PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henry Cejudo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josie Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cejudo comes to the cage accompanied by I wanna be adored.. Marquez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: the most annoying Mexican polka music you have heard in your life. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cejudo
vs
Marquez

165 cm
20
140 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
148 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing
Wolfpack Threadz

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henry Cejudo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josie Marquez!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marquez misses with the combination.
Cejudo dodges the punch combination from Marquez.
Cejudo on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Cejudo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cejudo lands in his opponent's guard.
Cejudo trying to control but Marquez is working from the bottom.
Cejudo won't allow Marquez to sweep him here.
Marquez pulls Cejudo in close to his closed guard and prevents Cejudo from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cejudo trying to control but Marquez is working from the bottom.
Cejudo is stalling in the full guard.

Henry Cejudo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cejudo dives in and grabs Marquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marquez pushes down on Cejudo's head and hops out.
Marquez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cejudo back to the cage. Marquez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Henry Cejudo has been cut.
Marquez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cejudo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Josie Marquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick from Marquez misses.
Josie Marquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marquez misses with a hook

and Cejudo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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!
Cejudo preventing the sweep.
Cejudo wants to control from the top but Marquez keeps moving.
Marquez trying to control the position here.
Marquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Josie Marquez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Marquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cejudo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marquez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cejudo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marquez misses the shot to the body.
Marquez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Marquez fails to land with a series of punches.
Marquez lands a jab to the head.
Cejudo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Cejudo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marquez tries to bum rush Cejudo with a series of wild strikes but Cejudo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cejudo closes the distance and pushes Marquez back into the cage.
Marquez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cejudo can't get the takedown.
Marquez has had enough of the clinch but Cejudo keeps him there for the moment.
Marquez is trying to break free.

Cejudo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Marquez can't fight it off and eventually Cejudo manages to take the fight to the floor. Marquez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cejudo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marquez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josie Marquez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Henry Cejudo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Marquez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cejudo at a distance.
Marquez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Cejudo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marquez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marquez is trying to get back to half guard.
Cejudo creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Marquez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cejudo throws a strike aimed at the side of Marquez's head but Marquez avoids it well.
Cejudo has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cejudo controlling from the full mount.
Marquez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
BOOM! Cejudo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Marquez blocking the ground and pound.
Marquez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cejudo unloads with some shots from mount but Marquez bucks and avoids them well.
Cejudo tries to control but Marquez wriggling away.
Cejudo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marquez blocking the ground and pound.
Marquez is squirming around, avoiding Cejudo's attempts to control the action.
Marquez gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez is refusing to be controlled, as Cejudo sits in half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Marquez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Marquez looking to control.
Cejudo trying to control but Marquez is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Henry Cejudo just wasn't active enough.
Marquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marquez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Marquez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cejudo moves away.

Cejudo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Marquez tries to get to full guard but Cejudo has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cejudo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Cejudo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Henry Cejudo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marquez misses with a series of wild punches.
Josie Marquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cejudo looks to land a combination but Marquez avoids it well.
Marquez throws out a loose jab but Cejudo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cejudo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Marquez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cejudo scrambles back to his feet.
A punch combination from Marquez misses.
Marquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cejudo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Cejudo. No joy for Marquez on that attempt.
Cejudo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marquez circles away.
Marquez loads up on a big right hand but Cejudo slips the punch.
Marquez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Marquez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cejudo counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cejudo.
Cejudo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Cejudo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cejudo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Marquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Cejudo.
Cejudo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marquez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Marquez gets underhooks to prevent Cejudo's takedown attempt.

Cejudo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Marquez regains guard.
Marquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Marquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marquez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cejudo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Josie Marquez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cejudo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marquez.
Cejudo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cejudo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Marquez misses with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cejudo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marquez lands a jab to Cejudo's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cejudo fails with a takedown attempt.
Cejudo misses with a takedown attempt - Marquez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marquez lands a jab to Cejudo's midsection.
Marquez tests Cejudo's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Marquez closes the distance and pushes Cejudo back into the cage.
Marquez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cejudo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cejudo throws a big elbow that misses.
Marquez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cejudo is looking to control Marquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cejudo avoid being mounted?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marquez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cejudo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marquez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josie Marquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marquez 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josie Marquez!
Josie Marquez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.