PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and kenny mckenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Marquez
vs
mckenzie

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, kenny mckenzie!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
mckenzie tries to close the distance and clinch but Marquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

mckenzie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marquez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marquez wants to stand and escape but mckenzie is having none of it.
mckenzie tries to free his leg and advance position but Marquez is retaining full guard.
Marquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marquez keeping moving, preventing mckenzie from controlling successfully.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Marquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and mckenzie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Marquez won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez is letting mckenzie control him for a moment.
mckenzie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

mckenzie tries for a kimura but Marquez is defending well.
Marquez bucks up and tries to throw mckenzie off but instead mckenzie has got his back!

mckenzie is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

mckenzie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Marquez is defending well though. mckenzie let's go of the attempt for now.
mckenzie looks gassed!
Marquez trying to control the action but mckenzie just sinks the hooks in.
Marquez tries to break free.
Marquez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Marquez turns into mckenzie and is now in his guard.

Marquez stands up from mckenzie's guard - Marquez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Marquez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marquez scores with a takedown into mckenzie's guard.
mckenzie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marquez.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marquez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marquez wants to stand but mckenzie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
mckenzie can't keep his opponent in guard - Marquez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Marquez is thwarting mckenzie's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Marquez is looking to take a break and control but mckenzie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
mckenzie is in trouble now - Marquez has advanced to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marquez wants to control the pace but mckenzie is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodrigo Marquez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Marquez closes the distance and pushes mckenzie back into the cage.
Marquez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
mckenzie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marquez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Marquez trying to control the position but instead, mckenzie has worked for underhooks and has pushed Marquez into the cage.
Marquez tries to pull guard but mckenzie won't allow it.
mckenzie jumps guard but Marquez stands there with mckenzie around his waist. mckenzie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Marquez misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
mckenzie letting Marquez take a breather here.

mckenzie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
mckenzie is breathing heavily.

Marquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Marquez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… mckenzie is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by mckenzie and Marquez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but mckenzie keeps working.

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

Marquez forces mckenzie back against the cage and clinches.
Marquez takes an elbow to the forehead.

Marquez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Marquez trying to keep a closed guard but mckenzie is proving a slippery customer.
mckenzie wants to stand and escape but instead Marquez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez wants to pass the guard but mckenzie is keeping the position.
Marquez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but mckenzie manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Marquez wants to hit a switch here but mckenzie passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Marquez there!
Marquez wants to hold on but mckenzie pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez is wriggling around trying to escape.

Marquez bucks mckenzie off and manages to get back to his feet!
Marquez missing with a left hand there. mckenzie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
mckenzie throws the kick towards the body but Marquez avoids it.

Marquez closes the distance and pushes mckenzie back into the cage.
Marquez is working for takedown but mckenzie is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Marquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marquez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Marquez taking a breather.

Marquez pulls guard.
mckenzie preventing the sweep.
Marquez is trying to keep mckenzie in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
mckenzie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marquez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Marquez controlling his opponent.
Marquez wants to control the pace but mckenzie is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Marquez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Marquez has his takedown stuffed

and mckenzie counters with a takedown into side control.
Marquez is not content to let mckenzie control the position.
Marquez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
mckenzie is looking for a sweep. Marquez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
mckenzie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marquez is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mckenzie is staying active underneath Marquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Marquez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Marquez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
mckenzie fails with a takedown attempt.

Marquez takes the fight into the clinch.

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.

Marquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marquez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
mckenzie has his takedown stuffed

and Marquez counters with a single leg into guard. mckenzie didn't expect that.

Marquez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marquez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Marquez trying to control but mckenzie is working from the bottom.
Marquez won't allow mckenzie to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mckenzie keeping full guard, as Marquez tries to pass.

Marquez gets to his feet. mckenzie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Marquez scores with a crisp jab that stopped mckenzie in his tracks.
Marquez tries for a takedown but mckenzie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marquez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but mckenzie manages to avoid it.

Marquez clinches.
Marquez goes for a takedown attempt but mckenzie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Marquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slapping leg kick lands for mckenzie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

mckenzie shoots in and bounces Marquez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as mckenzie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
mckenzie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Marquez is proving hard to escape from.
mckenzie stops Marquez from standing up.
Marquez has mckenzie pulled in close to control his posture.
Marquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from mckenzie.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rodrigo Marquez.
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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

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