PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Marsden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viktor Herzog has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Herzog
vs
Marsden

177 cm
29
134 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

165 cm
29
145 lbs
18 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Viktor Herzog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Marsden!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herzog with a poor takedown
and Marsden counters with a nice body kick.
Herzog takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Herzog.
Marsden turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Marsden misses with a head kick.
Marsden defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Herzog.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Herzog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herzog avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Herzog avoids the head kick by Marsden.
Marsden missing with a left hand there. Herzog was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marsden is looking to clinch.
Herzog closes the distance and clinches up with Marsden, looking for a takedown. Herzog pushes Marsden against the cage but Marsden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Marsden clinches up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Marsden - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Herzog is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marsden to keep the fight standing.
Marsden softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Marsden.
Herzog takes a shot to the head.
Marsden throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Marsden scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Marsden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marsden.
Marsden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marsden scores with a shot to the side of Herzog's head.
Marsden working aggressively here.
Marsden lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Marsden slows down the pace here.
Marsden pushes Herzog back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Marsden.
Marsden lands a nice uppercut.
Herzog blocking some punches.
Herzog tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Herzog is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Marsden pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marsden digs a right hand into Herzog's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Herzog's gas tank.
Herzog blocks an uppercut.
Herzog has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Marsden is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marsden lands a body punch in the clinch.
Marsden displaying some good clinch control by pressing Herzog up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Marsden scores with a nice short uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Marsden.
Herzog goes for a takedown attempt but Marsden pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marsden plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Marsden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Marsden tries to sprawl but Herzog drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Herzog really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Herzog takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Herzog 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.
Marsden is looking to escape.
Marsden is holding on to half guard well.
Marsden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsden is trying to maintain the position but Herzog is very close to passing his half guard.
Herzog looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marsden with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Marsden has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Herzog is working away from the top position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marsden tries to roll over but Herzog keeps him under control.
Marsden trying to hold on to Herzog's head to control him but Herzog postures up.
Marsden is looking to escape.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mike Marsden wasn't active enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Herzog or perhaps it was just good defense by Marsden which made him look bad.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Herzog drives through with a takedown into Marsden's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Herzog trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Herzog will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Marsden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marsden pulls Herzog in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Marsden dominated that round.
That's time! Herzog's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Herzog smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Herzog blocks a head kick by Marsden.

Marsden has closed the distance and engaged Herzog in a clinch.
Herzog has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marsden avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Marsden lands a shot to the body.
Marsden tries to work over Herzog's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Marsden on the inside.
Marsden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marsden has Herzog pressed against the cage.
Marsden lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Herzog.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsden content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Marsden continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A left hand lands to the body for Marsden.
Marsden goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marsden struggles to land a body shot inside as Herzog controls his hands.
Marsden misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Marsden.
Marsden lands a right hand that snaps the head of Herzog backwards.
Marsden tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Herzog's elbow.
Marsden is pushing Herzog up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Herzog is working for takedown but Marsden is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsden stalls.
A shot in the inside from Marsden.
Marsden misses with a body punch.
Marsden digs a right hand into Herzog's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Herzog's gas tank.
Marsden lands a nice uppercut.
Herzog is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marsden is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Herzog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marsden misses with the head strike.
Marsden tries a body shot but Herzog blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsden leaning his opponent against the cage.
Marsden struggles to land a body shot inside as Herzog controls his hands.
Marsden throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Herzog is looking for a takedown.
Mike Marsden seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Marsden throws a punch but it's blocked by Herzog.
Marsden prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marsden swings wildly with an uppercut but Herzog uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right handed body shot lands from Marsden.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsden throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Marsden.
Marsden misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Herzog looking for a takedown.
Marsden lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Herzog or not.
Herzog goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marsden prevents it.
A hook to the body from Marsden.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marsden effectively controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Marsden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Marsden clinches.
Marsden misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Marsden - that landed with a thud.
Herzog blocks a body shot from Marsden.
Marsden misses with a punch to the body.
Marsden digs a right hand underneath Herzog's ribcage. Herzog let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Herzog.
Marsden lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Herzog has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Marsden clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Marsden is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Herzog off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Marsden tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Herzog avoids the attempt from Marsden to control.

Herzog is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Marsden to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Marsden shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog breaks from Marsden's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Marsden tries to lock up and control but Herzog gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marsden prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Herzog prevents Marsden from getting the reversal.
Viktor Herzog overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marsden tries to hold on but Herzog postures up.

Herzog looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Herzog is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Marsden to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Marsden shrugs it off.
Marsden gets back to half guard.
Marsden wants to get back to full guard.
Marsden is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsden desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Herzog throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marsden is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Marsden wants to control but Herzog is keeping busy.

Mike Marsden has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Marsden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marsden wants it to stay on the feet.
Marsden throws a good cross that connects.
Herzog tries to clinch there but Marsden circles away.
Marsden misses with a body kick.
Herzog avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Herzog has his takedown stuffed
and Marsden counters with a low kick, right behind Herzog 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsden throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Herzog.
Marsden throws a nice looking combination but Herzog bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Herzog shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Marsden counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Viktor Herzog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marsden lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Marsden tries to throw a body punch but Herzog avoids it by throwing Marsden back against the cage.
Marsden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marsden pushes Herzog back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Herzog prevents a body shot from Marsden.
Marsden misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marsden cracks Herzog with a nice body shot.
A bit of stalling here from Marsden.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog looking for a takedown.
A short right from Marsden on the inside.
Marsden lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Herzog.
Marsden throws a head punch that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marsden misses with a body punch.
Herzog blocking some punches.
Viktor Herzog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Herzog tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Marsden just stands there and leans against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Marsden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Marsden winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Marsden!
Mike Marsden thanked the fans post fight for their support.