PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Marksman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Koepfer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marksman
vs
Koepfer

185 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Londons Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Marksman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Koepfer!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koepfer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Koepfer landing strikes.
Marksman tries to improve position but can't.

Koepfer swings around for an armbar but Marksman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Koepfer's guard.
Marksman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Koepfer wants to stand but Marksman is controlling the position.
Marksman controlling from the top position.
Marksman wants to control from the top but Koepfer keeps moving.

Koepfer is looking for a triangle but Marksman pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marksman wants to control from the top but Koepfer keeps moving.
Marksman 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.

Marksman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Marksman with a lazy takedown attempt

and Koepfer counters with a takedown into side control.
Marksman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?

Koepfer goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Marksman rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Koepfer's guard! Nice work there by Marksman!
Koepfer should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Marksman wants to pass the guard but Koepfer is keeping the position.
Marksman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koepfer keeping full guard, as Marksman tries to pass.
Koepfer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Marksman!
Koepfer fails to move to back control.
Marksman tries to buck Koepfer off but he can't manage it.

Koepfer looking to secure an arm triangle but Marksman defends it well.
Koepfer looks gassed!

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.
Koepfer is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Marksman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Marksman is just holding on here. Koepfer manages to take his back.
Marksman trying to control the hands but Koepfer breaks the grip.
Marksman is taking damage to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Koepfer dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Marksman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Koepfer lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Koepfer scores with a kick to the body.
Koepfer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marksman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marksman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Koepfer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Koepfer wants to pass the guard but Marksman is keeping the position.
Marksman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Koepfer stopping the sweep attempt from Marksman.

Koepfer thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marksman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Marksman trying to control but Koepfer is having none of it.
Koepfer is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
A nice elbow there by Marksman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Koepfer tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Marksman goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Koepfer is on top in guard.
Koepfer sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Marksman's guard.
Koepfer stalling.
Marksman is trying to maintain the position but Koepfer is very close to passing his half guard.
Marksman is refusing to be controlled, as Koepfer sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koepfer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Marksman is staying active underneath Koepfer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Marksman is trying to stand back up but Koepfer is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koepfer moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Marksman.

Koepfer wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marksman, who protects the arm well.
Koepfer working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Koepfer has his takedown stuffed
and Marksman counters with a good low kick that Koepfer was not able to check.
Marksman lands with a slapping head kick.

Marksman gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stephen Koepfer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koepfer is trying to get back to full guard.
Marksman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Koepfer 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!

Marksman lands with a slapping head kick.
Koepfer with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marksman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Marksman moves into range and clinches up with Koepfer.

Koepfer has Marksman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Koepfer pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Marksman tumbling to the mat - Koepfer dives into Marksman's guard.
Koepfer stops Marksman from standing up.
Koepfer looking to sit in guard and control but Marksman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Marksman looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koepfer keeping moving, preventing Marksman from controlling successfully.
Marksman pushing down on Koepfer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Koepfer regains full guard. Nicely done.

Marksman stands up and waves to Koepfer to follow him.
Marksman tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Koepfer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marksman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Koepfer wants to get up but he can't break Marksman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Koepfer thows a big elbow that misses.
Koepfer wants to control from the top but Marksman keeps moving.
Marksman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Marksman stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marksman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koepfer.
Koepfer shoots and misses
and Marksman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Marksman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Marksman showed some decent athleticism there.
Marksman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Koepfer trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marksman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Koepfer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Koepfer tries to get to full guard but Marksman has control of the leg.
Stephen Koepfer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marksman not doing much here.

Marksman stands up from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Marksman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Koepfer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Koepfer!