PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maatia Supuaga (ranked 4923 p4p, 338 weight class) and Alan Markov (ranked 4263 p4p, 330 weight class). Supuaga comes to the cage accompanied by Wanna Taki Taki. Markov has chosen Blackway & Black Caviar - What's Up Danger as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Supuaga
vs
Markov

175 cm
29
155 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

172 cm
24
158 lbs
4 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maatia Supuaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alan Markov!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Supuaga closes the distance and pushes Markov back into the cage.

Supuaga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Supuaga moves into the clinch.

Supuaga breaks from the clinch.
Markov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Supuaga.
A jab from Markov misses.
Markov throws a predictable looking body shot

and Supuaga counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Supuaga.
Supuaga stalling the fight.

Markov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Markov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Supuaga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Markov, right into the meat.
Nice defenses there by Supuaga.
Supuaga is looking to counter the offense by Markov and move into the clinch.
Markov connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Supuaga cracks Markov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Markov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Supuaga circles away quickly and effectively.

Supuaga rushes Markov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Markov throws a punch but it's blocked by Supuaga.
Supuaga taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Markov fails to land.

Supuaga breaks from the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Supuaga.
Supuaga sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Markov is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Supuaga decides to stand back up. Supuaga steps back and let's Markov get back to his feet.
Supuaga has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Markov moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Supuaga darts in and clinches Markov up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Supuaga working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Supuaga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Markov smiles and moves away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Supuaga checks a leg kick.
Supuaga takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Markov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Markov throws a poor cross that misses
and Supuaga counters with a nice body shot.
Markov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Supuaga bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Supuaga has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Supuaga decides to stand back up. Supuaga steps back and let's Markov get back to his feet.
Markov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Supuaga's head backwards.
Supuaga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Supuaga lands a nice leg kick that just misses Markov's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Supuaga closes the distance and pushes Markov back into the cage.

Supuaga pulls Markov into guard.
Supuaga has Markov pulled in close to control his posture.
Supuaga 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.
Markov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Supuaga looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markov gets to his feet - Supuaga follows without any prompting.

Supuaga pushes Markov up against the cage in a clinch.
Supuaga keeps control of Markov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Supuaga tries to pull guard but Markov holds him up against the cage and eventually Supuaga drops back down to his feet.
Supuaga lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Supuaga drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maatia Supuaga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Markov prevents a takedown attempt there.

Supuaga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Supuaga with a poor takedown
and Markov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Supuaga's knee momentarily.

Supuaga clinches up against the cage.
Markov has a couple of punches blocked by Supuaga.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maatia Supuaga dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Supuaga fails to land with a series of punches.
Markov steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Markov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Supuaga tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Markov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Supuaga keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Markov misses the target.
Markov slips a jab from Supuaga.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Supuaga works over Markov's head and body with a nice combination.
Supuaga is looking to clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Markov.
Supuaga moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Supuaga.
Markov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Markov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Supuaga gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Supuaga misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Markov.
Markov tries to work over Supuaga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Supuaga lands an uppercut.
Supuaga pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Supuaga tries to land knees in the clinch but Markov avoids the damage to the body.
Markov lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Supuaga breaks the clinch.
Markov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Supuaga on the side of the head.
Supuaga tries to close the distance and clinch but Markov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Supuaga blocks the leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Markov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Markov misses.
Supuaga misses with a left hand
and Markov counters with a left and a right that stings Supuaga.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Supuaga misses the shot to the body.
Markov tries to land a body kick

and Supuaga counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Markov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Supuaga controls the pace.
Supuaga won't allow Markov to get back to his feet.
Markov looking for a sweep. Not yet Markov, not yet.
Supuaga trying to control but Markov is working from the bottom.
Supuaga controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov seems keen to control Supuaga's posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Supuaga trying to stand up but can't free himself from Markov's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Supuaga tries to clinch up but Markov circles away and keeps his distance.
Supuaga misses with a takedown attempt - Markov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alan Markov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Markov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Supuaga.

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.
Supuaga takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Supuaga has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maatia Supuaga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Markov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Supuaga misses with a jab, cross combination.

Supuaga closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Markov quickly recovers to half guard.
Supuaga is controlling the pace.
Markov manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alan Markov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Supuaga is trying hard to land a takedown here. Markov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Markov moves away from the strike by Supuaga.
Supuaga lands a jab to Markov's midsection.

Supuaga has Markov up against the cage in a clinch.
Supuaga is trying to pull guard but Markov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Supuaga ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Supuaga no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Markov stands up from Supuaga's guard - Markov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Markov throws a lazy uppercut
and Supuaga counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Supuaga darts in and clinches Markov up against the cage.
A hook to the body from Markov.
Markov trying to control the position but instead, Supuaga has worked for underhooks and has pushed Markov into the cage.
Maatia Supuaga has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Markov tries a body shot but Supuaga blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Supuaga gets through Markov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Markov misses with a punch to the body.
Supuaga is trying to pull guard but Markov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maatia Supuaga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good body shot from Supuaga.
A nice right hand lands inside from Supuaga.
Supuaga is trying to pull guard but Markov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Supuaga just leaning against Markov, taking a breather.
Markov tries to circle away but Supuaga has him pinned against the cage.
Supuaga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Markov to keep the fight standing.
Supuaga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Markov to keep the fight standing.
Supuaga blocking some punches.
Markov tries to stall but Supuaga uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Supuaga decides to pull guard.
Markov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Supuaga 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.
Maatia Supuaga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Supuaga throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Supuaga throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Supuaga looking to control.
Supuaga wants to sweep but no luck.
Markov wants to control from the top but Supuaga keeps moving.

Supuaga working for submissions but it's allowed Markov to get to half guard.
Markov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Supuaga!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Supuaga tries to lock up and control but Markov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Markov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Supuaga. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Supuaga is trying to reverse the position but instead Markov has taken his back - oops!
Supuaga trying to control the hands but Markov breaks the grip.
Markov is hanging on to Supuaga's back as he tries to escape.
Supuaga is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Markov has the hooks in. Supuaga is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markov struggling to keep hold of the position.
You can see the frustration on Supuaga's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Markov trying to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Markov not allowing Supuaga to control his hands.

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 Maatia Supuaga.
I think Supuaga 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Maatia Supuaga!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Maatia Supuaga waved his t-shirt featuring Blue Moon's logo in front of the cameras.