PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Constantin Tepes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Marques (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.

Tepes
vs
Marques

175 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Constantin Tepes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafael Marques!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tepes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marques looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Marques is looking to reverse the position.
Marques is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tepes misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Tepes trying to control the position but Marques is working away.
Tepes postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Marques is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tepes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Well, if Tepes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Tepes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marques on the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Marques wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tepes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Marques is looking to control Tepes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marques avoid being mounted?
Tepes is controlling the pace.
Tepes trying to pass the guard but Marques defending well.
Tepes is thwarting Marques's attempts to control the position.
Tepes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

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

Tepes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Marques regains half guard.
Tepes trying to control the action but Marques is working from the bottom.
Marques is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tepes scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tepes slows the pace down in half guard.
Tepes trying to control from half guard but Marques is working away.
Tepes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tepes wants to stand but Marques has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tepes is controlling the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Constantin Tepes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Tepes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Marques tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tepes is in Marques's guard.

Tepes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marques has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tepes has managed to get both his arms back between Marques's legs - danger averted.
Tepes lands a couple of digs.
Tepes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marques swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tepes is looking to advance position but Marques has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tepes wants to get back to his feet.
Tepes avoids a series of strikes thrown by Marques.
Tepes is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Marques with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Marques looks gassed!
Poor strikes thrown by Marques there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Constantin Tepes dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tepes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marques.
Marques leaves Tepes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Tepes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Marques sprawls well initially but Tepes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Marques is not content to let Tepes control the position.
Tepes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Marques is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Marques tries to roll over but Tepes keeps him under control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Tepes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Tepes is trying to work for a kimura but Marques is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marques regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Tepes.
Tepes landing with the ground and pound.
Tepes is looking to work some ground and pound but Marques has wrist control.
Tepes is looking to work some ground and pound but Marques has wrist control.
Marques has Tepes pulled in close to control his posture.
Marques is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Tepes won't allow Marques to sweep him here.
Tepes 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael Marques was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Tepes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Marques manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tepes throwing strikes but missing.
Tepes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tepes trying to control the position from guard on top but Marques is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tepes looking to sit in guard and control but Marques gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tepes has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Marques off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Tepes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tepes working the ground and pound.
Tepes lands a few punches from side control.
A lull in the action here.
Tepes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marques defending against the ground and pound.
Tepes slows the pace down.
Tepes working the head with strikes.
Tepes controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tepes throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Tepes trying to control the position but Marques is working away.
Marques being controlled for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Constantin Tepes dominated that second round.
That's time! Tepes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Marques moves in looking to clinch but Tepes pushes him off.
Tepes punishes Marques's body with a nice straight punch.

Tepes drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tepes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marques is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marques has escaped and now he's on top!
Marques loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marques stops Tepes from standing up.
Marques trying to control but Tepes is working from the bottom.
Tepes wants to get back to his feet but Marques is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tepes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Marques working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tepes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marques is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marques trying to control but Tepes is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael Marques was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Tepes feints and as Marques raises his hands in defense, Tepes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marques looking to control.
Marques keeping moving, preventing Tepes from controlling successfully.

Marques is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tepes defends well.
Marques wants to sweep here but Tepes controlling him for the moment.
Tepes is stalling in the full guard.
Tepes trying to control but Marques is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Constantin Tepes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A left and a right from Tepes both land. Nice combination.
Tepes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Marques backs up against the cage.
A head kick misses from Marques.
Marques takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Tepes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Tepes controlling from the full mount.
Constantin Tepes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tepes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Marques for as long as he can get away with.
Rafael Marques has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Constantin Tepes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tepes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Constantin Tepes!