PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Mareklidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buck Winchester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mareklidis
vs
Winchester

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Win Nutritional
MTG Divine [GTI]

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Mareklidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Buck Winchester!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Winchester looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mareklidis is fending him off so far but Winchester persists. Nope, Mareklidis circles away and we're back to standing.
Winchester tries for a takedown but Mareklidis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Winchester tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mareklidis swivels and escapes.
Steven Mareklidis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Winchester.
Winchester avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Winchester fails with the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Winchester or perhaps it was just good defense by Mareklidis which made him look bad.

Mareklidis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Winchester takes an elbow to the temple.
Mareklidis landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mareklidis lands with a short shot to the head.
Winchester is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mareklidis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Winchester looks gassed!
Winchester is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mareklidis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mareklidis lands a shoulder strike.
Winchester tries to score a body lock takedown but Mareklidis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mareklidis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mareklidis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Winchester in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Winchester takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mareklidis presses Winchester against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Mareklidis lands an elbow inside that Winchester shrugs off.
Mareklidis lands a nice uppercut.
Mareklidis landing knees to the head.
Mareklidis lands an elbow that stopped Winchester in his tracks for a moment.

Mareklidis successfully pulls guard.
Mareklidis throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Mareklidis pulls Winchester in close to his closed guard and prevents Winchester from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mareklidis trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winchester stops Mareklidis from standing up.
Winchester missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Winchester must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mareklidis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Winchester throwing strikes from guard but Mareklidis blocks nicely.
Winchester stopping the sweep attempt from Mareklidis.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mareklidis has closed the distance and engaged Winchester in a clinch.
Winchester takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mareklidis comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mareklidis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Winchester fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mareklidis connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Winchester feints and as Mareklidis raises his hands in defense, Winchester changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Winchester accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Winchester throws a big right hand that misses.
Winchester throwing strikes from guard but Mareklidis blocks nicely.

Mareklidis pushes Winchester off and gets back to his feet.

Winchester looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Winchester stands up from Mareklidis's guard - Winchester perhaps looking for a knockout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Winchester looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mareklidis is fending him off so far but Winchester persists. Nope, Mareklidis circles away and we're back to standing.

Mareklidis closes the distance and clinches.
Winchester is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mareklidis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mareklidis lands an elbow that stopped Winchester in his tracks for a moment.
Mareklidis is pressed up against the cage. Winchester has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mareklidis down to the mat. Mareklidis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mareklidis clinches up with Winchester and pushes him back against the cage.
Mareklidis lands an elbow that stopped Winchester in his tracks for a moment.
Winchester can't get the takedown.
Winchester tries to score a body lock takedown but Mareklidis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Mareklidis gets control of Winchester's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mareklidis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Winchester working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mareklidis's head.
Mareklidis wants to stand and escape but Winchester is having none of it.
Winchester postures up.
Winchester loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Winchester stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mareklidis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mareklidis uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Mareklidis lands a right hook to the body.

Winchester shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Winchester was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Winchester landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winchester scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mareklidis can't escape the position.
Mareklidis wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Winchester landing strikes from the mount and Mareklidis is in trouble!
Mareklidis is looking to get to half guard.
Winchester landing strikes from the mount and Mareklidis is in trouble!
Winchester lands a big shot there that rocks Mareklidis but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Winchester looking to finish with strikes here!
Winchester scoring with strikes but Mareklidis is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Winchester looking to finish with strikes here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Winchester cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Mareklidis 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.

Winchester will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mareklidis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Winchester wants to stand up but Mareklidis is controlling him.
Winchester utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mareklidis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mareklidis is working Winchester over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Winchester throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Mareklidis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mareklidis wants to control from the top but Winchester keeps moving.
Winchester trying to strike off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mareklidis stuns Winchester with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mareklidis tries to clinch but Winchester is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Winchester shoots in and bounces Mareklidis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Winchester pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mareklidis is keeping the position for now.
Winchester with a flurry of punches that miss.
Winchester postures up.
Winchester makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Winchester is looking to work some ground and pound but Mareklidis has wrist control.
Winchester working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Winchester stands up over Mareklidis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Winchester with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
No luck for Winchester with that takedown attempt.
Winchester closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mareklidis circles away.
Steven Mareklidis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Winchester.
Winchester fails with the takedown
and Mareklidis counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis throws a head kick that misses.

Winchester scores a takedown into full mount!
Mareklidis wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mareklidis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Winchester lands a big elbow.
Mareklidis tries to hold on but Winchester postures up.
Winchester looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Winchester lands a big elbow.
Winchester lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Buck Winchester has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mareklidis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Winchester unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winchester lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Winchester dominating with strikes here.
Winchester connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Mareklidis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Mareklidis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Winchester pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A nice elbow there by Winchester.
Winchester lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mareklidis slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Winchester thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Winchester postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mareklidis to stand up.
Winchester shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Winchester circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis tries for a takedown but Winchester sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Winchester tries to keep at a distance but Mareklidis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Winchester is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mareklidis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Winchester has picked Mareklidis up - he's going for a ride! Winchester dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Mareklidis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Winchester thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mareklidis's head.
Mareklidis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mareklidis.
Winchester tries to free his leg and advance position but Mareklidis is retaining full guard.
Winchester throws a big right hand that misses.
Mareklidis pulls Winchester in close to prevent any damage.
Winchester throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Winchester postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Winchester stands and steps away. Mareklidis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Winchester has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buck Winchester showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Winchester is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mareklidis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mareklidis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mareklidis wants it to stay on the feet.
Mareklidis fails to land the takedown.

Mareklidis gets a clinch.
Mareklidis creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Winchester's defenses.
Mareklidis is pressed up against the cage. Winchester has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mareklidis down to the mat. Mareklidis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Steven Mareklidis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Winchester.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mareklidis.
Mareklidis working the head with strikes.
Mareklidis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Winchester keeps working.

Mareklidis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Winchester is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Winchester tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mareklidis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winchester is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mareklidis off and has taken his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Winchester scores with punches to the body.
Mareklidis wants to control his opponent's hands but Winchester gets his hands free.
Mareklidis is trying to break free.
Mareklidis wants to control his opponent's hands but Winchester gets his hands free.
I really don't envy Mareklidis right now.
Winchester softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Winchester lands a shot to the body.
Winchester lands a shot to the head.
Mareklidis looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Mareklidis is taking damage to the body and head.
Winchester lands strikes to the head.
Mareklidis wants to control his opponent's hands but Winchester gets his hands free.
Winchester lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Mareklidis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Winchester is trying to stick to Mareklidis's back but Mareklidis is turning into Winchester. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Winchester's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mareklidis.
Mareklidis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Mareklidis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mareklidis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Winchester drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mareklidis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Winchester takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Winchester lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mareklidis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Winchester tries to free his leg and advance position but Mareklidis is retaining full guard.
Winchester cracks Mareklidis with a solid left hand.
Mareklidis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Winchester postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winchester loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mareklidis has momentary wrist control but Winchester slips an elbow through the middle.

Mareklidis pushes Winchester off and gets back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Mareklidis has Winchester up against the cage in a clinch.
Mareklidis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Winchester.
Winchester jumps guard but Mareklidis stands there with Winchester around his waist. Winchester gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Winchester tries to score a body lock takedown but Mareklidis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Winchester is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mareklidis pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Mareklidis gets control of Winchester's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mareklidis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Winchester postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mareklidis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Winchester postures up in Mareklidis's guard and throws a big left but Mareklidis blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winchester missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Winchester postures up and lands a big shot to Mareklidis's brow.
Mareklidis trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Winchester with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mareklidis counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Winchester looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mareklidis is fending him off so far but Winchester persists. Nope, Mareklidis circles away and we're back to standing.

Winchester drives through with a takedown into guard.
Winchester postures up in Mareklidis's guard and throws a big left but Mareklidis blocks it.
Mareklidis is looking to stand up but Winchester isn't so interested in that idea.
Winchester is in close to Mareklidis's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Winchester is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mareklidis is trying to keep Winchester in close.

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 Steven Mareklidis.
I think Mareklidis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Mareklidis!