PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Marfaker (ranked 2624 p4p, 0 weight class) and Costa Ioannou (ranked 3695 p4p, 431 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Marfaker
vs
Ioannou

208 cm
38
218 lbs
32 - 14 - 0

188 cm
27
210 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 32 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Marfaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Costa Ioannou!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ioannou shoots in but no luck this time.
Ioannou shoots in for a takedown but Marfaker shows good takedown defense.
A jab from Ioannou misses.
As Ioannou backs away, Marfaker returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Marfaker bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ioannou shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ioannou takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Juan Marfaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Costa Ioannou.
Ioannou slips under a jab from Marfaker.

Ioannou shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marfaker is trying to defend but Ioannou finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ioannou trying to control from half guard but Marfaker is working away.

Ioannou is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Marfaker defends it well.
Ioannou is trying to control. Marfaker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ioannou is looking for a kimura but Marfaker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ioannou to get the leverage.
Ioannou is pressing down on Marfaker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Marfaker is holding on for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ioannou not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ioannou stalling.
Ioannou is looking to stall here but Marfaker recovers full guard.
Marfaker has Ioannou pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marfaker continues to stall.
Ioannou throwing strikes from guard but Marfaker blocks nicely.
Ioannou trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
That kick from Marfaker tenderised Ioannou's leg. Ioannou is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ioannou takes one to the chin there.
Marfaker lands the left hand.
Marfaker is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ioannou shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marfaker pinned against the cage. Marfaker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ioannou ducks right into an uppercut from Marfaker.
Marfaker punishes Ioannou's body with a nice straight punch.
Marfaker scores with a head kick.
Marfaker misses the shot to the body.
Marfaker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Ioannou shoots in and gets a takedown into Marfaker's guard.
Marfaker 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.
Ioannou slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ioannou wants to control from the top but Marfaker keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ioannou stands up and waves to Marfaker to follow him.
Marfaker just misses with a punch to the body.
Marfaker cracks Ioannou with a right hand to the side of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Marfaker.
Juan Marfaker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!
Marfaker goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Marfaker looks to score with a jab to the body but Ioannou is just out of range.
Marfaker lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ioannou takes a step back to recover.
Marfaker with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ioannou fails with the takedown.
Marfaker scores with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Marfaker connects with an inside leg kick.
Marfaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ioannou moves away.
Ioannou is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Marfaker misses the jab.
Marfaker sets himself, and Ioannou steps forward looking for the clinch! Marfaker avoids it this time.
Ioannou darts in looking for a takedown but Marfaker gets double underhooks and turns Ioannou into the cage.
Marfaker scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Marfaker.
Marfaker throws a leg kick which misses Ioannou's front leg but catches the back leg as Ioannou tries to avoid it.

Ioannou closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ioannou lands in his opponent's guard.
Ioannou being controlled here momentarily.
Ioannou preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ioannou stands and steps away. Marfaker gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Marfaker lands a jab to Ioannou's midsection.
Marfaker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marfaker misses with a low kick as Ioannou jumps back.
Ioannou changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marfaker tries to avoid it but Ioannou manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marfaker to the ground. Marfaker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It looked like Marfaker was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marfaker. Ioannou does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marfaker is looking to slow Ioannou down with leg kicks.
Ioannou misses with a takedown
and Marfaker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Juan Marfaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Costa Ioannou.
Good standup being displayed there by Marfaker as he connects with a hook.
A shot to the liver by Marfaker. Beautiful body shot.
Marfaker lands with a nice body punch.
Ioannou moves forwards but Marfaker connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ioannou misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Marfaker - that will leave a mark!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Marfaker tenderised Ioannou's leg. Ioannou is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ioannou with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marfaker counters with a good low kick that Ioannou was not able to check.
Ioannou takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ioannou is breathing heavily.
Ioannou misses with a few strikes there.
Marfaker stuffs the takedown attempt from Ioannou. Ioannou gets slowly back to his feet.
Ioannou on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Marfaker with a jab.
Marfaker lands with a nice body punch.
Marfaker throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ioannou stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Juan Marfaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ioannou moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Marfaker cracks Ioannou with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Marfaker's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ioannou under the eye.

Ioannou is rocked!
Ioannou shoots and misses
and Marfaker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ioannou is still on wobbly legs! Can Marfaker finish him?
Marfaker takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ioannou walks forward, straight into a front kick from Marfaker.
Ioannou looks up at the clock. Bad move! Marfaker lands a right hand from hell, dropping Ioannou. Marfaker pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:10 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Juan Marfaker!
Juan Marfaker really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that FORCEE logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.