PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Marko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Black
vs
Marko

176 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

170 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Marko!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black thuds his right hand into Marko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Cain Marko has been cut.
Marko wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Marko wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Black moves out of range of the body kick from Marko.
Black misses with a wild combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Marko.
Black shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marko pinned against the cage. Marko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Marko tries to land a front kick but Black steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Marko closes the distance and pushes Black back into the cage.

Marko breaks from the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Black.
Marko walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Black gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marko is looking for a sweep. Black is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
It looks like Black is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marko keeping hold of Black's head, controlling as best he can.
Marko is trying to control but can't.
Marko is doing well to control the position and prevent Black from advancing to side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marko can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Black seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Marko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Black is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Black.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko is trying is best to control the position here.
Marko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Black.
Marko preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Marko is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Black is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Black throws a right and a left that both miss.

Marko closes the distance and clinches.

Black is trying to trip Marko. He has hold of a leg but Marko is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Black persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Marko has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Marko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Black stops Marko from standing up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Marko holds on and takes a little breather.

Black gets to his feet - Marko follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Black dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cain Marko's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Black.
Black lands a jab to the nose.
Black has a takedown stuffed.
Marko misses with a kick to the body.
Black throws a series of punches but Marko moves out of range.

Black fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Marko sprawls well initially but Black persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Marko wants to improve his position but Black is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Marko seems keen to control Black's posture.
Black is looking to stand up but Marko won't let him.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Marko blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Marko is retaining full guard.
Black is fighting to break Marko's control of his arms but Marko is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Black won't allow Marko to get back to his feet.
Marko pulls Black in to control the position.
Marko looking for a sweep. Not yet Marko, not yet.

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.
Black wants to stand but Marko is controlling his posture from full guard.
Black won't allow Marko to sweep him here.
Marko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Marko closes the distance and clinches.
Black can't break the clinch.

Marko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Black throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Marko stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Black scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Marko doesn't seem bothered though.
Marko is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black fails with the takedown.
Black misses with a wild combination.
Black 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.
Marko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Black moves out of range of the body kick.
Black takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Black smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Marko misses with a body kick.

Black scores a takedown into full mount!
Marko wants to control but Black is having none of it.
Marko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Marko tries to hold on but Black postures up.
Marko is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Black dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cain Marko's cut.
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!

Marko is looking to land body kicks.
Black misses with a body kick.

Black drives through with a takedown into guard.
Black wanted to stand there but Marko had control of the position.

Marko pushes Black off and scrambles back to his feet.
Black jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marko as he jumps to the side.
Marko misses with a kick to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Marko. No joy for Black on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Marko moves into the clinch.

Marko manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Black looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marko is fending him off so far but Black persists. Nope, Marko circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko tries to land a front kick but Black steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Marko moves into the clinch.

Black has clasped his hands together around Marko's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
I wouldn't like to be where Marko is right now.
Marko is trying to control Black's posture but Black avoids it.
Marko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Black missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cain Marko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marko is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Black pulls his head out easily.
Marko wants to get back to his feet.
Marko is concentrating on defense, preventing Black from advancing position.
Marko is trying to control but can't.
Black thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marko's head.
Marko has his hands clasped together around Black's back. He's all about the action.
Black tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Black or perhaps it was just good defense by Marko which made him look bad.

Marko closes the distance and clinches.

Marko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Black throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Marko clinches.

Marko manages to pull guard.
Marko is controlling Black's posture.

Black decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Marko, up you get!
Marko is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marko tries to close the distance and clinch but Black swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Black shoots for a takedown but Marko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marko tries to land a front kick but Black steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Black takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt.
Black shoots in but no luck this time.

Marko moves into the clinch.

Marko pulls guard successfully.

Marko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marko has Black pulled in close to control his posture.

Black avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Marko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Black 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Black!