PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hale Erwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Marcum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hale Erwin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Erwin
vs
Marcum

192 cm
39
222 lbs
25 - 14 - 0

187 cm
33
196 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hale Erwin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Heath Marcum!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erwin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marcum misses with the combination.
Marcum tries a head kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Erwin.
Heath Marcum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Erwin walks forward, straight into a front kick from Marcum.

Marcum decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Marcum thows a huge punch but Erwin dodges it nicely.
Marcum is looking to take a break and control but Erwin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marcum looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Marcum is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Erwin trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erwin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Marcum throwing shots but Erwin is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marcum throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marcum wants to pass to mount but Erwin is defending the position.
Marcum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marcum takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Marcum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marcum working over Erwin with some ground and pound. Erwin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Marcum wants to take a breather but Erwin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erwin tries to roll over but Marcum keeps him under control.
Marcum lands with a punch from half guard.
Marcum is thwarting Erwin's attempts to control the position.
Marcum controlling the action here.
Erwin tries to roll over but Marcum keeps him under control.
Marcum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcum is pressing down on Erwin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Erwin is holding on for now.

Marcum is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Erwin is refusing to be controlled, as Marcum sits in half guard.
Erwin is trying to control but can't.
Erwin wants to get back to full guard.
Marcum with the ground and pound but Erwin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Marcum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Erwin is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Erwin leaves Marcum with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Erwin as Marcum shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marcum throws a right hand that Erwin ducks under and follows up with a left that Erwin also avoids with ease.
Erwin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Erwin moves away from the strike by Marcum.
Erwin throws a sloppy head kick and Marcum moves out of range easily.
Marcum takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Erwin throws a shot from downtown. Marcum moves away and avoids it.
Marcum keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Erwin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Erwin misses the jab.
Erwin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Erwin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Erwin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Marcum connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A chopping leg kick lands by Erwin.
Marcum takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Marcum shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Erwin sprawls well. Erwin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Marcum gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Heath Marcum will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Erwin stuns Marcum with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Erwin throws a body punch but Marcum moves out of range.
Erwin keeps the fight on the outside.
A lazy left from Marcum finds it's target.
Erwin walks into a straight right hand from Marcum.
Nice cross by Erwin.
Erwin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Erwin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Erwin misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcum closes the distance looking to clinch
and Erwin counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marcum looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Marcum clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marcum has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Erwin uses from the top position.
Erwin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Marcum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marcum keeping moving, preventing Erwin from controlling successfully.

Marcum is looking for a triangle but Erwin pushes his legs off easily.
Marcum is pulling down on Erwin's head to control his posture.

Marcum has his foot on Erwin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Erwin works his way back into a safe position though.
Erwin is looking to work some ground and pound but Marcum has wrist control.
Marcum is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Erwin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marcum keeping moving, preventing Erwin from controlling successfully.
Marcum is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erwin trying to control but Marcum is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Erwin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marcum pulls Erwin in to control the position.
Marcum wants to stand up but Erwin is controlling him.
Erwin throws a big right hand that misses.
Marcum is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Erwin throws a front kick aimed at Marcum's knee but Marcum avoids it well.
Erwin tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Erwin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Erwin just misses with a punch to the body.
Erwin misses with a lunging right hand
and Marcum counters with a nice body kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Erwin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcum chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Erwin can pounce on him.
Marcum shoots in for a takedown but Erwin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Erwin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Erwin stuffs the takedown attempt from Marcum. Marcum gets slowly back to his feet.
Erwin is looking to land body kicks.
Marcum pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Erwin tried to counter with a leg kick but Marcum avoided it.
Erwin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marcum sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marcum tries for a takedown but Erwin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hale Erwin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Marcum.
Marcum fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Erwin avoids it really well and circles away.
Erwin throws a hook but Marcum blocks it.
Erwin misses with a straight left.
A chopping leg kick lands by Marcum.
Marcum swats away the attempt to clinch by Erwin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcum checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Marcum is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Erwin with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marcum looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Erwin throws a good cross that connects.
Erwin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Erwin misses with a looping left.
Marcum unleashes a big counter combination but Erwin bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A low kick from Erwin misses

and Marcum counters with a nice double leg into side control. Erwin won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marcum working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Erwin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Marcum lands a nice forearm strike.
Marcum wants to control but Erwin is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hale Erwin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Marcum takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Erwin throws a hook but Marcum blocks it.
Marcum tries to close the distance and clinch up but Erwin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Marcum looks to move away, Erwin throws a big counter combo bu Marcum just gets out of the way.
Erwin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Erwin tests Marcum's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Erwin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marcum.
Marcum fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marcum ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Marcum shoots in but Erwin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcum shoots in for a double leg but Erwin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hale Erwin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Marcum.
Erwin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Erwin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Erwin connects with a body shot.
Erwin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marcum can do to turn this around?
Erwin misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcum blocks a leg kick.
Erwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big left from Erwin misses.
Marcum tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Marcum lands with an uppercut that bounces Erwin off the cage and back into range.
Erwin throws a sloppy body shot
and Marcum counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Marcum closes the distance and clinches.
Erwin wants to get back to striking at distance but Marcum won't allow it.
Marcum scores with a shot to the side of Erwin's head.
Erwin just leaning against Marcum, taking a breather.
Marcum has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Erwin after a bit of a struggle.
Erwin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Erwin lands with a short shot to the head.
Marcum prevents a body shot from Erwin.
Erwin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Erwin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Marcum gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Erwin regains guard.

Erwin manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marcum.
Marcum tries to clinch up.
Erwin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hale Erwin is winning the standup battle so far.

Marcum manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Erwin on his heels. He'll look to pass Erwin's guard now, I'm sure.
Erwin keeping moving, preventing Marcum from controlling successfully.
Erwin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Erwin pulls Marcum in to control the position.
Erwin keeping moving, preventing Marcum from controlling successfully.
Erwin has his hands on Marcum's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erwin controls Marcum momentarily but Marcum frees himself.
Erwin keeping moving, preventing Marcum from controlling successfully.
Marcum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcum has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Erwin finds it's way round the side to connect with Marcum's head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marcum is defended easily by Erwin.
It looked like Erwin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Erwin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marcum.
Erwin throws a front kick that sends Marcum stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erwin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Marcum moves out of range as Erwin strikes.
Erwin throws a body shot but no joy.
Marcum lands with a good body shot.
Erwin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Marcum is rocked!
Erwin connects with a picture perfect right hand that knocks Marcum out cold! This one is over in a flash!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Hale Erwin!
Hale Erwin is the new light heavyweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Hale Erwin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.