away.
Firestone misses with a takedown attempt - Magnus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mark Firestone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Firestone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Magnus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnus shoots for a double leg takedown but Firestone sprawls well. He's pushed Magnus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Firestone moves into range and clinches up with Magnus.
Magnus is looking to control Firestone's arms but Firestone gets an underhook and turns him. Now Magnus has his back to the cage.
Firestone fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Firestone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Firestone pulls guard successfully.
Firestone working a defensive guard here.
Firestone throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Magnus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Firestone had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Magnus is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Firestone Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Magnus's back instead.

Firestone is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Magnus defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Magnus trying to control the hands but Firestone won't let him.
Magnus is really stuck here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnus covering up well and avoiding damage.
Firestone wants to control but Magnus is keeping busy.
Firestone is breathing heavily.
Magnus tries to roll but Firestone sticks to his back.
Magnus is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Firestone trying to control.
Magnus trying to control the action but Firestone just sinks the hooks in.
Firestone controlling well, preventing Magnus from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What can Magnus do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Will Firestone go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Firestone is not going to allow Magnus to sit and survive in this position.
Firestone lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Magnus.
Firestone cracks Magnus with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Magnus from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Magnus tries to escape the position.
Magnus looking very determined here, making life difficult for Firestone.
Firestone controlling from the back.
Firestone wants to control but Magnus is keeping busy.

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.
Firestone doesn't have the hooks in and Magnus manages to turn into his guard.
Firestone trying to keep a closed guard but Magnus is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Firestone moves into range and clinches up with Magnus.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Firestone manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Firestone or perhaps it was just good defense by Magnus which made him look bad.
Firestone doesn't manage to clinch there - Magnus circles away.

Firestone scores with a takedown into Magnus's guard.

Firestone stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Firestone bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Magnus is trying to control Firestone's posture but Firestone avoids it.
The referee asks Firestone politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Firestone prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Firestone dominated that 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.

Firestone clinches up with Magnus and pushes him back against the cage.
Firestone blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Firestone wants to get back to striking at distance but Magnus won't allow it.
Firestone lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Magnus fails to land.
Firestone has had enough of the clinch but Magnus keeps him there for the moment.
Magnus scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Magnus lands with a right to the head.
Firestone lands with a light punch inside.
Firestone wants to break the clinch but can't.
Magnus lands with a light punch inside.
Magnus swings wildly with an uppercut but Firestone uses good head movement to avoid it.
Magnus leaning against his opponent.

Firestone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Firestone tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Magnus swivels and escapes.
Magnus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Firestone manages to avoid it.
Magnus throws a right and a left that both miss.

Magnus rushes Firestone and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Magnus lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Magnus lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Firestone or not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Magnus scores with a hook to the body.
Magnus lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Mark Firestone has been cut.
Magnus lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Magnus - that landed with a thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Firestone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnus misses with a wild combination.
Magnus fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Firestone is rocked!
Firestone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Magnus as he jumps to the side.
Oh Firestone is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Magnus lands a huge takedown. Firestone is out but the ref is slow to react and Magnus lands 3 more undefended punches before the fight is stopped. Brutal finish. Firestone lies on the canvas for a good minute before the doctors bring him round. Good to see he's OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Martin Magnus!