PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey Marks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Triton Rex Vergara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Marks
vs
Rex Vergara

187 cm
22
160 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

176 cm
19
166 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

[MMABR] Klinch

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 8 - 5 - 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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Triton Rex Vergara!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vergara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marks.
Marks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vergara.
Marks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vergara stuffs the takedown attempt from Marks. Marks gets slowly back to his feet.
Vergara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marks.
Vergara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Marks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marks misses with a hook.
Vergara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marks.
Marks misses with a takedown attempt - Vergara sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vergara swings for the body but Marks moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vergara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vergara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marks was well out of range. Poor timing from Vergara.
Vergara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marks moves away.

Marks closes the distance and clinches.

Marks wants the takedown. Vergara is fighting it off but Marks persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Vergara's guard against the cage.
Vergara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks tries to free his leg and advance position but Vergara is retaining full guard.
Marks wants to stand but Vergara has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Marks trying to control but Vergara is working from the bottom.
Marks stops Vergara from standing up.
Marks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vergara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marks is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Marks drops back looking for a leg! Vergara is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vergara manages to kick Marks off! Marks jumps back into Vergara's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vergara. Marks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vergara looks to score with a jab to the body but Marks is just out of range.
Marks misses with a low kick.
Vergara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marks.
Marks dives in and grabs Vergara's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vergara pushes down on Marks's head and hops out.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Marks.
Marks trying to control the position but Vergara is working away.
Vergara wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks slows the pace down.

Marks stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Vergara throws a right and a left that Marks avoids nicely.
Vergara ducks under a wild hook from Marks.
Vergara is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Marks rather than just go for the knockout.
Vergara defending well as Marks loads up on a big left hand.
Nice takedown defense from Vergara. No joy for Marks on that attempt.
Marks has a takedown stuffed.
Triton Rex Vergara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marks avoids the body shot from Vergara.
Vergara looks to score with a jab to the body but Marks is just out of range.
Vergara just misses with a punch to the body.
A big right from Marks misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vergara steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marks.
Vergara swings for the body but Marks moves out of range.
Joey Marks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vergara swings for the body but Marks moves out of range.
Vergara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marks fails to land with a series of punches.
Vergara connects with a body shot.
Vergara jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Marks decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Marks wants to pass to mount but Vergara is defending the position.
Marks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vergara defending well though.

Marks is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vergara is just riding it out for now. Marks eventually gives up the hold.

Marks is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Marks dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vergara stuffs the takedown attempt from Marks. Marks gets slowly back to his feet.
A punch combination from Marks misses.
Vergara misses the shot to the body.
Vergara lands a nice shot to the body.
Vergara just misses with a punch to the body.
Marks explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Vergara looks to score with a jab to the body but Marks is just out of range.
Marks throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Joey Marks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vergara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vergara thows a body shot but no joy.

Marks scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marks wants to control but Vergara is keeping him busy.
Marks tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Marks decides to stand back up. Marks steps back and let's Vergara get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vergara avoids it really well and circles away.
Vergara throws a body punch but Marks moves out of range.
Vergara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marks manages to avoid it.
Marks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Marks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Marks shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vergara as he jumps to the side.
Vergara scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Vergara as Marks shoots in.
Vergara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marks manages to avoid it.
Vergara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marks was well out of range. Poor timing from Vergara.

Marks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vergara's guard.
Vergara keeping moving, preventing Marks from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vergara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vergara wants to get back to his feet but Marks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Marks controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Marks postures up in Vergara's guard and throws a big left but Vergara blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marks 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.
Vergara is looking to stand up but Marks isn't so interested in that idea.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vergara.
Marks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Vergara connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Marks's hands.
Vergara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Marks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Jab from Vergara.
Vergara looks to score with a jab to the body but Marks is just out of range.
Vergara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vergara tries to avoid it but Marks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vergara to the ground. Vergara escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vergara cracks a nice hook into Marks's ribs.

Marks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vergara napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Marks is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vergara is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Marks is trying to get an arm triangle but Vergara is defending well.
Marks tries to move into full mount but can't pass Vergara's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joey Marks will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Vergara defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marks.
Vergara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vergara thows a body shot but no joy.
Marks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vergara as he avoids it easily.
Vergara fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vergara fails to land with a series of punches.
Marks avoids the body shot from Vergara.
Vergara connects with a body shot.
Marks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vergara throws a body punch but Marks moves out of range.
Marks closes the distance and clinches up with Vergara, looking for a takedown. Marks pushes Vergara against the cage but Vergara circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Marks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vergara misses with a wild body shot.
Marks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marks looks to land a right hand but Vergara moved out of range.
Marks fails with a takedown attempt.
Marks takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Marks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vergara swivels and escapes.
Vergara throws a one two combo.
Marks takes a shot right to the bread basket.
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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vergara misses the body punch

and Marks counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Vergara wants to get back to his feet.
Marks looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Vergara wants to get back to his feet.
Marks trying to pass the guard but Vergara defending well.
Marks content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Marks is trying to control the action in half guard but Vergara is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks wants to pass to mount but Vergara is defending the position.
Vergara wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vergara throws a body punch but Marks moves out of range.
Marks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marks dives in and grabs Vergara's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vergara pushes down on Marks's head and hops out.
Vergara fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vergara comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vergara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vergara misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vergara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marks.
Marks throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vergara's waist but Vergara gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marks off to one side.
Marks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vergara tries to avoid it but Marks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vergara to the ground. Vergara escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vergara wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marks fails with the takedown.
Marks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vergara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marks throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vergara counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Vergara lands a slapping body shot.
Triton Rex Vergara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vergara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marks.
Vergara lands a right hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vergara. Marks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vergara misses with a body punch

and Marks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vergara's guard.
Joey Marks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Triton Rex Vergara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vergara wants to stand but Marks is controlling the position.
Marks controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vergara keeping moving, preventing Marks from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Triton Rex Vergara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marks 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joey Marks!