PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zoran Markovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Markovic comes to the cage accompanied by Jimmy Cornett - Rollin 81. Blake comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dead Man kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Markovic
vs
Blake

168 cm
34
139 lbs
23 - 9 - 3

160 cm
27
141 lbs
21 - 10 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

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 23 - 9 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Zoran Markovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, William Blake!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Blake misses
and Markovic counters with a straight right hand.
A thudding body kick lands there by Markovic!
Blake's jab looks to have found its range, popping Markovic under the eye.
Markovic throws a hook to the side of Blake's head but Blake sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It seemed like Blake was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Blake lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Markovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blake throws out the jab.
It looked like Markovic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Blake scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ground and pound from Blake seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Blake looking to control but instead Markovic has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blake not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blake throwing shots but Markovic is blocking nicely.
Blake not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Markovic taking some punishment here, with Blake in his half guard.
Markovic is trying to maintain the position but Blake is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markovic is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Blake is looking to take a break and control but Markovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blake missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Blake is trying to control. Markovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Blake not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blake is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Blake is looking for a kimura but Markovic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Blake to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blake working over Markovic with some ground and pound. Markovic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Blake is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Markovic defends it well.
Blake thows a huge punch but Markovic dodges it nicely.
Blake uses his free foot to push down on Markovic's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Markovic.
Markovic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Blake pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Markovic holds on to Blake as tight as he can, avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake lands a big elbow.
Markovic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
BOOM! Blake connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Blake goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Markovic is on top in guard.
Markovic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Blake 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake keeping moving, preventing Markovic from controlling successfully.
Blake looking to hit a scissor sweep but Markovic is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Blake dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Blake bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Markovic looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Blake scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Markovic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blake tries to land a leg kick but Markovic saw it coming and moves away.
Blake fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Blake tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Markovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Blake.
Blake lands a nice looking body kick.
Blake misses with an uppercut. Markovic saw that one coming.
Markovic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Blake throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
William Blake seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Markovic misses with a wild body shot.
Markovic throws a right hand that misses

and Blake counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Markovic!
Blake has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!

Blake is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Markovic has escaped the position, nice work there.
A lull in the action here as Blake stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake trying to control the position but Markovic is working away.
Markovic wants to control but Blake postures up.
Markovic gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Blake wants to take a breather but Markovic is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Blake trying to control the pace.
Blake prevents Markovic from improving his position.

Blake is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Markovic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Markovic trying to hold on to Blake's head to control him but Blake postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blake wants to pass the guard but Markovic is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Markovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blake.
Markovic works Blake's body with a nice hook.
Markovic scores with a jab.
Markovic throws an overhand right that lands on Blake's shoulder, as Blake tries to avoid the shot.
Blake swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Blake throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Markovic on the side of the head.
Markovic scores with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Markovic.
Markovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Markovic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Markovic wants it to stay on the feet.
Blake lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Markovic at a distance.
Markovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blake manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markovic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Markovic is looking to land body kicks.
Blake takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Markovic swings for the body but Blake moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Blake, as that shot connected.
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!
Markovic slips under a jab.
Markovic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Blake looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Markovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blake checks a low kick from Markovic.
The fighters circling - Markovic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blake is looking to slow Markovic down with leg kicks.
Blake throws a nice inside leg kick.
Markovic uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Blake lands a leg kick that knocks Markovic off balance momentarily.
Markovic moves out of range of the body kick.
Markovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blake.
It seemed like Blake was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Zoran Markovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markovic connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Blake momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but William Blake will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Markovic is looking to score with low kicks.
Markovic chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Blake can pounce on him.
Markovic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blake.
Markovic throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Blake misses with a series of wild punches.
Markovic takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Markovic slips a straight right by Blake.
Markovic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Markovic walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Markovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Blake is just out of range.
Markovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Blake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blake manages to avoid it.
Blake with the counter takedown but Markovic avoids it easily.
Blake takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Markovic lands a glancing blow to the side of Blake's head.
Blake has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Markovic clobbers Blake with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Blake turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake shoots in and drives through. Markovic sprawls well.
Blake misses with a body kick.
Markovic slips a jab and a cross from Blake.
Blake works Markovic's body with a nice hook.
Both fighters circling a little - Markovic finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Blake swings for the body but Markovic moves out of range.
Markovic on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Markovic throws a leg kick which misses Blake's front leg but catches the back leg as Blake tries to avoid it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Blake.
Blake throws a body shot but no joy.
Blake has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Blake misses with a straight right.
Blake throws a shot from downtown. Markovic moves away and avoids it.
Blake thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blake takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Markovic.
Blake looks to land a left hand but Markovic moved out of range nicely.
Blake moves away from the strike by Markovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake lands a jab to the head.
Markovic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blake.
A decent looking cross lands there for Blake.
Blake pushes Markovic away with a front kick.
Blake keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Markovic.
Blake lands a leg kick that knocks Markovic off balance momentarily.
Markovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Blake. Blake gets slowly back to his feet.
Markovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Good leg kick by Markovic there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Blake.
Blake cracks Markovic with a big elbow.
Blake grinds an elbow into Markovic's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markovic wants to get back to his feet.
Markovic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Blake's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Markovic kicks Blake off and gets back to his feet.
Markovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Markovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Markovic misses with a straight right.
Markovic missing with a left hand there. Blake was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Markovic wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Markovic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little jabbing left from Blake on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Markovic swings for the body but Blake moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Blake is just out of range.
Blake moves out of range as Markovic strikes.
Blake works Markovic's body with a nice hook.
Blake jabs Markovic to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Markovic loads up on a big right hand but Blake slips the punch.
Blake looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Markovic stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Blake.
Zoran Markovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Markovic fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Blake is out of range.
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!
Markovic looks to throw the jab but Blake is out of range.
Markovic scores with a jab to the body.
Markovic throws a nice outside leg kick.
Blake connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Markovic momentarily.
Markovic throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Blake counters with a shoot takedown. Markovic fights it but they end up in guard.
Blake trying to control but Markovic is working from the bottom.
Markovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Blake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blake 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Blake!
William Blake decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.