PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aisopos Markos (ranked 24619 p4p, 4116 weight class) and Neymar Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Markos
vs
Junior

185 cm
25
180
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
185
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aisopos Markos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Neymar Junior!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Junior slips a jab and a cross from Markos.
Junior wants to counter with a clinch but Markos pushes him away.
A head kick by Junior misses
and Markos counters with a one-two to the body.
Markos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Junior drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Markos defends it well.

Junior feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Junior throws a big elbow that misses.
Markos 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.
Junior throwing strikes but missing.
Markos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Markos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Junior is controlling him.
Markos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Junior controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Junior has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Junior ducks under a wild hook from Markos.
Markos swings for the body but Junior moves out of range.
Junior is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Markos with the inside leg kick.
Markos throws a right and a left that Junior avoids nicely.
Junior takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Markos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Junior takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Markos connects with a right hand. Junior shakes it off.
Junior throws a leg kick
and Markos counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Junior misses with a few strikes there.
Markos thinks about countering with a head kick.
Junior closes this distance looking for a takedown but Markos circles away.
Junior tries to clinch but Markos is having none of it.
Junior takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Junior misses with a looping left.

Junior closes the distance and clinches.
Junior working aggressively here.

Markos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aisopos Markos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Markos. Junior does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markos checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Markos scores with a jab to the body.
Junior misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Markos misses with a straight left.
Markos scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Markos scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aisopos Markos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neymar Junior.
Junior tries to clinch up.
A counter left hand to the body from Markos misses its target.
Markos swinging wildly here.
Good work by Markos as he checks the leg kick.
Markos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Junior moves away.
Markos throws a sloppy head kick and Junior moves out of range easily.
Junior uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Markos.
Junior tries to counter with a clinch but Markos shakes him off and moves away.
Markos scores with a body shot.
Markos is looking to wear down Junior with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Junior walks into a stiff left hand from Markos.
Junior misses with a takedown attempt - Markos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Markos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Junior tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markos scores with a three punch combo!
Junior takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A head kick by Markos misses

and Junior counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Markos kicks Junior off and gets back to his feet.
Markos is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Junior shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Markos defends it nicely.
Markos cracks Junior with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Markos throws a sloppy head kick and Junior moves out of range easily.
Markos stuffs the takedown attempt from Junior. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aisopos Markos dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Junior takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Markos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Junior can do to turn this around?
Markos misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Markos.
Aisopos Markos is winning the standup battle so far.
Junior tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Markos swivels and escapes.
Markos throws a looping overhand right but Junior ducks down to avoid it.
Aisopos Markos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Junior fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Junior avoids the head kick by Markos.
Junior shoots in for a double leg but Markos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aisopos Markos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neymar Junior.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Markos.
Junior lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Junior wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Junior swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Markos fires out a quick counter leg kick but Junior just manages to avoid it.
Junior has a takedown stuffed.
Markos tried to counter with a leg kick but Junior avoided it.
A combination from Markos does no damage.
Junior throws a lazy body kick
and Markos counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A head kick misses from Junior.
Markos keeps the fight on the outside.
Junior shoots for a double leg takedown but Markos sprawls well. He's pushed Junior's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Junior is breathing heavily.
Junior takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Junior tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Markos counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior throws a body shot but no joy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Markos.
Markos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Junior manages to avoid it.
Junior tries to clinch up.
Markos lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Junior takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
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!
Markos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Markos scores with a jab to the jaw.
Junior on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Markos. Markos obviously looking to wear him down.
Junior's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Markos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Markos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Markos lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markos throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Junior.
Junior misses with a hook. Markos ducked under it nicely.
Junior avoids the head kick by Markos.
Horrible takedown attempt by Junior or perhaps it was just good defense by Markos, which made it look bad.
Markos throws a big counter combination but Junior scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
No luck for Junior with that takedown attempt.
Markos chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Markos throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Junior's head.
Markos scoring well with a low kick there.
Junior tries to clinch there but Markos circles away.
Junior blocks a leg kick.
Aisopos Markos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markos tests Junior's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Junior shoots for a double leg takedown but Markos sprawls well. He's pushed Junior's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Markos lands a leg kick that knocks Junior off balance momentarily.
Markos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Junior circles away quickly and effectively.
Junior's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Markos connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Junior scrambles back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Junior ducks under a wild hook from Markos.
Markos misses with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Markos.
Junior blocks a head kick by Markos.
Junior throws a sloppy head kick and Markos moves out of range easily.
Junior misses with a hook.
Markos is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Junior looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Markos!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aisopos Markos dominated that second round.
That's time! Markos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Junior tries to close the distance and clinch but Markos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Markos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Junior.
Junior tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Markos fires out a quick counter leg kick but Junior just manages to avoid it.
Markos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Junior closes this distance looking for a takedown but Markos circles away.
Junior takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Markos looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Markos will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Junior doesn't manage to clinch there - Markos circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markos lands a lovely overhand right.
Junior shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Markos stuffs the takedown.
Aisopos Markos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neymar Junior.
Markos fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Junior has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Junior is looking to clinch but Markos is avoiding it.
Markos throws a counter high kick but Junior was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Markos with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A decent looking cross lands there for Markos.
Markos jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Junior misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Markos scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Markos throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Junior looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Markos lands with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markos lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Markos throws a head kick that misses.
Junior changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Markos tries to avoid it but Junior manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Markos to the ground. Markos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Junior takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Junior swinging wildly here.
Junior doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Markos.
Markos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Markos leaves Junior with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Markos.
Junior takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Markos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Junior.
Markos misses with a two punch combination.
Some bone on bone action there as Markos checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Markos went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Markos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Markos throws a head kick but Junior moves out of range.
Markos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Junior.
Junior is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Markos attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Junior blocks a head kick by Markos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markos keeps the fight on the outside.
Junior keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Junior! But no joy.
A head kick misses from Markos.
Junior tries to score a power double leg takedown but Markos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Junior somewhat.
Markos stuffs the takedown attempt from Junior. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Junior tries a head kick but it misses.
No joy there for Markos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Markos stuns Junior with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Neymar Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aisopos Markos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Markos lands a lovely overhand right.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aisopos Markos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Markos, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aisopos Markos!
Our winner, Aisopos Markos, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.