PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karl Denke (ranked 3103 p4p, 3638 weight class) and Billy Marques (ranked 385 p4p, 442 weight class). Marques comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Raining Blood kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Denke
vs
Marques

186 cm
23
189
4 - 7 - 0

191 cm
43
193
17 - 20 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karl Denke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Marques!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denke takes a jab right on the kisser.
Marques's coach down at Catch Wrestling L.A. was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Marques's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Marques misses with a body shot.
Marques takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A combination from Denke does no damage.
As Denke backs off Marques throws a huge counter combo but Denke manages to avoid it all.

Denke tries to sprawl but Marques drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Denke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Denke actively working from the bottom here.
Denke has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marques is working away from the top position though.
Denke wants to get back to full guard.
Marques not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Denke trying to control but Marques postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marques is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Marques controlling the pace.
Denke wants to get back to full guard.
Denke wants to control but Marques is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Marques content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Denke wants to control but Marques is keeping busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marques fails with the takedown.
Denke staying out of range there.
A little feinted left hand from Denke on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Marques swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Denke counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Billy Marques has been cut.
Denke connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marques momentarily.
Denke misses with a series of wild punches.
Marques blocks the body kick.
Denke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Denke throws a head kick but Marques moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marques throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Denke connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Denke swings for the body but Marques moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marques. Denke does a little dance to reset his feet.
A quick step to the side and Denke tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Denke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Denke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marques was well out of range. Poor timing from Denke.
Karl Denke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marques moves out of range of the leg kick from Denke.
Marques misses with an uppercut.
Good work by Marques as he checks the leg kick.
Marques ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Marques cracks Denke with a good jab.
Marques moves out of range as Denke strikes.
Marques looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marques connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Marques thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Denke.
Marques blocks a head kick by Denke.
Denke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marques manages to avoid it.
Denke misses with an uppercut.
Karl Denke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Denke with a jab.
Denke misses with a two punch combination.
Denke looks to land a right hand but Marques moved out of range.
Marques lands with a hook. Denke tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Marques paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Denke swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Marques counter with a right hand.

Marques shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Denke wants to improve his position but Marques is controlling well.
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 Karl Denke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Billy Marques's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Denke throws a body shot but no joy.
Denke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
No luck for Marques with that takedown attempt.
Denke throws a lazy head kick
and Marques counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick misses from Denke.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Denke throws a body kick that misses.
Denke throws a sloppy head kick
and Marques counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Marques shoots in and drives through. Denke sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marques throws a lazy right hand but Denke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Denke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marques lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Denke lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Marques throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Marques moves into range and clinches up with Denke.

Denke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice shot lands for Denke.
Denke misses with a kick to the body

and Marques counters with a single leg into guard. Denke didn't expect that.

Denke working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marques doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marques manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Denke working a defensive guard but Marques manages to pass into side control anyway.

Marques looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Denke tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marques wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denke trying to control but Marques flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Marques keeps control of the position as Denke tries to break free.

Denke fending off the submission attempt from Marques.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Denke rolls, trying to escape but Marques keeps control of the position.

Denke preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Marques.
Well, with Marques on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Denke is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Denke wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marques biding his time, looking for the opening.
Denke tries to escape but Marques has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Denke covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Denke preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Marques.
Denke tries to escape but Marques has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Marques is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Marques controlling the position well here. Denke rolled but Marques kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Denke preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Marques.
Marques avoiding Denke 's attempts to control his hands.

Marques working for the choke.
Denke tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Marques showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Billy Marques's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Marques gets a takedown into half guard.
Denke controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Denke has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marques is working away from the top position though.
Marques landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marques is trying to control. Denke wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Denke wants to improve his position but Marques is controlling well.
Denke trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke is refusing to be controlled, as Marques sits in half guard.
Denke tries to get to full guard but Marques has control of the leg.
Denke wants to control but Marques is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Marques passes to full mount!
Marques lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marques content just to control the position here.

Marques looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Marques takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
A nice elbow there by Marques.
Marques tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Marques tries to control but Denke wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marques in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Denke working to try and regain half guard.
Marques fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Denke tries to hold on but Marques pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marques content just to control the position here.

Marques working for a guillotine from mount but Denke is in no mood to give up.
Denke is trying desperately to improve position.
Marques sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Denke is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Marques comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marques has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Marques!
During a confident post fight interview, Billy Marques thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.