PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Larry OConner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taiwon Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

OConner
vs
Marshall

180 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Elite Canadian Threads
Rush Supplements 160Q

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Larry OConner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taiwon Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Lou da Vinci and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OConner shoots in but no luck this time.
OConner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice sprawl there from Marshall as OConner shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry OConner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by OConner or perhaps it was just good defense by Marshall which made him look bad.
OConner misses with a takedown attempt - Marshall sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A right-left combo lands from Marshall.
OConner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marshall tries to avoid it but OConner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marshall to the ground. Marshall escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
OConner fails with a takedown attempt.
OConner is breathing heavily.
OConner tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Marshall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
OConner stuffs the takedown.
OConner slaps away a takedown attempt from Marshall, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Marshall clinches up against the cage.

Marshall breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall throws a head kick that OConner semi-blocks.

Marshall closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into OConner's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Marshall with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marshall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marshall postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marshall showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Marshall passes easily into side control. Nice work.
OConner is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall just content to control the position.
OConner tries to bench press Marshall off him but Marshall keeps the position.
Marshall works to advance to full mount. OConner defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Marshall gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Marshall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and OConner wants it to stay on the feet.
Marshall shoots in for a takedown but OConner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
OConner shoots for a double leg takedown but Marshall sprawls well. He's pushed OConner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Marshall has taken the fight to the clinch.
OConner drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marshall leaning against his opponent.

Marshall ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Marshall no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Marshall had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. OConner defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as OConner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Marshall working for a triangle but OConner defends it easily.

Marshall pushes OConner off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Marshall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as OConner sprawls well. OConner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Marshall gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiwon Marshall dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Marshall shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. OConner defends it nicely.
Marshall throws a combination that misses
and OConner makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
OConner fails with a takedown attempt.
OConner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taiwon Marshall seems to be getting the better of the standup.
OConner tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - OConner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
OConner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marshall sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry OConner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
OConner shoots in for a takedown but Marshall shows good takedown defense.
Marshall tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but OConner swivels and escapes.
Marshall circles away from the clinch attempt
and Marshall counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Marshall has managed to clinch.
Marshall has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by OConner after a bit of a struggle.
Marshall is struggling to control the position.
OConner missing with knees to the body.

Marshall's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marshall lands a head kick. OConner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A slapping leg kick lands for Marshall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OConner has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Marshall fails with a takedown attempt.
OConner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marshall avoids a punch combination nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Marshall shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Marshall was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
OConner regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConner gets back to full guard.
OConner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Marshall gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Marshall dives in for a single leg takedown but OConner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

OConner jumps into guard, dragging Marshall to the mat.
Marshall slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
OConner can't keep his opponent in guard - Marshall advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall stands up out of the half guard.
OConner shoots for a double leg takedown but Marshall sprawls well. He's pushed OConner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marshall shoots in but OConner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
OConner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Marshall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten OConner somewhat.
Larry OConner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Marshall has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiwon Marshall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

OConner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
OConner darts in trying to clinch
and Marshall makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
OConner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Marshall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten OConner somewhat.
OConner gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Marshall counters by moving into the clinch.
OConner is trying to pull guard but Marshall turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Marshall drags the fight down to the ground.
Marshall will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marshall is pulling down on OConner's head. It's preventing any offense from OConner, at least for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marshall keeping moving, preventing OConner from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConner throws a strike but Marshall rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Marshall drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marshall jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Marshall is looking to work some ground and pound but OConner has wrist control.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as OConner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall forces his way into half guard.
Marshall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Larry OConner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marshall content to control rather than advance.
Let's hope that Marshall has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Taiwon Marshall hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Marshall feints and then cracks OConner's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow OConner down.
No luck with that takedown attempt from OConner.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry OConner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marshall throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around OConner's waist but OConner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marshall off to one side.

Marshall has closed the distance and engaged OConner in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OConner tries to pull guard but Marshall won't allow it.

Marshall manages to pull guard.

Marshall escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. OConner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marshall looking to hit a scissor sweep but OConner is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
OConner lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taiwon Marshall comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marshall 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taiwon Marshall!