PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marlin Pena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Stick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marlin Pena has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pena
vs
Stick

150 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

225 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Marlin Pena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Big Stick!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stick has closed the distance and engaged Pena in a clinch.
Pena blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pena lands an elbow inside that Stick shrugs off.

It looks like Big Stick has been cut.

Stick has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Pena regains guard immediately.
Stick postures up.
Stick stops Pena from standing up.
Stick is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stick looking to sit in guard and control but Pena gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pena has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Stick looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pena is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Stick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pena is one step ahead there.
Pena looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pena might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stick manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena is trying desperately to improve position.
Stick throwing strikes here but Pena is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Pena is trying to escape the mount.
Pena wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Pena is desperately trying to improve his position but Stick has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stick tries to control but Pena wriggling away.
Stick looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pena is desperately trying to improve his position but Stick has a good base and remains in mount.
Pena really is a fat lump.
Pena has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Pena staying busy and making it hard for Stick to control.

Stick has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pena is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stick is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Pena knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Pena for a finish.
Pena is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Pena looking very determined here, making life difficult for Stick.
Pena looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena wants to get back to his feet.
Stick is looking to control Pena but Pena is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Pena looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Pena is breathing heavily.
Stick trying to control momentarily.
Pena is trying to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stick is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Stick dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Big Stick's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stick keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pena.

Stick shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stick showed some decent athleticism there.
Stick lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pena is trying to stand back up but Stick is controlling him
Pena tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Pena is trying to stand back up but Stick is controlling him
Pena trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stick uses his free foot to push down on Pena's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stick can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pena is looking to escape.
Stick might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pena haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Stick controlling from the full mount.
Stick trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Stick controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Big Stick wasn't active enough on the ground.

Stick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pena sprawls well initially but Stick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Stick is trying to control the action in half guard but Pena is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Stick postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Pena to stand up.
Stick tries to bum rush Pena with a series of wild strikes but Pena uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stick tries a head kick but it misses.

Pena closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stick tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stick tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Pena cracks Stick with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Stick from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stick tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stick has given up his back here. Will Pena look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Stick trying to get back to his feet but Pena is in full control for now.
You can see the frustration on Stick's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Stick is still trying to improve position.
Stick has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Pena controls the action.
Stick rolls, trying to escape but Pena keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Pena.
Pena lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Stick.
Stick rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Stick wants to improve his position but Pena is controlling well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pena slows the pace down in half guard.
Stick is trying to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stick tries to roll over but Pena keeps him under control.
Stick moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Stick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Big Stick's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Stick closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stick lands in his opponent's guard.

Stick stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Pena darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Stick taking some punishment here, with Pena in his half guard.
Stick is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stick keeps trying to improve his position.
Stick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stick keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Pena is trying to control. Stick wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stick is looking to improve his position.
Pena with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stick wants to improve his position but Pena is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Pena seems content to control.
Stick slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Stick looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pena passes into half guard.

Stick actively working from the bottom here.
Pena sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stick is trying to stand.
Pena working Stick over with strikes.
Well, if Pena is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Stick looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stick moves into full guard.
Pena showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pena won't allow Stick to sweep him here.
Pena trying to control the position from guard on top but Stick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Stick looking for a guillotine here but Pena defends easily.
Pena is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Marlin Pena.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Stick - that will leave a mark!

Pena shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pena is looking to work some ground and pound but Stick has wrist control.
Stick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pena is one step ahead there.
Pena controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Marlin Pena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Big Stick is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pena avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marlin Pena.
Well Stick 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big Stick!