PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ferdinand Marquez (ranked 3778 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Casillas (ranked 24975 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Esteban Casillas was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Marquez
vs
Casillas

185 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ferdinand Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Esteban Casillas!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Casillas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marquez is fending him off so far but Casillas persists. Nope, Marquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Casillas avoids the head kick by Marquez.
Casillas dives in for a single leg takedown but Marquez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Marquez misses with a series of wild punches.
Marquez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Casillas defends it nicely.
Marquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Casillas is fending him off so far but Marquez persists. Nope, Casillas circles away and we're back to standing.
Casillas 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.
Ferdinand Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esteban Casillas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marquez rushes Casillas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Marquez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Casillas misses with a body punch.

Marquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Casillas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marquez counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez has a takedown stuffed.
Marquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Casillas drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Marquez defends it well.
Marquez is breathing heavily.

Marquez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here as Marquez stalls from top position.
Casillas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Casillas is letting Marquez control him for a moment.
Casillas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casillas is trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here.
Casillas tries to buck Marquez off but Marquez is having none of it.
Casillas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Marquez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Casillas is working to avoid the ground and pound but Marquez connects with a decent elbow.

Marquez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Marquez crashes against the mat.
Marquez controlling the position.
Casillas is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Marquez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Casillas is letting Marquez control him for a moment.
Marquez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Marquez decides to stand up, so the ref orders Casillas to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Casillas as Marquez shoots in.

Casillas gets tackled into the cage by Marquez. Marquez maintains the clinch.

Marquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Casillas fails with the takedown.
Casillas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marquez pinned against the cage. Marquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Casillas, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ferdinand Marquez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Marquez throws a head kick but Casillas moves out of range.
Marquez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marquez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Casillas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Casillas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Marquez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Marquez moves into range and clinches up with Casillas.
Marquez lands an elbow inside.
Casillas wants to break free but Marquez has control.

Marquez decides to pull guard.
Marquez is controlling Casillas's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Casillas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez wants to stand but Casillas is controlling the position.
Marquez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Casillas's guard.
Marquez controlling the action here.
Casillas wants to get back to full guard.

Casillas has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Marquez escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Marquez!
Marquez is working Casillas over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casillas is looking for a sweep.
Marquez controlling the position.

Marquez stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Casillas tries to clinch up.

Casillas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Marquez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Marquez controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Marquez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Marquez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Casillas's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marquez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ferdinand Marquez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Casillas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Marquez avoids it really well and circles away.

Marquez moves into the clinch.
Marquez prevents the takedown attempt.
Casillas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Casillas can do to turn this around?

Marquez lands a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Marquez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Casillas is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez lands a big elbow.
Marquez avoids the attempt from Casillas to control.
Marquez looking to ground and pound but Casillas is blocking nicely.
Marquez lands a big shot there that rocks Casillas but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Marquez is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Casillas can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Marquez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casillas is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Marquez controlling the pace for now.

Marquez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Marquez working for a guillotine from mount but Casillas is in no mood to give up.

Marquez wants to finish this one by submission but Casillas is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Marquez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Marquez avoids the attempt from Casillas to control.
Marquez controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
Casillas reaches up to try and control the position but Marquez seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Casillas rolls and tries to escape and now Marquez has his back!

Marquez has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Casillas looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ferdinand Marquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marquez 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:26
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ferdinand Marquez!