PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Avery Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Pistone (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.

Marquez
vs
Pistone

165 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Avery Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Pistone!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pistone shoots for a takedown but Marquez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marquez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Pistone avoids the head kick by Marquez.

Pistone closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pistone tries to break the clinch but Marquez is controlling the position.
Marquez really is a fat lump.
Marquez has Pistone pressed against the cage.
Pistone jumps guard but Marquez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Pistone lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Pistone.

It looks like Avery Marquez has been cut.

Marquez tightens his grip and picks Pistone up, before dumping him to the ground. Pistone manages to land in guard.

Pistone uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pistone fails to land the takedown.
Avery Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Pistone.

Pistone rushes Marquez and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pistone closes the distance and clinches up with Marquez, looking for a takedown. Pistone pushes Marquez against the cage but Marquez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marquez tries to counter by clinching up but Pistone breaks away and moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marquez.
Pistone looks to land a body kick but Marquez moved away.

Pistone drops Marquez with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Marquez looks back up at him and smiles so Pistone waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pistone is defended easily by Marquez.
Marquez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Pistone pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marquez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Joseph Pistone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pistone clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marquez prevents a body shot from Pistone.
Marquez is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Marquez manages to pull guard.

Marquez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pistone passes into half guard.
Pistone looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pistone tries to pass to full mount but Marquez defends it.
Pistone perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pistone stops Marquez from getting back to his feet.
Marquez trying to control here.
Pistone throwing shots but Marquez is blocking nicely.
Pistone is trying to control the action in half guard but Marquez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pistone with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Marquez is looking to get back to full guard here but Pistone has managed to pass to side control instead.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pistone throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Marquez wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pistone gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pistone is trying to break the clinch but Marquez is controlling him.

Marquez gets control of Pistone's arms and successfully pulls guard. Marquez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Marquez keeping full guard, as Pistone tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pistone throwing strikes from guard but Marquez blocks nicely.

Pistone gets to his feet. Marquez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Pistone dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Avery Marquez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pistone moves into the clinch successfully.
Marquez fails to pull guard.
Marquez tries to pull guard but Pistone forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Marquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pistone.
Marquez tries to stall but Pistone uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Marquez tries to pull guard but Pistone holds him up against the cage and eventually Marquez drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Avery Marquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marquez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pistone walks away with a smile on his face. Marquez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pistone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marquez misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Marquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pistone shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As Pistone looks to move away, Marquez throws a big counter combo bu Pistone just gets out of the way.
Marquez misses with a head kick.
Marquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pistone counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pistone fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marquez, pushing him back against the cage.

Pistone pulls guard effortlessly.

Pistone working for a triangle but Marquez defends it easily.
Marquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Pistone wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pistone connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pistone tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Marquez defends well and Pistone ends up having to push Marquez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Pistone shoots in but no luck this time.
Pistone fails with a takedown attempt.
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!

Pistone clinches up with Marquez and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pistone lands a left hand that snaps the head of Marquez backwards.
Pistone leaning against his opponent.
Marquez is trying to pull guard but Pistone has him pressed against the cage.

Pistone manages to pull guard.
Pistone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marquez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Marquez being controlled here momentarily.
Marquez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pistone is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pistone is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marquez is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Pistone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Avery Marquez's cut.
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!

Pistone wants to clinch up but Marquez keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Marquez tries to pull guard but Pistone holds him up against the cage and eventually Marquez drops back down to his feet.
Pistone missing with knees to the body.
Marquez is trying to pull guard but Pistone has him pressed against the cage.
Marquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pistone has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pistone gets control of Marquez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pistone will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Pistone throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Pistone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marquez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marquez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pistone is pulling down on Marquez's head. It's preventing any offense from Marquez, at least for the moment.
Pistone utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pistone wants to control but Marquez passes easily into half guard.

That's two 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.
Pistone regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pistone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pistone trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pistone shoots in looking for a takedown but Marquez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pistone's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Marquez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pistone looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Marquez lands a leg kick that knocks Pistone off balance momentarily.
Pistone shoots for a double leg takedown but Marquez sprawls well. He's pushed Pistone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pistone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marquez lands with a kick to the temple. Pistone shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Marquez throws a leg kick
and Pistone counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marquez wants it to stay on the feet.
Avery Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Pistone.
Pistone fails with a takedown attempt.
Pistone throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Marquez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Avery Marquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pistone tries to clinch up.
Marquez looks to land a combination but Pistone avoids it well.
Marquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pistone stuffs the takedown.
Pistone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marquez as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez misses with a head kick.
Pistone tries to clinch up but Marquez circles away and keeps his distance.
Marquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Pistone. No joy for Marquez on that attempt.
Pistone tries to counter by closing the distance.
Pistone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marquez pinned against the cage. Marquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pistone tries to clinch but Marquez is having none of it.
Avery Marquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joseph Pistone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Marquez throws a lazy head kick
and Pistone counters with a left and a right that stings Marquez.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Avery Marquez.
I think Pistone 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Pistone!