PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nedjeljko Markovic (ranked 1748 p4p, 2673 weight class) and Darius Thibodeaux (ranked 279 p4p, 408 weight class). 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.

Markovic
vs
Thibodeaux

189 cm
24
205
8 - 9 - 0

188 cm
24
207
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Conviction

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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nedjeljko Markovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Thibodeaux's jab looks to have found its range, popping Markovic under the eye.
Markovic scores with a kick to the body.
Thibodeaux rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Markovic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thibodeaux keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thibodeaux lands a nice hook to Markovic's body. Markovic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thibodeaux cracks Markovic with an open hand slap.
Nice body punch from Thibodeaux.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markovic throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Markovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux punishes Markovic's body with a nice straight punch.
Markovic throws a low kick, looking for Thibodeaux's leg but Thibodeaux calmly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markovic is looking to land body kicks.
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Markovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
Markovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thibodeaux looks to land a right hand but Markovic moved out of range.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Thibodeaux scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook
and Markovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thibodeaux scores with a jab. Markovic acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thibodeaux pushes Markovic away with a front kick.
Decent striking displayed by Thibodeaux there.
We've been told by Markovic's head coaches at DC Dragon Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Thibodeaux misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Markovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thibodeaux cracks Markovic with a right hand to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice cross by Thibodeaux.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux scores with a jab. Markovic acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Markovic on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Markovic is rocked!
Thibodeaux uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Markovic.
Thibodeaux throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Markovic counters with a body kick.
Thibodeaux on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Markovic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thibodeaux looks winded!
Markovic lands with a hook. Thibodeaux tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Darius Thibodeaux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibodeaux connects with a jab.
Markovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Markovic throws a hook but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux digs a good hook to Markovic's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markovic bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thibodeaux's head backwards.
Thibodeaux fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Markovic manages to avoid it.
Markovic jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Thibodeaux throws a leg kick
and Markovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Markovic misses with an attempted mid kick.
Markovic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Markovic gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux cracks Markovic with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thibodeaux misses with a head kick.
Markovic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Markovic ducks under a wild hook from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux swings for the body but Markovic moves out of range.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the side of Markovic's head but Markovic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Markovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Markovic moves away.
Markovic slips a jab from Thibodeaux.
Markovic digs a good hook to Thibodeaux's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot.
Thibodeaux takes a swing at Markovic's ribcage but misses.
Thibodeaux fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Thibodeaux ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thibodeaux is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Markovic had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Markovic misses with a series of wild punches.
Thibodeaux missing with a left hand there. Markovic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Markovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thibodeaux.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Markovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thibodeaux sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Thibodeaux throws a poor cross that misses
and Markovic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Markovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Markovic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thibodeaux.
Markovic scores with a nice body kick.
Markovic lands a right hook to the body.
Thibodeaux is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markovic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Markovic lands a nice hook to Thibodeaux's body. Thibodeaux takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Markovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Markovic misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markovic blocks a leg kick.
Markovic feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Markovic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Thibodeaux looks to land a left hand but Markovic moved out of range nicely.
Markovic scores with a nice body kick.
Markovic smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Thibodeaux tries a head kick but it misses.
Thibodeaux swings for the body but Markovic moves out of range.
Thibodeaux jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Markovic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Markovic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thibodeaux on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Markovic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Darius Thibodeaux seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Markovic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Thibodeaux drops his hands momentarily and Markovic takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Thibodeaux misses the shot to the body.
Thibodeaux lands a slapping body shot.
Markovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Markovic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Markovic throws a body shot but no joy.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping left.
Markovic looks to land a body kick but Thibodeaux moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Markovic sends Thibodeaux crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Markovic is motioning to the referee to let Thibodeaux up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Thibodeaux is rocked!
Thibodeaux leaves his chin hanging out and Markovic seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Thibodeaux crumbles to the floor in a heap, and the referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nedjeljko Markovic!
During a confident post fight interview, Nedjeljko Markovic thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.