PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Marsden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Birmiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Birmiski has chosen I'm Back - T.I as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ari Birmiski was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Marsden
vs
Birmiski

165 cm
30
145 lbs
19 - 3 - 0

170 cm
30
140 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

[CLOSED] Xtreme Laundry

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 19 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Marsden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ari Birmiski!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch but Marsden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Birmiski tries to clinch but Marsden moves away
and Marsden counters with an outside leg kick.
Marsden misses with a head kick.
Birmiski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marsden paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Marsden rushes Birmiski and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marsden.
Birmiski lands a shoulder strike.
Marsden tries to work over Birmiski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marsden has a couple of punches blocked by Birmiski.
Birmiski tries a body shot but Marsden blocks it.
Marsden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Birmiski dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Birmiski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Birmiski leaning his opponent against the cage.
Birmiski blocking some punches.
Birmiski tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Birmiski lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski throws a head punch that misses.
Marsden tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Birmiski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Birmiski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marsden's elbow.
Marsden misses with a short punch on the inside.
Marsden manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Birmiski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Birmiski - that landed with a thud.
Birmiski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Birmiski stalling in the clinch but Marsden improves position.
Birmiski creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Marsden's defenses.
Birmiski pressing his opponent against the cage.
Marsden goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Birmiski misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marsden taking a breather.
A short left from Birmiski.
Birmiski blocking some punches.
Marsden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Marsden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Birmiski tries to land knees in the clinch but Marsden avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Birmiski fails to land.
Marsden goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marsden avoiding damage as Birmiski throws knees to the body.
Marsden taking a breather.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Birmiski.
Marsden misses with a punch on the inside.
Birmiski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birmiski misses with the head strike.
Birmiski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marsden's elbow.
Marsden presses Birmiski against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Birmiski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marsden blocks a body shot from Birmiski.
Marsden lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Birmiski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Birmiski leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are getting on Birmiski's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Marsden misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Marsden.
Birmiski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marsden lands with a right to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Marsden.
Marsden goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marsden stalling in the clinch but Birmiski improves position.
Birmiski lands a hook that snaps the head of Marsden backwards.
Marsden misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Marsden fails to land.
Birmiski will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Marsden up against the cage.
Birmiski misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsden struggles to land a body shot inside as Birmiski controls his hands.
Marsden scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Birmiski lands an elbow that stopped Marsden in his tracks for a moment.
Marsden wants to stall.
Birmiski working aggressively here.
Birmiski trying to stall but Marsden improves his position.
Marsden throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice left hand lands by Birmiski.
Birmiski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marsden can't find room to land a body shot as Birmiski controls the action.
Birmiski tries a body shot but Marsden blocks it.
Marsden tries to stall but Birmiski uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice left hand lands by Birmiski.
Birmiski lands with a short shot to the head.
Marsden blocks an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Marsden.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ari Birmiski will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Birmiski is defended easily by Marsden.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Birmiski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marsden circles away.
Birmiski looks for a takedown but Marsden sprawls well.
Mike Marsden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Birmiski.
Marsden throws a shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marsden, right into the meat.
Birmiski blocks a head kick by Marsden.
Birmiski tries to clinch there but Marsden circles away.
A punch combination from Marsden misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Birmiski is defended easily by Marsden.
Birmiski swats away the attempt to clinch by Marsden.
Birmiski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birmiski has his takedown stuffed
and Marsden counters with a body kick that stops Birmiski in his tracks momentarily.
Birmiski tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Marsden counters with a straight right hand.
Birmiski tries to clinch
and Marsden counters with a nice uppercut.
Birmiski is looking to clinch.
Good exchange - Marsden coming out on top.
Birmiski tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Marsden counters with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Birmiski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Birmiski takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Birmiski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Birmiski closes the distance looking to clinch
and Marsden counters with a nice low kick that buckles Birmiski's knee momentarily.
Birmiski takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Birmiski takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mike Marsden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Birmiski shoots in and drives through. Marsden sprawls well.
Marsden lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Birmiski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Birmiski stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Marsden.
Birmiski tries to clinch up but Marsden circles away and keeps his distance.
Marsden scores with a one two! Birmiski had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Marsden thows a leg kick but Birmiski checks it
and Birmiski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mike Marsden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marsden thuds his right hand into Birmiski's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Birmiski closes the distance looking to clinch
and Marsden counters with a one-two to the body.
Marsden throws a solid leg kick but Birmiski takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Marsden.
Birmiski on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marsden. Marsden obviously looking to wear him down.
Marsden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marsden has taken the fight to the clinch.
Birmiski is trying to drag Marsden to the mat but Marsden just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Marsden lands a body punch in the clinch.
Marsden taking a breather.
Birmiski is leaning against Marsden and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Marsden.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Birmiski.
Birmiski content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Marsden blocks an uppercut.
Birmiski lands a shoulder strike.
Birmiski goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marsden prevents it.
Birmiski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Birmiski leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsden blocks an uppercut.
Birmiski tries to land knees in the clinch but Marsden avoids the damage to the body.
A short right from Marsden.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marsden tries a body shot but Birmiski blocks it.
Marsden lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Birmiski or not.
Ari Birmiski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Marsden looking to slow down the pace here.
Marsden misses with a punch to the body.
Marsden prevents a body shot from Birmiski.
Birmiski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Birmiski has Marsden pushed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marsden keeps control of Birmiski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Birmiski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birmiski misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Marsden dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Marsden misses with a kick to the body.
Marsden throws the kick towards the body but Birmiski avoids it.
Birmiski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marsden moves away.
Birmiski shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marsden but Marsden pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Birmiski tries to clinch there but Marsden circles away.
Birmiski with a jab.
Marsden's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Marsden duly obliges.
Birmiski tries to clinch but Marsden is having none of it.
Birmiski closes the distance but Marsden moves to the side
and Marsden counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Marsden looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Marsden moves into range and clinches up with Birmiski.
Marsden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Birmiski tries to land knees in the clinch but Marsden avoids the damage to the body.
Marsden goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Marsden.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsden misses with a hook from the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Birmiski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Birmiski prevents a body shot from Marsden.
Marsden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marsden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marsden lands a nice shot to the body.
Birmiski blocking some punches.
A right hand to the body from Marsden.
Marsden lands an uppercut.
A short left from Marsden.
Birmiski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nice body punch from Marsden - that landed with a thud.
Birmiski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Marsden lands a left hand.
Knees to the body from Birmiski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marsden presses Birmiski against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Marsden is looking to control Birmiski's arms but Birmiski gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marsden has his back to the cage.
Nice body punch from Marsden - that landed with a thud.
Come on Marsden - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A short uppercut from Birmiski.
Marsden working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Birmiski tries to land knees in the clinch but Marsden avoids the damage to the body.
Marsden looking to stall.
Birmiski is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marsden is defending well.
Birmiski displaying some good clinch control by pressing Marsden up against the cage.
Marsden lands a left hand.
A nice left hand lands by Marsden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski struggles to land a body shot inside as Marsden controls his hands.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Marsden struggles to land a body shot inside as Birmiski controls his hands.
Birmiski misses with a punch to the body.
Birmiski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Birmiski taking a breather.
Marsden goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Marsden.
Birmiski taking a breather.
A short left from Birmiski.
Marsden misses with a punch to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Birmiski.
Birmiski struggles to land a body shot inside as Marsden controls his hands.
Birmiski scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Birmiski.
Marsden gets through Birmiski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmiski misses with a punch to the body.
Marsden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marsden prevents the takedown attempt.
Mike Marsden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Birmiski.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Birmiski tries to land knees in the clinch but Marsden avoids the damage to the body.
Birmiski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Birmiski has Marsden pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Marsden manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Birmiski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Birmiski misses with a punch on the inside.
Birmiski blocking some punches.
Marsden is looking to control Birmiski's arms but Birmiski gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marsden has his back to the cage.
Marsden scores with a shot to the side of Birmiski's head.
Birmiski struggles to land a body shot inside as Marsden controls his hands.
Marsden manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marsden tries to work over Birmiski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marsden softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Marsden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marsden has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Marsden!
A relieved looking Mike Marsden thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.