PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Susumo Komota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flint Marko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Komota
vs
Marko

182 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

181 cm
23
193 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

L.A. Elite Clothing Co

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Susumo Komota!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Flint Marko!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Komota takes a swing at Marko's ribcage but misses.
Komota tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marko was well out of range. Poor timing from Komota.
Komota throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Marko lands with a cross.
Marko dives in and grabs Komota's left leg, looking for a takedown. Komota pushes down on Marko's head and hops out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Marko enables Komota to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Marko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Komota throws a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marko is on top in guard.
Komota is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Marko dives into side control.

Marko tries for a kimura but Komota is defending well.
Marko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Komota keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko in side control, throwing shots but Komota defends.
Komota tries to improve position but can't.
Komota can't do much from the bottom here.
Komota is not content to let Marko control the position.
Marko throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Komota struggling a bit here.
Marko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marko lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko trying to control the position but Komota is working away.
Marko landing a few strikes.
Marko throws a strike aimed at the side of Komota's head but Komota avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marko cracks Komota with a big right hand but Komota just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Komota is looking for a sweep.
Marko trying to control the action but Komota is working from the bottom.
Marko lands a nice forearm strike.
Marko lands a nice forearm strike.
Marko working the ground and pound but Komota is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Komota's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Marko is looking to take a break and control but Komota is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Komota defending against the ground and pound.
Komota taking punishment in the form of punches.

Marko is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Komota knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Marko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Komota, who protects the arm well.
Marko wants to control but Komota is keeping him busy.
Marko scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Komota takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Marko working the ground and pound but Komota is defending the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Komota is looking for a sweep.
Komota is working hard here to advance position.
Marko scores with a couple of short elbows.
Komota tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marko working the head and body with strikes.
Marko cracks Komota with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Marko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Marko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Komota keeps working.
Marko throwing strikes but Komota manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Komota is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Komota taking a break here but Marko is having none of it and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Komota lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marko circles away quickly and effectively.
Marko throws out a powerful jab.
Komota takes a swing at Marko's ribcage but misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marko.
Marko throws a shot to the body.
Marko fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Komota drives through with a takedown into guard.
Komota looking to sit in guard and control but Marko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Marko trying to control but Komota is working from the bottom.
Marko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Marko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marko wants to control from the top but Komota keeps moving.
Komota working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko tries to free his leg and advance position but Komota is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Komota pulls Marko in to control the position.
Marko postures up.
Marko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Komota looking to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marko 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Susumo Komota.
Marko ducks under a wild hook from Komota.
Marko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Komota.
Marko lands a slapping body shot.
Komota throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A chopping leg kick lands by Komota.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Komota.
Komota throws a low kick but Marko moves out of range easily.
Komota throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marko cracks Komota with a good jab.
Marko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Komota counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Susumo Komota has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Flint Marko.
Komota misses with a hook.
Komota swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Komota throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Marko tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Komota is in Marko's guard.
Marko keeping full guard, as Komota tries to pass.
Komota is looking to advance position but Marko has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Marko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marko trying to control but Komota is having none of it.
Komota tries to hold on but Marko pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Komota working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Komota is bucking up trying to escape but Marko cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Flint Marko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Komota uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marko.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Marko.
Marko shoots in looking for a takedown. Komota tries to sprawl out of it but Marko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Komota manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Marko shoots and misses

and Komota counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Marko's guard now.
Susumo Komota has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Flint Marko.
Marko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Komota manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko landing some decent shots from guard.
Komota is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Komota is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Komota missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Marko controlling the position for now.
Marko trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Marko trying to hold on to Komota's head to control him but Komota postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Flint Marko was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Komota stuffs the takedown.
Marko lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Komota closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marko to the mat! Marko manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko looking for a sweep. Not yet Marko, not yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Marko holds on and takes a little breather.
Komota postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Marko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Komota is looking to escape.
Komota working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marko has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Komota's face.
Marko looking to control but Komota is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marko connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Marko looking to control but Komota is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Komota is looking to get to half guard.
Susumo Komota has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flint Marko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marko looking to control but Komota is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Komota tries to hold on but Marko postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marko with a couple of short strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flint Marko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Marko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flint Marko!
An out of breath Flint Marko thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.