PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kotaro Kikuta (ranked 843 p4p, 986 weight class) and Troy Marquez (ranked 109 p4p, 128 weight class). Troy Marquez is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Kikuta
vs
Marquez

183 cm
22
200
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
195
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Savage Fightwear
EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Kikuta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Troy Marquez!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marquez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kikuta's guard.
Marquez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kikuta's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marquez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kikuta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marquez content to stall in guard here.
Marquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kikuta trying to keep a closed guard but Marquez is proving a slippery customer.
Marquez lands a couple of digs.
Kikuta is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marquez is controlling him.
Marquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kikuta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marquez is in close to Kikuta's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marquez lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Marquez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kikuta is adopting a defensive guard.
Marquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Marquez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kikuta is looking to stand up but Marquez isn't so interested in that idea.
Kikuta working a defensive guard here.
Kikuta keeping moving, preventing Marquez from controlling successfully.

Kikuta pushes Marquez off and scrambles back to his feet.
Marquez defending well as Kikuta loads up on a big left hand.
Marquez slips under a jab.
Kikuta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Marquez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kikuta tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Marquez is in Kikuta's guard.
Marquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kikuta is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez postures up.
Marquez trying to control but Kikuta is working from the bottom.
Marquez looking to pass the guard.
Kikuta lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kikuta postures up in Marquez's guard and throws a big left but Marquez blocks it.
Kikuta throws a big elbow that misses.
Kikuta is looking to work some ground and pound but Marquez has wrist control.
Kikuta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marquez is keeping the position for now.
Marquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kikuta throws an elbow that misses. Marquez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kikuta's guard. Nice move by Marquez!

Marquez works over Kikuta with some ground and pound from guard.
Kikuta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez looking to pass the guard.
Kikuta looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marquez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Marquez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kikuta controls Marquez momentarily but Marquez frees himself.
Marquez scoring with some ground and pound.
Marquez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Marquez landing some decent shots from guard.
Kikuta working a defensive guard here.
Marquez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marquez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Marquez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez won't allow Kikuta to sweep him here.
Kikuta trying to control the position here.
My spies in Savage Krew / Death Squad inform me that Marquez has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Marquez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kikuta keeping moving, preventing Marquez from controlling successfully.
Kikuta working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marquez.

Kikuta uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kikuta turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Marquez moves out of range as Kikuta strikes.
Marquez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kikuta.
Marquez tries to clinch up.
Marquez shoots in looking for a takedown. Kikuta tries to sprawl out of it but Marquez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kikuta manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Troy Marquez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Marquez slips a straight right by Kikuta.

Marquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Marquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kikuta misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kikuta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kikuta.
Marquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kikuta avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kikuta.
Kikuta misses with a punch on the inside.
Kikuta lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Troy Marquez has been cut.
Kikuta prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kikuta misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kikuta throws a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Kikuta fails to land.
Kikuta stops a takedown attempt from Marquez.
Kotaro Kikuta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Troy Marquez.
Kikuta with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kikuta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikuta misses with the head strike.
Kikuta scores with a shoulder strike.
Marquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kikuta just stands there and leans against the cage.
Marquez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kikuta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kikuta throws an elbow but it misses.
Marquez blocks an elbow strike from Kikuta.
Kikuta gets through Marquez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Marquez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kikuta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kikuta lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kikuta scores with a shoulder strike.
Kikuta misses with the head strike.
Marquez takes a shot to the head.
Marquez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kikuta is defending well.
Marquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikuta lands an elbow just above Marquez 's eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kikuta working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Kikuta fails to land.
Marquez is trying to pull guard but Kikuta has him pressed against the cage.
Marquez takes a shot to the head.
Marquez wants a takedown.
Marquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kikuta gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Marquez jumps guard but Kikuta turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Marquez wants a takedown.
Kikuta gets underhooks to prevent Marquez's takedown attempt.
Marquez tries to score a body lock takedown but Kikuta shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kikuta is pressed up against the cage. Marquez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kikuta down to the mat. Kikuta avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kotaro Kikuta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marquez is breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Marquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Kikuta, which made it look bad.
Nice defenses there by Marquez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marquez manages to avoid it.
Marquez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kikuta avoids it really well and circles away.
Marquez ducks under a wild hook from Kikuta.
Kikuta swings for the body but Marquez moves out of range.
Marquez shoots in and drives through. Kikuta sprawls well.
Kikuta moves into range and connects with a jab.
Marquez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Marquez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Marquez thows a huge punch but Kikuta dodges it nicely.
Kikuta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marquez on the ground.
Kikuta is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Marquez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kikuta is looking to escape.
Kikuta tries to roll over but Marquez keeps him under control.
Kikuta trying to get back to full guard but Marquez takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kikuta tries to hold on but Marquez postures up.

Kikuta somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Marquez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kikuta misses with a looping right.
A nice side step and Marquez releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Marquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kikuta swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Marquez feints and as Kikuta raises his hands in defense, Marquez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marquez preventing the sweep.
Marquez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kikuta has control of Marquez's left arm, preventing Marquez from doing any damage.
Kikuta keeping full guard, as Marquez tries to pass.
Kikuta looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kotaro Kikuta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Troy Marquez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kikuta thuds a left hand into Marquez's body.
Kikuta bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kikuta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marquez can do to turn this around?
Kikuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marquez manages to avoid it.
Marquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kikuta tries to avoid it but Marquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kikuta to the ground. Kikuta escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kikuta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marquez manages to avoid it.
Marquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kikuta pinned against the cage. Kikuta gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kikuta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kikuta misses with a straight left.
Kikuta takes a swing at Marquez's ribcage but misses.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kikuta as he avoids it easily.
Kotaro Kikuta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Troy Marquez.
Kikuta is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marquez gets a double leg takedown into Kikuta's guard.
Troy Marquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Kikuta is pulling down on Marquez's head. It's preventing any offense from Marquez, at least for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marquez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kikuta wants to get back to his feet but Marquez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikuta pulls Marquez in close to prevent any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marquez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kikuta is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marquez is controlling him.
Marquez advances position into side control!
Kikuta is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Marquez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Marquez misses with the ground and pound.
Kikuta wants to get back to his feet but Marquez drags him back down.
Kikuta can't do much from the bottom here.
Marquez working the body and head with strikes.
Marquez working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Kikuta's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Marquez cracks Kikuta with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kikuta is trying to improve his position.
Kikuta pushes Marquez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Marquez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Marquez is putting a hurting on Kikuta here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kikuta is pushing Marquez's head away, looking to escape. Marquez manages to hold on to the position though.
Kikuta is trying to escape the position but Marquez is controlling the position.
Kikuta tries to buck Marquez off but Marquez is having none of it.
Marquez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kikuta down.
Marquez trying to control the action but Kikuta is working from the bottom.
Kikuta is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuta is not content to let Marquez control the position.
Marquez working the ground and pound.
Marquez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kikuta tries to improve position but can't.
Kikuta is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Marquez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Kikuta's face as Marquez controls the position.
Marquez scoring with punches and elbows.
Kikuta is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Marquez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kikuta takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Kikuta is rocked!
Marquez cracks Kikuta with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Marquez immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Kikuta is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Marquez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Troy Marquez!
A very excited looking Troy Marquez made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.