PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Theodore Marks (ranked 5363 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emiljano Bicaj (ranked 5240 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marks
vs
Bicaj

192 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Theodore Marks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Emiljano Bicaj!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Marks.

Bicaj feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Marks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bicaj gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bicaj really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bicaj wants to pass the guard but Marks is keeping the position.

Marks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bicaj can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bicaj sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bicaj got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bicaj has managed to get both his arms back between Marks's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marks being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Bicaj might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Bicaj looking to pass the guard.
Marks controls Bicaj momentarily but Bicaj frees himself.
Marks keeping full guard, as Bicaj tries to pass.
Marks looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Marks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bicaj must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bicaj seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bicaj thows a left - swing and a miss!
Marks throws a quick counter head kick but Bicaj was just out of range.
Marks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bicaj as he avoids it easily.

Marks gets a clinch.

Bicaj gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bicaj blocks the strikes from Marks.
Bicaj controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marks actively working from the bottom here.

Marks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bicaj pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Bicaj seems content to control.
Bicaj trying to mount his opponent but Marks defends it.
Bicaj prevents Marks from improving his position.
Bicaj content to control rather than advance.

Marks actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bicaj tries to pass to full mount but Marks defends it.
Bicaj is taking a breather. Marks says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Marks is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bicaj slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed right hand from Bicaj misses the target.
Bicaj just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMarks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiljano Bicaj dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bicaj throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marks feinted with a counter takedown.
Marks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bicaj is fending him off so far but Marks persists. Nope, Bicaj circles away and we're back to standing.
A punch combination from Bicaj misses.
Marks thinks about countering with a head kick.

Bicaj shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Marks manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bicaj trying to control but Marks is working from the bottom.
Marks lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bicaj wants to sweep here but Marks controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bicaj manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marks manages to get himself to full guard.

Marks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bicaj defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bicaj is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bicaj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marks throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Bicaj postures up.
Bicaj prevents Marks from getting back to his feet.

Marks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bicaj gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Marks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bicaj defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bicaj sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Let's hope that Bicaj has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Marks looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bicaj passes into side control.
Bicaj controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bicaj lands a decent elbow from side control.
Bicaj remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Marks tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A lull in the action here.

That's four 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.
Bicaj's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
You can see the frustration on Marks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bicaj wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marks keeps working.
Bicaj happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiljano Bicaj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Marks blocks a jab.
Bicaj throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Marks looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bicaj!
You can see the frustration on Bicaj's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bicaj is holding Marks down, trying to stall.
Bicaj is not content to let Marks control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marks decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bicaj to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bicaj lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marks circles away quickly and effectively.
Marks throws a head kick but Bicaj moves out of range.

Bicaj throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Marks was covering up waiting for the punch and Bicaj finishes the takedown easily into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Marks manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Marks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Marks jumps guard and drags Bicaj to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bicaj stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marks striking off his back but it's not causing Bicaj any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bicaj can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Emiljano Bicaj has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bicaj seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Marks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bicaj advances position into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marks stops Bicaj from passing to mount.
Bicaj happy to just control the position for now.
Marks is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks is being controlled here.
Bicaj trying to control the position but Marks is working away.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Bicaj wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marks keeps working.
Marks is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Emiljano Bicaj is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marks seems a little lost for a moment, as Bicaj dominates the positioning.
Marks looking for a sweep but Bicaj has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Marks wants to hold on but Bicaj pushes him away.
Bicaj controlling from mount.
More stalling from Bicaj.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bicaj is continuing to stall.
Theodore Marks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marks is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emiljano Bicaj.
I've got Bicaj winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emiljano Bicaj!