Lucas Brennan

Francis Marshall vs. Lucas Brennan
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marshall (-600); Brennan (+450)

Round 1
With decent enough name-related nicknames, “Fire” Marshall (9-3, 3-3 UFC) and “Luke Skywalker” Brennan (11-2, 0-0 UFC) will toe the line as the prelims roll on. With the latter’s appearance, he joins a very small father-son tandem of UFC veterans, with dad Chris Brennan a three-time competitor in the Octagon—twice in 1998 as part of the UFC 16 tourney, and then four years later against Gil Castillo at UFC 35. Name only goes so far in the sport, and it’s all to these two lightweights to shine. Referee Kerry Hatley is on call if needed, with the fighters touching gloves in front of him.
Marshall introduces himself with a calf kick, quick to put the pace on the newcomer to put him off-balance. Brennan throws back, but it is the kick from Marshall that is getting his attention. Marshall connects with an overhand right, and he clubs Brennan again with the same blow. He scores it again, and Brennan fires back with a low kick to trip Marshall up. When Marshall blitzes him, Brennan wraps him up in search of a takedown. Marshall turns it against him by scooping up Brennan’s knee and depositing him gingerly to the mat. Marshall initiates the horizontal grappling by maintaining partial side control, thwarting any early submission traps quickly. Brennan hooks his leg around Marshall’s head, as if he wants to squeeze Marshall’s head like a grape. Marshall shucks it off and lowers himself down flat to grind with elbows.
Brennan kicks off and rolls in hopes of sweeping or escaping, but “Fire” Marshall is torching him with grappling exchanges and thudding elbows. Brennan turns to his side, and Marshall keeps his hands on his foe’s face to force him flat. Marshall big-brothers Brennan on top, moving into half guard to further control the action. Brennan looks for a sweep with his legs, and he transition suddenly into a leglock. Marshall turns all the way through to survive the heel look, and he shakes his head when Brennan transitions into a foot lock that is nowhere close to being secure. Marshall keeps twisting to moves back into top position, where he nails Brennan with a sharp elbow. Brennan maintains butterfly hooks, and he uses them to gain enough space to wall-walk and get upright at the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Marshall
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Marshall
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marshall

Round 2
The two high-five to get going, with the confident Marshall wade first into action and popping Brennan in the chops with an overhand right. Brennan leans into another overhand right, switching stances back and forth to push out a front kick. Marshall whiffs on his big right hand, but when he fires it again, it scores. He shakes the newcomer up with another, and one more forces “Lucas Skywalker” to shoot in on a single-leg entry. Marshall sprawls and turns to the side to shut down Brennan’s effort, bullying him back to the wall so he can score short but effective clinch strikes. Brennan turns him around, while Marshall checks his oil keeping his hand between Brennan’s legs.
Marshall’s hand position allows him to take Brennan off his feet, as he moves right to side control away from most of Brennan’s submission setups. Marshall smothers when on top, not giving Brennan much space to buck or move. As he goes chest-to-chest in half guard, he pins Brennan and stops him from doing anything. Marshall steps over to the side again, and he elbows the body with his right arm and drops down punches with his left. Brennan offers up knees to the side when flat on his back, with his escapes otherwise nullified. Marshall clubs him a few times before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Marshall
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Marshall
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marshall

Round 3
There is a clap of hands to initiate the opening of the final frame, and it takes mere seconds for Marshall to wing his favored right hand. He offers a high kick on the other side behind it, with Brennan able to defend it. Marshall splits the guard with a straight right, and he skims the cheek when loading up on a right hook. Brennan whips a kick to the side, and Marshall catches it and chucks Brennan to the floor like a side of beef. Marshall stands firm and allows Brennan to stand. Brennan tries to charge, but his own takedown meets a stone wall. Marshall keeps him at bay by chambering his right hand, occasionally launching it as Brennan is stuck looking for answers.
Marshall comes up short with a high kick, freely engaging when he sees fit as Brennan has not put him in danger thus far. Marshall’s feint and fakes draw reactions, allowing him to stutter-step his way into a power overhand. Brennan slides back, and this puts him on a silver platter for Marshall to connect with a few more punches before peeling away. Marshall’s ducks, dips and dives all force large movements from his opponent. Brennan tosses out a handful of low kicks, although while scoring, do not have the kind of impact to turn the tide in his favor. Marshall’s overhand right may not land every time, but it gets Brennan’s attention each and every swing. The round ends with Marshall firmly in the driver’s seat.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Marshall (30-27 Marshall)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Marshall (30-27 Marshall)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marshall (30-27 Marshall)

The Official Result
Francis Marshall def. Lucas Brennan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)