PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wallace Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theo Marshal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshal has chosen Symphony in Peril - Stiletto as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Jefferson
vs
Marshal

199 cm
24
141 lbs
3 - 5 - 1

180 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 3 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Wallace Jefferson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Theo Marshal!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jefferson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marshal defends it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jefferson.
Jefferson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jefferson looks for a takedown but Marshal sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wallace Jefferson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marshal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jefferson shoots in for a takedown but Marshal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marshal avoids the head kick by Jefferson.
Marshal shoots in looking for a takedown. Jefferson tries to sprawl out of it but Marshal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jefferson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marshal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jefferson defends well and Marshal ends up having to push Jefferson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshal misses with an elbow over the top.
Jefferson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marshal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Marshal is working for takedown but Jefferson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jefferson just leaning against Marshal, taking a breather.
Marshal is working for takedown but Jefferson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Jefferson pulls guard successfully.
Marshal trying to control the position from guard on top but Jefferson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Marshal stands up and waves to Jefferson to follow him.
Jefferson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshal slaps away a takedown attempt from Jefferson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Marshal.
Jefferson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marshal sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jefferson leaves Marshal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jefferson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson blocks the body kick.
Marshal throws a sloppy head kick and Jefferson moves out of range easily.
A lazy body kick from Marshal
and Jefferson counters with a body kick.
Jefferson shoots in for a takedown but Marshal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jefferson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marshal throws a push kick but Jefferson slaps the foot to one side.
Marshal misses with a combination
and Marshal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jefferson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jefferson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshal avoids the body shot from Jefferson.
Jefferson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jefferson stuffs the takedown.
Marshal lands a nice looking body kick.
Jefferson tries to bum rush Marshal with a series of wild strikes but Marshal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marshal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jefferson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marshal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jefferson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marshal somewhat.
Jefferson fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Theo Marshal will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marshal leaves Jefferson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Marshal misses with a head kick.
Marshal keeps Jefferson at a distance using the push kick.
Marshal misses the shot to the body.
Jefferson throws a leg kick which misses Marshal's front leg but catches the back leg as Marshal tries to avoid it.
Marshal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marshal shoots in looking for a takedown but Jefferson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Marshal's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Marshal checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Jefferson as Marshal shoots in.
Jefferson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marshal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marshal wants it to stay on the feet.
Wallace Jefferson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jefferson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Marshal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Marshal scores with a spinning back kick!
Marshal stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wallace Jefferson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jefferson wants to clinch but Marshal slips to the side
and Marshal makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Jefferson really felt that one!
Marshal throws a nice outside leg kick.
Marshal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marshal.
Marshal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marshal is defended easily by Jefferson.
Marshal lands a head kick!
Marshal misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson blocks the body kick.
Marshal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marshal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Marshal tries to keep at a distance but Jefferson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jefferson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marshal has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jefferson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Marshal decides to pull guard.
Jefferson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Marshal keeping full guard, as Jefferson tries to pass.
Marshal is looking to stand up but Jefferson isn't so interested in that idea.
Marshal trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Marshal lands a head kick. Jefferson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theo Marshal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marshal swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jefferson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Marshal defends well and Jefferson ends up having to push Marshal into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Marshal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Marshal is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jefferson to keep the fight standing.
Marshal goes for a takedown attempt but Jefferson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marshal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jefferson darts in looking for a takedown but Marshal gets double underhooks and turns Jefferson into the cage.
Marshal has Jefferson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jefferson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Wallace Jefferson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theo Marshal.
Marshal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Jefferson decides to pull guard.
Marshal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshal wants to stand and escape but instead Jefferson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Marshal is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Jefferson dives into side control.
Marshal holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Jefferson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Marshal will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Jefferson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Marshal's legs.
Marshal wants to get back to his feet but Jefferson is dominant here and he's now got Marshal's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson trying to control momentarily.
Marshal tries to roll but Jefferson sticks to his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Marshal showing good submission defense here.
Jefferson is riding his opponent, not letting Marshal buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshal controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Marshal is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Marshal.
Marshal thuds his shin into the meat of Jefferson's side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson looks to score with a jab to the body but Marshal is just out of range.
Jefferson will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Marshal looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Theo Marshal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jefferson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marshal defends it nicely.
Marshal looks to land a combination but Jefferson avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Marshal as Jefferson shoots in.
Marshal throws a combination. Jefferson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jefferson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wallace Jefferson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Theo Marshal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marshal misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Theo Marshal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Marshal 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Theo Marshal!
A victorious Theo Marshal thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.