PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Marfaker (ranked 914 p4p, 142 weight class) and Zsiga Venczel (ranked 1039 p4p, 160 weight class). Juan Marfaker could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Zsiga Venczel's chin.

Marfaker
vs
Venczel

208 cm
32
220 lbs
23 - 10 - 0

192 cm
29
220 lbs
23 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Marfaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zsiga Venczel!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marfaker scores with a hook to the body. Venczel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Marfaker takes a swing at Venczel's ribcage but misses.
Venczel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marfaker.

Venczel drives through and clinches with Marfaker against the cage.
Marfaker lands an elbow just above Venczel 's eye.

It looks like Zsiga Venczel has been cut.
Marfaker swings wildly with an uppercut but Venczel uses good head movement to avoid it.

Marfaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marfaker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Venczel misses with a wild body shot.
We've been informed that Venczel has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Nice jab there from Marfaker.
Marfaker moves out of range of the strikes.
Marfaker digs a good body shot into Venczel's ribs.
Venczel tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Marfaker defends well and Venczel ends up having to push Marfaker into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Marfaker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marfaker looks to land a body kick but Venczel moved away.
Venczel has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Venczel gets a double leg takedown into Marfaker's guard.
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.
Venczel throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Venczel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Marfaker is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Venczel, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Venczel throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Marfaker escapes and throws Venczel's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Venczel tries to improve position but can't.
Venczel has one of Marfaker's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Venczel is looking to regain half guard here but Marfaker keeps moving and retains side control.
Venczel is trying to strike from the bottom but Marfaker has passed into full mount.

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.
Venczel regains half guard.
Venczel wants to get back to full guard.

Venczel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Venczel regains full guard. Nicely done.

Venczel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Marfaker has picked Venczel up and slammed him! Venczel can't keep hold of the triangle and Marfaker manages to pass to side control!
Venczel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Venczel trying his best to control but Marfaker has mounted him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venczel is desperately trying to improve his position but Marfaker has a good base and remains in mount.
Venczel is still trying to improve position.
Marfaker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Venczel is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marfaker looking to control but Venczel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marfaker avoids the attempt from Venczel to control.
Venczel working to try and regain half guard.
Venczel is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venczel keeps trying to improve his position.
Marfaker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Venczel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Venczel throwing hammer fists to the chest of Marfaker. What's that going to do exactly?
Marfaker prevents Venczel from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Marfaker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zsiga Venczel'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.

Venczel misses with an uppercut. Marfaker saw that one coming.
Marfaker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Marfaker lands with a shot to the body.
Venczel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marfaker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Venczel momentarily.
Marfaker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Venczel misses with an uppercut.
Marfaker jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Venczel takes a swing at Marfaker's ribcage but misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Marfaker. Venczel shrugs it off though.
Venczel looks to throw the jab but Marfaker is out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Marfaker there.
Venczel tries to clinch up.
Marfaker is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice defenses there by Marfaker.
Venczel misses with a looping right.
Marfaker is looking to counter with a body kick.
Marfaker staying out of range there.
Marfaker is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marfaker slips under a jab.
Venczel is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Venczel throws a series of punches but Marfaker avoids them all with ease.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Marfaker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Venczel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marfaker connects with a good right hand that stumbles Venczel. Venczel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Venczel tries for a takedown but Marfaker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Venczel throws a sloppy body shot
and Marfaker counters with a stiff right hand.
Marfaker ducks under a wild hook from Venczel.
Venczel moves forwards but Marfaker connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Marfaker cracks the inside of Venczel's front leg.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Marfaker.
Marfaker digs a good hook to Venczel's body.
Marfaker fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Venczel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Venczel feints and then cracks Marfaker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Marfaker down.
Marfaker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Marfaker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marfaker throws a leg kick which misses Venczel's front leg but catches the back leg as Venczel tries to avoid it.
Marfaker on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Marfaker lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Venczel moves into range and clinches up with Marfaker.
Marfaker misses with a body punch.
Venczel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marfaker is defending well for now.
Venczel tries a knee to the head but Marfaker blocks it.

Venczel gets control of Marfaker's arms and successfully pulls guard. Venczel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Marfaker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Marfaker 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.
Venczel controls Marfaker momentarily but Marfaker frees himself.
Marfaker stopping the sweep attempt from Venczel.
Venczel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Venczel looking for subs off his back but Marfaker has passed one foot through into half guard.

Venczel looking for submissions off his back.

Venczel looking for submissions off his back.
Marfaker slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marfaker prevents Venczel from improving his position.

Venczel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Venczel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Venczel wants to control but Marfaker passes into side.
Venczel is trying to improve his position.
Venczel gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Marfaker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zsiga Venczel's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice body punch from Marfaker.
Marfaker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marfaker throws a leg kick which misses Venczel's front leg but catches the back leg as Venczel tries to avoid it.
Marfaker scores with a spinning back kick!
Marfaker throws a sloppy head kick
and Venczel counters with a nice uppercut.
Marfaker throws a push kick but Venczel slaps the foot to one side.
Marfaker chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Venczel tries to clinch but Marfaker is having none of it.
Venczel throws a body kick that misses.
Marfaker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Venczel.
Good work by Marfaker as he checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marfaker throws a wild body kick that Venczel sees coming a mile off.
A big left from Marfaker misses.
Marfaker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Venczel tries to clinch but Marfaker moves away
and Marfaker makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Venczel really felt that one!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marfaker, right into the meat.
Marfaker tries a head kick but it misses.
Venczel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marfaker throws a leg kick which misses Venczel's front leg but catches the back leg as Venczel tries to avoid it.
Venczel with a poor takedown
and Marfaker counters with a straight right hand.
Marfaker scores with a hook to the body. Venczel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Venczel tries to clinch up but Marfaker circles away and keeps his distance.
Marfaker looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Venczel takes one on the button.
Venczel fails in his attempt to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Marfaker.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marfaker. Venczel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marfaker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Venczel manages to avoid it.
Venczel looks to clinch
and Venczel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Venczel connects with a jab.
Venczel blocks a jab.
Venczel tries to clinch but Marfaker moves out of range.
Marfaker throws a jab when Venczel was well out of range.
Venczel shoots in but no luck this time.
Juan Marfaker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Marfaker.
Marfaker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Marfaker uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Venczel tries to clinch up.
Marfaker wants to land a leg kick but Venczel is out of range.
Venczel takes a jab right on the kisser.
Marfaker stuffs the takedown attempt from Venczel. Venczel gets slowly back to his feet.
Juan Marfaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zsiga Venczel.
Venczel dives in for a single leg takedown but Marfaker sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A low kick from Marfaker is predictable there
and Venczel counters with a nice uppercut.
That kick from Marfaker tenderised Venczel's leg. Venczel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Venczel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marfaker.
Venczel appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Venczel's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Venczel takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Juan Marfaker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marfaker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marfaker sizes up Venczel with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Marfaker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Venczel has time to react.
Venczel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Venczel there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venczel throws a hook but Marfaker blocks it.

Venczel moves into the clinch successfully.
Venczel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marfaker blocks it with crossed arms.
Marfaker blocks a body shot from Venczel.
Marfaker avoids the elbow strike from Venczel, against the cage.
Venczel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marfaker is defending well for now.
Marfaker blocking some punches.
Venczel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Marfaker dodges an elbow strike from Venczel.
Marfaker blocks the elbow strike.
Venczel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venczel misses with a body punch.
Zsiga Venczel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Venczel has a couple of punches blocked by Marfaker.
Venczel pushes off an throws an elbow but Marfaker leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Venczel tries a knee to the head but Marfaker blocks it.
Venczel struggles to land a body shot inside as Marfaker controls his hands.

Venczel decides to pull guard.
Venczel working a defensive guard here.
Marfaker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Marfaker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Venczel's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Marfaker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marfaker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

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