PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey Marks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Markson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marks
vs
Markson

187 cm
21
160 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

176 cm
21
157 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joey Marks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kyle Markson!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Markson slips a straight right by Marks.
Marks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Markson manages to avoid it.
Marks has a takedown stuffed.

Markson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Markson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Marks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Markson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Marks is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Markson to the mat. Markson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Markson keeping full guard, as Marks tries to pass.
Markson wants to sweep but no luck.
Marks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Markson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Marks postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Markson holds on and takes a little breather.
Markson trying to control the position.
Marks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Markson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Marks thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markson keeping moving, preventing Marks from controlling successfully.
Markson is pulling down on Marks's head to control his posture.
Markson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marks shoots for a takedown but Markson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marks shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Markson as he jumps to the side.
Marks has a takedown stuffed.
Marks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Markson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Markson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Marks's half guard.
Markson drops an elbow to the side of Marks's head.

Markson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Markson working Marks over with strikes.

Markson is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Marks has managed to free his arm - good work.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markson wants to control but Marks is keeping him busy.
Markson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Markson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Marks trying to hold on to Markson's head to control him but Markson postures up.
Marks is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Markson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Still in half guard, Markson seems content to control.
Markson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Markson counters with a shoot takedown. Marks fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markson won't allow Marks to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Markson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Markson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Markson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Markson has managed to get both his arms back between Marks's legs - danger averted.
Marks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Markson is one step ahead there.

Marks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Markson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Markson trying to control the position from guard on top but Marks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Markson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Markson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marks tries to avoid it but Markson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marks to the ground. Marks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Markson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marks looking to pass the guard.
Marks won't allow Markson to get back to his feet.
Markson is adopting a defensive guard.
Marks's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Marks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Markson managing to control the position.
Markson is looking to stand up but Marks isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Markson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marks wants to control from the top but Markson keeps moving.
Markson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Markson breaks from Marks's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Markson controlling from mount.
A nice elbow there by Markson.
Markson unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks is in a horrible position here. Markson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Markson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Marks is wriggling around trying to escape.
Markson unloading with bombs!
Marks is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Marks that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Markson is working for a guillotine from mount but Marks frees his head quite easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markson pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Markson is breathing heavily.
Marks really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Markson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Marks is on top in guard.
Marks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks preventing the sweep.
Marks wants to pass the guard but Markson is keeping the position.
Marks trying to move into half guard but instead Markson has managed to sweep!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Markson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Markson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Markson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marks looking for a sweep. Not yet Marks, not yet.

Markson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Marks closes the distance looking to clinch

and Markson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Marks tries to roll over but Markson keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markson is looking for a kimura here.
Markson blocks the strikes from Marks.
Marks is looking to improve his position.
Kyle Markson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marks is not content to let Markson control the position.

Markson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Marks moves into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Marks is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Markson is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Markson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A left lands for Marks.
Marks with a poor takedown

and Markson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Markson.
Marks controlling Markson's posture.
Marks keeping moving, preventing Markson from controlling successfully.
Marks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Markson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Marks looking for a sweep. Not yet Marks, not yet.

Markson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Marks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Marks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Marks!
Marks is looking to take a break and control but Markson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Markson struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks is looking to take a break and control but Markson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Marks decides to stand up, so the ref orders Markson to his feet.
Markson blocks a jab.
Marks connects with a good right hand that stumbles Markson. Markson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Joey Marks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marks feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Markson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marks is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markson keeping full guard, as Marks tries to pass.
Markson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marks is one step ahead there.
Marks slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Markson wants to stand and escape but Marks is having none of it.
Marks trying to control the position from guard on top but Markson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marks wants to stand but Markson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A swing and a miss from Marks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks with a poor takedown

and Markson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Markson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Markson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Marks throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Markson wants to work for an arm triangle but Marks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Markson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Marks defends it well.
Markson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kyle Markson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marks gets back to full guard.
Markson stopping the sweep attempt from Marks.

Markson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Markson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Joey Marks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marks throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Marks looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Markson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Markson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Markson wants to work for an arm triangle but Marks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Markson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Markson 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Markson!