PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krabis Kropelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marquez
vs
Kropelis

177 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

174 cm
20
145 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Krabis Kropelis!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kropelis lands with an overhand left.
Kropelis lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kropelis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marquez is fending him off so far but Kropelis persists. Nope, Marquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Kropelis has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Marquez is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Marquez goes for a double leg but Kropelis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kropelis continues to drive forward.
Marquez throws a leg kick that misses.

Kropelis gets a takedown into half guard.
Marquez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marquez.
Kropelis won't allow Marquez to sweep him here.
Kropelis trying to control but Marquez is working from the bottom.
Kropelis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kropelis wants to stand and escape but instead Marquez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Kropelis working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez stopping the sweep attempt from Kropelis.

Kropelis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marquez wants to stand but Kropelis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kropelis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kropelis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kropelis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Marquez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kropelis has his hands on Marquez's head, controlling the position.
Kropelis wants to sweep here but Marquez controlling him for the moment.

Kropelis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marquez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marquez being controlled here momentarily.

Marquez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kropelis 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kropelis is looking to sweep but instead, Marquez has passed into half guard.
Marquez is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kropelis is not content to let Marquez control the position.
Kropelis keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four 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.
Kropelis wants to control but Marquez is keeping busy.
Kropelis wants to control the action here but instead Marquez manages to pass to full mount!
Marquez avoids the attempt from Kropelis to control.
Kropelis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marquez goes for an armbar but Kropelis turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kropelis.
Kropelis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krabis Kropelis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kropelis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marquez tries to avoid it but Kropelis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marquez to the ground. Marquez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kropelis misses with a wild combination.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kropelis.

Marquez throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Marquez motions for Kropelis to come forward. Marquez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kropelis cracks Marquez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice sprawl there from Marquez as Kropelis shoots in.
Kropelis lands an overhand right.
Kropelis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marquez as he avoids it easily.
Marquez lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Carlos Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Krabis Kropelis.
Marquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kropelis throws a counter combo.
Marquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kropelis is fending him off so far but Marquez persists. Nope, Kropelis circles away and we're back to standing.
Marquez throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kropelis counters with a one-two to the body.

Kropelis gets a double leg takedown into Marquez's guard.
Marquez is wriggling around but Kropelis manages to pass to half guard.

Kropelis is looking for a kimura but Marquez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kropelis to get the leverage.
Marquez wants to improve his position but Kropelis is controlling well.
Kropelis wants to take a breather but Marquez is having none of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kropelis in particular looking to stall.
Marquez pushes Kropelis off looking to stand but Kropelis dives back in and keeps control.

Kropelis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marquez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kropelis.
Kropelis stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kropelis working over Marquez with some ground and pound. Marquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kropelis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Marquez is looking to get back to full guard here but Kropelis has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Marquez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kropelis cracks Marquez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kropelis controlling the pace for now.

Kropelis working for a submission but Marquez is keeping him at bay.

Kropelis get's back to his feet.

Kropelis drives through with a takedown into Marquez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Marquez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Kropelis won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kropelis works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kropelis postures up.
Kropelis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kropelis pushes down on Marquez's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kropelis is trying to work for a kimura but Marquez is defending well.
Marquez trying to control but Kropelis postures up.
Marquez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kropelis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krabis Kropelis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Marquez dives in for a single leg takedown but Kropelis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kropelis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kropelis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marquez is fending him off so far but Kropelis persists. Nope, Marquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Krabis Kropelis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kropelis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Marquez!
Marquez tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Kropelis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marquez tries to hold on but Kropelis postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez is looking to get to half guard.
Marquez is bucking up trying to escape but Kropelis cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kropelis has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Marquez's face.
Kropelis looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kropelis is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Marquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kropelis pinned against the cage. Kropelis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Krabis Kropelis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kropelis's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kropelis duly obliges.
Marquez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marquez wants it to stay on the feet.
Kropelis slaps away a takedown attempt from Marquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Marquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez is looking to chop away at Kropelis's legs.
Kropelis scores with a jab.

Kropelis closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marquez to the mat! Marquez manages to get full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marquez keeping moving, preventing Kropelis from controlling successfully.
Kropelis looking to pass the guard.

Marquez is looking for a triangle but Kropelis pushes his legs off easily.
Marquez being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kropelis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kropelis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Marquez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Marquez being controlled here momentarily.

Kropelis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marquez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kropelis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kropelis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kropelis working a defensive guard here.

Kropelis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kropelis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krabis Kropelis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kropelis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krabis Kropelis!
A less than humble Krabis Kropelis misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.