PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tsyuoshi Taranaki (ranked 4409 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francisco Marquez (ranked 5382 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taranaki
vs
Marquez

175 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

182 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tsyuoshi Taranaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francisco Marquez!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taranaki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taranaki wants to clinch.
Marquez punishes Taranaki's body with a nice straight punch.
Marquez's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Marquez duly obliges.
Nice takedown defense from Taranaki. No joy for Marquez on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marquez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Taranaki checks a leg kick nicely.
Marquez tries for a takedown but Taranaki circles away easily

and Taranaki counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez tries to pull guard but Taranaki won't allow it.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Marquez.
Taranaki wants a takedown.

Taranaki decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taranaki is looking for a triangle but Marquez pushes his legs off easily.
Marquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Taranaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marquez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taranaki keeping moving, preventing Marquez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki has a closed guard, preventing Marquez from standing up.
Marquez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Taranaki keeping moving, preventing Marquez from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Taranaki 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 Taranaki off to one side.
Taranaki has a takedown stuffed.
Taranaki darts in looking for a takedown but Marquez gets double underhooks and turns Taranaki into the cage.
Marquez darts in looking for a takedown but Taranaki gets double underhooks and turns Marquez into the cage.
Taranaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Marquez.
Taranaki tries to counter by clinching up but Marquez breaks away and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Taranaki lands a body shot.
Marquez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Marquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Taranaki.
Nice sprawl there from Marquez as Taranaki shoots in.
Taranaki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marquez looks winded!
Marquez wants to clinch up but Taranaki keeps it at a distance.
Taranaki goes for a double leg but Marquez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Marquez continues to drive forward.
Marquez appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki jabs Marquez right on the nose. Marquez blinks but takes it well.
Taranaki blocks a low kick nicely.
Marquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taranaki tries to avoid it but Marquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taranaki to the ground. Taranaki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taranaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marquez 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 tries a head kick but it misses.
Marquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Taranaki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taranaki as he jumps to the side.
Marquez shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsyuoshi Taranaki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taranaki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marquez pinned against the cage. Marquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Taranaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marquez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marquez darts in looking for a takedown but Taranaki gets double underhooks and turns Marquez into the cage.
Marquez tries to clinch but Taranaki moves out of range.
Taranaki leaves Marquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Taranaki avoids the head kick by Marquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Taranaki with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsyuoshi Taranaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marquez is breathing heavily.
Jab, jab by Taranaki - just one landing.

Marquez is rocked!
Tsyuoshi Taranaki is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Marquez is still on wobbly legs! Can Taranaki finish him?

Taranaki darts in and clinches Marquez up against the cage.

Taranaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taranaki fails with a takedown attempt.

Taranaki instigates a clinch.
Taranaki tries for a takedown but Marquez manages to get underhooks.

Taranaki pulls guard effortlessly.
Taranaki is adopting a defensive guard.

Marquez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taranaki is controlling Marquez's posture.
Taranaki continues to stall.

Taranaki looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Marquez is defending well. Taranaki quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Marquez has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Taranaki celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tsyuoshi Taranaki!