PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Marksman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vernon Rookshaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rookshaw comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mouth for War kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Kyle Marksman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Vernon Rookshaw's chin.

Marksman
vs
Rookshaw

185 cm
23
189 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
198 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kyle Marksman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vernon Rookshaw!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marksman throws a nice looking combination but Rookshaw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marksman fails to land with a series of punches.
Rookshaw shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marksman pinned against the cage. Marksman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Rookshaw decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Marksman tries to get to full guard but Rookshaw has control of the leg.
Marksman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rookshaw.

Marksman looking for submissions off his back.
Marksman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rookshaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Marksman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marksman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rookshaw.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marksman is on top in guard.
Rookshaw keeping moving, preventing Marksman from controlling successfully.
Marksman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rookshaw trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marksman passes Rookshaw's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rookshaw tries to get to full guard but Marksman has control of the leg.

Rookshaw actively working from the bottom here.
Rookshaw misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rookshaw is trying to stand up here but Marksman is controlling him well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marksman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rookshaw's waist but Rookshaw gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marksman off to one side.
Rookshaw with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marksman counters with a one-two to the body.
Rookshaw looks gassed!
Marksman throws a nice looking combination but Rookshaw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rookshaw with a poor takedown

and Marksman counters with a single leg into guard. Rookshaw didn't expect that.
Kyle Marksman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vernon Rookshaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rookshaw wants to sweep but no luck.
Marksman scoring with some ground and pound.
Marksman wants to control from the top but Rookshaw keeps moving.
Rookshaw looking for a sweep. Not yet Rookshaw, not yet.
Marksman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marksman trying to control but Rookshaw is working from the bottom.

Rookshaw isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Marksman stacks Rookshaw on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Marksman!

Marksman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Marksman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marksman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rookshaw some visible discomfort.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rookshaw can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rookshaw is looking to reverse the position.
Rookshaw gets back to half guard.

Marksman wants to work for an arm triangle but Rookshaw is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Marksman trying to mount his opponent but Rookshaw defends it.
Rookshaw flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Marksman is working for a kimura but Rookshaw is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rookshaw misses with some strikes from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rookshaw uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marksman.
Rookshaw with a poor takedown
and Marksman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rookshaw changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marksman tries to avoid it but Rookshaw manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marksman to the ground. Marksman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Marksman lands a jab to the head.
Marksman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rookshaw circles away quickly and effectively.
Rookshaw shoots for a double leg takedown but Marksman sprawls well. He's pushed Rookshaw's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marksman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marksman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rookshaw circles away quickly and effectively.
Marksman misses with a kick to the body.
Rookshaw looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marksman is fending him off so far but Rookshaw persists. Nope, Marksman circles away and we're back to standing.
Decent striking displayed by Marksman there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Marksman fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rookshaw sprawls well initially but Marksman persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Marksman passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rookshaw really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Marksman is going olschool here, as he tries to force Rookshaw to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rookshaw shrugs it off.
Rookshaw is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rookshaw manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Marksman blocks the strikes from Rookshaw.
Rookshaw moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marksman lands with a nice combination. Rookshaw backs away looking to recover.
Rookshaw tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marksman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rookshaw misses with a takedown attempt
and Marksman counters with a series of strikes. Rookshaw will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rookshaw misses with a takedown attempt
and Marksman counters with a left to the body.

Marksman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rookshaw!
Marksman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rookshaw is trying to escape the mount.

Marksman is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rookshaw has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Marksman working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Marksman won't let Rookshaw get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rookshaw is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Marksman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rookshaw?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marksman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kyle Marksman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rookshaw swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Rookshaw is bucking up trying to escape but Marksman cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Marksman landing shots from mount.
Marksman tries to control but Rookshaw wriggling away.
Rookshaw bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rookshaw cracks Marksman with a solid left hand.
Marksman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rookshaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Marksman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marksman tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw looking to pass the guard.
Marksman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rookshaw's guard.
Marksman preventing the sweep.
Rookshaw keeping moving, preventing Marksman from controlling successfully.
Rookshaw 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.
Marksman scoring with some ground and pound.
Marksman scoring with some ground and pound.
Rookshaw looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marksman is one step ahead there.

Marksman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rookshaw doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Marksman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kyle Marksman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vernon Rookshaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw has his takedown stuffed

and Marksman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rookshaw won't be happy with that.
Rookshaw gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Marksman pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Marksman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rookshaw bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Marksman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rookshaw is controlling him.
Marksman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rookshaw lands a couple of elbows.
Rookshaw cracks Marksman with a solid left hand.
Rookshaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marksman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rookshaw wants to stand but Marksman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rookshaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Marksman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marksman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rookshaw throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Marksman landing strikes from the mount and Rookshaw is in trouble!
Marksman lands a nice shot to the head.
Rookshaw is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rookshaw throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Marksman is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rookshaw can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Marksman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marksman looking to finish Rookshaw with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rookshaw!
Marksman blocks Rookshaw's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Marksman dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rookshaw misses with a takedown attempt
and Marksman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Marksman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rookshaw doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marksman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rookshaw wants to improve his position but Marksman is controlling well.
Rookshaw is staying active underneath Marksman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Marksman wants to pass the guard but Rookshaw is defending well.
Marksman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rookshaw landing a few short strikes.
Rookshaw is looking to improve his position.
Rookshaw is refusing to be controlled, as Marksman sits in half guard.

Marksman is working for a kimura but Rookshaw is defending it quite comfortably.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rookshaw shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Marksman counters with a left and a right that stings Rookshaw.
Kyle Marksman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vernon Rookshaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marksman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Marksman showed some decent athleticism there.
Rookshaw is looking for a sweep. Marksman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marksman working over Rookshaw with some ground and pound. Rookshaw looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rookshaw is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marksman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marksman's back!
Rookshaw doesn't have the hooks in and Marksman manages to turn into his guard.
Marksman stands and throws Rookshaw's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Marksman working away.

Marksman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rookshaw to his feet.
Marksman scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rookshaw throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marksman's waist but Marksman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rookshaw off to one side.
Rookshaw with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marksman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rookshaw with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rookshaw takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marksman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rookshaw's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marksman trying to control but Rookshaw is working from the bottom.
Marksman won't allow Rookshaw to sweep him here.

Marksman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Marksman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Marksman is looking to work some ground and pound but Rookshaw has wrist control.
Rookshaw manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rookshaw lands a big elbow.
Rookshaw landing strikes from the mount.

Rookshaw is going olschool here, as he tries to force Marksman to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Marksman shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rookshaw punching from mount but Marksman doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Rookshaw jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Marksman manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Marksman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rookshaw's best efforts.

Rookshaw is working for a kimura but Marksman is defending it quite comfortably.
Rookshaw thows a huge punch but Marksman dodges it nicely.
Marksman gets full guard.
Marksman wants to sweep here but Rookshaw controlling him for the moment.
Marksman is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rookshaw landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four 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.
Rookshaw preventing the sweep.
Vernon Rookshaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rookshaw stands and steps away. Marksman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kyle Marksman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rookshaw blocks a jab.
A left lands for Marksman.
Rookshaw shoots and misses
and Marksman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marksman misses with a wild combination.
Rookshaw shoots in looking for a takedown. Marksman tries to sprawl out of it but Rookshaw keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marksman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marksman scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rookshaw changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marksman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rookshaw blocks the strikes from Marksman.
Marksman manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kyle Marksman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rookshaw looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Marksman is keen to just control but Rookshaw is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Marksman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marksman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Marksman!