PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Matarl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matty Markos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matty Markos told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Matarl
vs
Markos

186 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Matarl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matty Markos!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markos swats away the attempt to clinch by Matarl.
Matarl wants to clinch up but Markos keeps it at a distance.
Markos is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Matarl.
Matarl walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Markos checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Matarl throws a lazy head kick

and Markos counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Matarl!
Matarl has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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.

Markos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Markos throws a strike aimed at the side of Matarl's head but Matarl avoids it well.
Matarl is trying to improve his position.
Markos working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matarl keeps working.
Markos tries to stand but Matarl is controlling his head.
Markos wants to take a breather but Matarl manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Markos.
Matarl avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matarl utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Markos wants to control from the top but Matarl keeps moving.

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.
Matarl working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Markos.
Markos preventing the sweep.
Markos trying to control the position from guard on top but Matarl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matarl keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matarl tries to clinch but Markos is having none of it.
Markos steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Matarl.
A looping hook to the body misses from Markos. Matarl does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matarl fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matarl throws a body punch but Markos moves out of range.
Jason Matarl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matarl fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Markos or perhaps it was just good defense by Matarl, which made it look bad.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matarl is defended easily by Markos.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Matarl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matarl is breathing heavily.
Matarl tries to clinch up but Markos circles away and keeps his distance.
Matarl changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Markos tries to avoid it but Matarl manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Markos to the ground. Markos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Markos fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Matarl to the ground. Markos is now in Matarl's guard.

Matarl is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Markos gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Markos is working for a kimura but Matarl is defending it quite comfortably.
Markos looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Markos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Markos is trying to control. Matarl wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Matarl is looking to control Markos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matarl avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matty Markos will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Markos fails with the takedown.
Matarl has a takedown stuffed.
Markos shapes to counter with a head kick.
Markos takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Matarl pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And Markos tries to counter it with a takedown but Matarl pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Matarl missing with a left hand there. Markos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matarl tries to clinch there but Markos circles away.
Markos walks into a straight right hand from Matarl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matarl throws a hook but Markos avoids it easily.
Matarl throws a leg kick

and Markos counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Matarl!

Matarl explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Markos takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Markos closes the distance and pushes Matarl back into the cage.
Matarl's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A right hand to the body from Markos.
Markos jumps guard but Matarl stands there with Markos around his waist. Markos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matarl tries to pull guard but Markos forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Markos misses with an elbow over the top.
Markos misses with an elbow over the top.
Markos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matarl is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jason Matarl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matty Markos.

Markos jumps guard and drags Matarl to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Matarl stopping the sweep attempt from Markos.
Matarl trying to control but Markos is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matarl throws an elbow that misses. Markos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matarl's guard. Nice move by Markos!

Matarl has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Markos has passed into side control.
Matarl struggling a bit here.
Markos creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Matarl sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Markos wants to stand but Matarl has his arm trapped.
Markos is looking to take a break and control but Matarl is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markos advances nicely into full mount.
Markos looking to control but Matarl is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Markos is looking to stand but Matarl has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matarl tries to hold on but Markos pushes him away.
Matarl is looking to improve his position but Markos isn't that keen on the idea.
Markos throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Matarl because Markos loaded up on that one.
Markos can't control as he wanted to and Matarl manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Matarl is refusing to be controlled, as Markos sits in half guard.
Markos seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matty Markos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Matarl keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matarl is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Markos.
Markos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matarl's waist but Matarl gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Markos off to one side.
Matarl punishes Markos's body with a nice straight punch.
Matarl looks for a takedown but Markos sprawls well.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matarl!

Markos has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Markos has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Matarl uses from the top position.
Markos is looking to stand back up but Matarl counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Markos.
Matarl performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markos is looking to improve his position.
Markos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matarl's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matarl's back!
Matarl covering up well and avoiding damage.
Markos struggling to keep hold of the position.
Markos controlling well, preventing Matarl from escaping the position.
Markos trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Markos looking for the choke from the back.

Matarl showing good submission defense here.
Matarl is keeping busy.
Markos is hanging on to Matarl's back as he tries to escape.
Matarl covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markos trying to control momentarily.
Matarl avoids the strikes from Markos.

Markos is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Matarl defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Markos has his opponent's back but Matarl is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Markos.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markos darts in and clinches Matarl up against the cage.
Matarl is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Markos jumps into guard, dragging Matarl to the mat.
Markos working a defensive guard here.

Matarl has gone for a leg lock! Markos slips out almost immediately though and dives into Matarl's guard.

Matarl avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jason Matarl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matty Markos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Markos 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matty Markos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Markos 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matty Markos!
After winning the bout, Matty Markos thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.