PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Blikstein (ranked 1141 p4p, 980 weight class) and Luka Marka (ranked 175 p4p, 145 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Marka's choice of entrance music: HADES. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blikstein
vs
Marka

187 cm
25
200
9 - 5 - 1

180 cm
24
185
9 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

88 Fight Club Clothing $50-$100
Voodoo Nutrition

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 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paulo Blikstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luka Marka!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blikstein walks into a left hand.
Marka throws an off balance right hand
and Blikstein counters with a stiff right hand.
Marka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blikstein moves away.
Blikstein changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Marka rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Blikstein counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Marka thinking.
Blikstein is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Blikstein misses with a two punch combination.
We've been hearing reports that Blikstein has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Blikstein staying out of range there.
Marka lands a jab to the nose.
Blikstein tries a low kick but Marka avoids it.
Marka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Marka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blikstein as he avoids it easily.
Blikstein throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marka throws a poor cross that misses
and Blikstein connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blikstein throws a body punch but Marka moves out of range.
Blikstein throws a lazy right hand but Marka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marka shoots in but no luck this time.
Blikstein on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Blikstein avoids the body shot from Marka.
Marka fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Blikstein looks to land a right hand but Marka moved out of range.
Marka looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Blikstein misses the shot to the body.
Blikstein misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marka.
Marka misses with a left hand
and Blikstein counters with a straight right hand.
Marka throws out a loose jab but Blikstein uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marka just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein looks to score with a jab to the body but Marka is just out of range.

Marka shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Blikstein napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blikstein tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Blikstein dodges the ground and pound from Marka.
Blikstein takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Blikstein is holding Marka down, trying to stall.
Blikstein tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marka grinds an elbow into Blikstein's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Marka.
Marka takes a little break here. Blikstein wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Blikstein manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Marka looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blikstein with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blikstein is trying is best to control the position here.
Marka prevents Blikstein from improving his position.
Marka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blikstein has his hands clasped together around Marka's back. He's all about the action.
Marka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blikstein's head.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Marka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Blikstein uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marka.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Marka dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Marka tries to clinch but Blikstein moves out of range.
Marka cracks Blikstein with a right hand to the side of the head.
Blikstein looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A jab from Blikstein misses.
A shot to the liver by Marka. Beautiful body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Marka, as that shot connected.
Blikstein waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marka.

Marka gets a takedown into half guard.
Blikstein is not content to let Marka control the position.
Marka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blikstein defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blikstein is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Blikstein is refusing to be controlled, as Marka sits in half guard.
Blikstein trying to control here.
Luka Marka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marka throwing shots but Blikstein is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Marka throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Blikstein is concentrating on defense, preventing Marka from advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marka swings for the body but Blikstein moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blikstein gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Marka.
Marka shoots in and drives through. Blikstein sprawls well.
Marka has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Blikstein throws a hook to the side of Marka's head but Marka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Marka scores with a nice strike.
Marka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Blikstein manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Marka.
Nice defenses there by Blikstein.
Blikstein avoids the body shot from Marka.
Marka lands a right hook to the body.
Blikstein takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Blikstein is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marka.
Marka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Blikstein tries to avoid it but Marka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Blikstein to the ground. Blikstein escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marka on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Blikstein gets caught flat footed, as Marka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Marka works over Blikstein with some ground and pound from guard.
Blikstein looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marka is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein is working hard here to advance position.
Marka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marka passes Blikstein's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blikstein keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Marka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Marka lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Marka throws a predictable looking body shot
and Blikstein counters with a nice uppercut.
Blikstein shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marka pinned against the cage. Marka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blikstein throws a low kick, looking for Marka's leg but Marka calmly moves out of range.
Marka throws a shot from downtown. Blikstein moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blikstein.
Blikstein swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Marka to counter with a crisp jab.
Marka throws a jab when Blikstein was well out of range.
Marka slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marka blocks a jab.
Marka looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blikstein manages to avoid it.
Marka wants to clinch.
Blikstein uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marka.
An attempted straight right counter from Blikstein misses the target.
Blikstein displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marka throws out the jab.
A quick step to the side and Blikstein tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blikstein avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luka Marka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blikstein.
Blikstein drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Marka dives in and scores a takedown into Blikstein's guard.
Blikstein has momentary wrist control but Marka slips an elbow through the middle.
Paulo Blikstein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luka Marka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marka stays in close to Blikstein's body and controls the position.
Marka wants to control from the top but Blikstein keeps moving.
Marka won't allow Blikstein to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blikstein is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Marka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Blikstein is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blikstein is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blikstein has a hand on Marka's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Marka takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Marka controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marka looking to control but Blikstein is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luka Marka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luka Marka!
Luka Marka tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.