PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luis Perez Saavedra (ranked 4616 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francisco Marquez (ranked 3523 p4p, 0 weight class). Saavedra has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Perez Saavedra
vs
Marquez

173 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Luis Perez Saavedra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francisco Marquez!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marquez shoots in for a takedown but Saavedra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Saavedra misses with a few strikes there.
Saavedra misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Horrible takedown attempt by Saavedra or perhaps it was just good defense by Marquez, which made it look bad.
Saavedra is looking to clinch.
Marquez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saavedra but Saavedra pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick misses from Marquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saavedra misses with a body shot.
Marquez goes for a double leg but Saavedra avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Saavedra continues to drive forward.
Luis Perez Saavedra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Marquez.
Saavedra fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Marquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Saavedra is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marquez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saavedra avoids it really well and circles away.
Marquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick from Marquez lands but Saavedra takes it in his stride.
Marquez shoots in but Saavedra avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saavedra looks to throw the jab but Marquez is out of range.
Marquez circles away from the clinch attempt.
A leg kick checked by Saavedra.
Saavedra throws a big counter combination but Marquez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Marquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Saavedra manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown but Saavedra shows good takedown defense.
Saavedra tries to counter by clinching up but Marquez breaks away and moves out of range.

Saavedra drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Saavedra engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saavedra passes Marquez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Marquez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marquez.
Saavedra won't allow Marquez to sweep him here.
Marquez trying to keep a closed guard but Saavedra is proving a slippery customer.
Marquez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marquez working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marquez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saavedra controls the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Marquez trying to keep a closed guard but Saavedra is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Marquez tries to clinch but Saavedra moves out of range.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown but Saavedra shows good takedown defense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saavedra tries to keep at a distance but Marquez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marquez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Perez Saavedra dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Marquez shoots in but Saavedra avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saavedra tries to clinch up.
Marquez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Saavedra moves into the clinch.

Saavedra manages to break the clinch.
Marquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Saavedra counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Marquez thinking.
Luis Perez Saavedra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Marquez.
Marquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saavedra defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marquez.
Horrible takedown attempt by Saavedra or perhaps it was just good defense by Marquez, which made it look bad.
Luis Perez Saavedra is winning the standup battle so far.
Marquez avoids the head kick by Saavedra.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Marquez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Saavedra is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marquez can do to turn this around?
Marquez looks for a takedown but Saavedra sprawls well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saavedra.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saavedra but Saavedra pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice body punch from Marquez.
Saavedra displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marquez.

Saavedra shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marquez's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez trying to strike off his back.
Marquez is looking to stand up but Saavedra isn't so interested in that idea.
Marquez managing to control the position.
Marquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Marquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saavedra with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Marquez trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Saavedra wants to clinch.
Saavedra steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Marquez. That one must have hurt.
Marquez shoots in for a double leg but Saavedra sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

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.
Saavedra stuffs the takedown.
Marquez goes for a double leg but Saavedra avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Saavedra continues to drive forward.
Marquez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marquez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Marquez.
Marquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saavedra tries to clinch up but Marquez circles away and keeps his distance.
Despite the aggression on Marquez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saavedra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saavedra swats away the attempt to clinch by Marquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Perez Saavedra dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Saavedra fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Marquez shoots in and drives through. Saavedra sprawls well.
Luis Perez Saavedra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saavedra fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marquez darts in looking for a takedown but Saavedra gets double underhooks and turns Marquez into the cage.
Marquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Saavedra went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saavedra as he jumps to the side.
Luis Perez Saavedra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Marquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saavedra but Saavedra pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saavedra is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Saavedra looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marquez is fending him off so far but Saavedra persists. Nope, Marquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Saavedra throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marquez's waist but Marquez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saavedra off to one side.
Some wild striking there from Marquez.
Marquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saavedra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saavedra wants to clinch
and Marquez counters with a left and a right that stings Saavedra.
Marquez misses with a head kick.
Marquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Saavedra swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saavedra avoids the head kick by Marquez.
Saavedra half committed to a counter leg kick.
Marquez has a takedown stuffed.
Saavedra half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Saavedra is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marquez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marquez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Marquez misses with a takedown attempt - Saavedra sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Saavedra shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez wants to control the action here but instead Saavedra manages to pass to full mount!
Marquez is looking to get to half guard.
Saavedra thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Marquez is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saavedra takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marquez is working to get back to half guard.
Marquez wants to control but Saavedra is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saavedra looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Francisco Marquez.
I think Saavedra has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Perez Saavedra!