PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alphonse Fuguego (ranked 28 p4p, 56 weight class) and Philip Marcus (ranked 2 p4p, 5 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Philip Marcus was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Fuguego
vs
Marcus

165 cm
30
145
18 - 9 - 1

175 cm
30
148
18 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
30th Century Beer Store

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Alphonse Fuguego!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Philip Marcus!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marcus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Marcus connects with a solid leg kick.
Marcus has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Fuguego digs a good body shot into Marcus's ribs.
Marcus takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Fuguego darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fuguego scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fuguego is keen to just control but Marcus is a slippery customer.
Marcus trying to control from the bottom.
Marcus is staying active underneath Fuguego, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Marcus wants to improve his position but Fuguego is controlling well.
Marcus keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuguego seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fuguego working Marcus over with strikes.
Fuguego is keen to just control but Marcus is a slippery customer.
Marcus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fuguego.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fuguego sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marcus defending well though.
Fuguego has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Marcus is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Still in half guard, Fuguego seems content to control.
Fuguego is thwarting Marcus's attempts to control the position.
Fuguego sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marcus defending well though.
Fuguego landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fuguego is looking to take a break and control but Marcus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fuguego working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Marcus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Marcus keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus tries to get to full guard but Fuguego has control of the leg.
Marcus desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Fuguego wants to control but Marcus is keeping him busy.
We've been hearing that Fuguego has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Fuguego landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fuguego stalling.
Fuguego seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marcus does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Fuguego trying to work for an americana but Marcus has managed to regain full guard.
Fuguego is looking to work some ground and pound but Marcus has wrist control.
Fuguego throws a strike but Marcus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fuguego looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Fuguego is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marcus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fuguego's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcus wants to control from the top but Fuguego keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alphonse Fuguego dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fuguego fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Marcus avoids the body shot from Fuguego.
Fuguego lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fuguego fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Marcus.
Fuguego throws a poor cross that misses
and Marcus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice shot by Fuguego.
Fuguego misses the body punch
and Marcus counters with a nice low kick that buckles Fuguego's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuguego displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marcus throws out the jab.
Marcus lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Fuguego looks to throw the jab but Marcus is out of range.
Fuguego throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Marcus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuguego uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marcus.
Fuguego shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Marcus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marcus has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Marcus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fuguego.
Fuguego scores with a shot to the body.
Marcus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Philip Marcus seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fuguego dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fuguego. Marcus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fuguego on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marcus. Marcus obviously looking to wear him down.
Marcus throws a leg kick that is checked
and Fuguego counters with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Fuguego. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Fuguego.
Nice takedown defense from Marcus. No joy for Fuguego on that attempt.
Fuguego is looking to wear down Marcus with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Fuguego throws an overhand right that lands on Marcus's shoulder, as Marcus tries to avoid the shot.
Fuguego throws a sloppy body shot
and Marcus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marcus motions for Fuguego to come forward. Marcus throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Marcus with a nice calf kick.
Fuguego tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marcus was well out of range. Poor timing from Fuguego.

Fuguego shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Marcus has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Fuguego is on him like a limpet, forcing Marcus back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marcus misses with a body punch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Fuguego.

Marcus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fuguego takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Marcus throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Fuguego's head.
Fuguego misses with a right hand
and Marcus counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fuguego scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice jab there from Fuguego.
Fuguego throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fuguego dips to his left and cracks Marcus with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuguego throws a low kick but Marcus avoids it.
Marcus connects with the punch.
Fuguego connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marcus momentarily.
Fuguego fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alphonse Fuguego. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fuguego. Marcus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fuguego misses with a body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fuguego cracks Marcus with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fuguego takes a swing at Marcus's ribcage but misses.
Marcus now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Marcus throws a head kick but Fuguego moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Philip Marcus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marcus takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Fuguego misses with a low kick.
Marcus throws a looping overhand right but Fuguego ducks down to avoid it.
A punch combination from Fuguego misses.
Fuguego thows a leg kick but Marcus checks it
and Marcus counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Fuguego ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marcus moves away.
Marcus doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Marcus misses with a head kick.

Fuguego throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Marcus tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fuguego is in Marcus's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcus looking for a sweep. Not yet Marcus, not yet.
Fuguego engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Fuguego postures up and lands a big shot to Marcus's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuguego landing with the ground and pound.
Fuguego controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Alphonse Fuguego overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marcus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fuguego.
Fuguego wants to pass the guard but Marcus is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fuguego accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marcus looking for a sweep. Not yet Marcus, not yet.
Fuguego trying to control but Marcus is working from the bottom.
Fuguego won't allow Marcus to get back to his feet.
Fuguego preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marcus tried to score with a low kick but Fuguego checks it.
Fuguego misses the body punch
and Marcus counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheers as Marcus lands an impressive looking overhand right. Fuguego doesn't seem phased though.
A slow jab from Fuguego misses its intended target.
Marcus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fuguego stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuguego moves away from the strike by Marcus.
Fuguego misses with a low kick.
A leg kick checked by Fuguego.
Nice takedown defense from Marcus. No joy for Fuguego on that attempt.
Fuguego lands a head shot.
Marcus lands a jab to the head.
A head kick from Marcus lands but Fuguego takes it in his stride.
Fuguego misses with a jab to the body
and Marcus counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Marcus with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Fuguego shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fuguego showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marcus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fuguego.
Fuguego thows a huge punch but Marcus dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fuguego in particular looking to stall.
Marcus is staying active underneath Fuguego, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Marcus wants to get back to full guard.
Marcus is trying to control but can't.

Fuguego is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marcus is just riding it out for now. Fuguego eventually gives up the hold.
Fuguego seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Philip Marcus just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marcus throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Fuguego on the side of the head.
Fuguego 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.
Marcus flicks out a counter leg kick but Fuguego steps away.
That kick from Marcus tenderised Fuguego's leg. Fuguego is trying to keep his angry face on.
Marcus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fuguego was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Marcus lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fuguego fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Marcus.
Marcus walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Fuguego checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
An attempted straight right counter from Fuguego misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcus takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Marcus misses with a low kick.
Marcus looks to score with a jab to the body but Fuguego is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Fuguego tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marcus throws a leg kick but Fuguego sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Fuguego.
Fuguego smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fuguego throws a poor cross that misses
and Marcus counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fuguego throws a lazy uppercut
and Marcus counters with a good low kick that Fuguego was not able to check.
Marcus wants to slow Fuguego down by chopping away at his legs.
Fuguego jabs Marcus right on the nose. Marcus blinks but takes it well.
Fuguego missing with a left hand there. Marcus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fuguego misses with a body shot.
Good leg kick by Marcus.
Fuguego misses with a shot to the body
and Marcus counters with a good low kick that Fuguego was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Fuguego does it's job there.
Fuguego tried to score with a low kick but Marcus checks it.
Marcus tries a quick counter leg kick but Fuguego is wise to it.
Philip Marcus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fuguego takes a swing at Marcus's ribcage but misses.
Fuguego slips under a jab from Marcus.
Fuguego gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Marcus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Marcus.
Marcus was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Marcus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fuguego manages to avoid it.
Fuguego misses with a body shot
and Marcus counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A jab from Fuguego does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Marcus catches Fuguego right on the button with a cross.
Fuguego stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Marcus.
Fuguego is looking to chop away at Marcus's legs.
Marcus takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fuguego throws a hook to the side of Marcus's head but Marcus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fuguego tries a low kick but Marcus avoids it.
Marcus uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fuguego has time to react.
Marcus tried to score with a low kick but Fuguego checks it.
Marcus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fuguego sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fuguego throws out a loose jab but Marcus uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuguego throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alphonse Fuguego seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fuguego blocks a head kick by Marcus.
Fuguego misses with a hook to the body
and Marcus counters with a stiff right hand.
Marcus misses with a looping right.
Marcus throws a shot from downtown. Fuguego moves away and avoids it.
Marcus throws a leg kick that is checked

and Fuguego counters with a nice double leg into side control. Marcus won't be happy with that.
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!
Marcus is looking to regain half guard here but Fuguego keeps moving and retains side control.
Marcus is not content to let Fuguego control the position.
Marcus on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Marcus dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Marcus.
Philip Marcus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Marcus is looking to score with low kicks.
Fuguego is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Marcus misses with a body shot.
Fuguego misses with a body punch
and Marcus counters with an outside leg kick.
Marcus avoids the body shot from Fuguego.
Fuguego misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marcus.
Marcus is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fuguego with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuguego dips to his left and cracks Marcus with an uppercut!
Fuguego misses with a body punch
and Marcus counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fuguego scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fuguego.
Fuguego cracks Marcus with an open hand slap.
Fuguego misses with a shot to the body
and Marcus counters with a stiff right hand.

Fuguego shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marcus is trying to defend but Fuguego finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fuguego not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fuguego missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marcus trying to control but Fuguego postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fuguego in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcus is trying to maintain the position but Fuguego is very close to passing his half guard.
Fuguego thows a huge punch but Marcus dodges it nicely.
Marcus wants to get back to full guard.
Marcus trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fuguego's jab looks to have found its range, popping Marcus under the eye.
Marcus throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fuguego misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Marcus.
A slapping leg kick lands for Marcus.
Fuguego misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Marcus to counter with a crisp jab.
Fuguego throws a right hand that misses
and Marcus counters with a nice leg kick.
Fuguego throws a predictable looking body shot
and Marcus cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fuguego is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Marcus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fuguego doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Marcus throws a head kick but Fuguego moves out of range.
Fuguego thows a leg kick but Marcus checks it
and Marcus counters with a nice uppercut.
A low kick from Marcus misses
enabling Fuguego to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcus scores with a sloppy right hand. Fuguego should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marcus with a nice calf kick.
Fuguego throws a right hand that misses
and Marcus counters with a leg kick.
Fuguego looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A solid leg kick lands there for Marcus.
Fuguego checks the leg kick nicely there.
Fuguego was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Marcus throws a leg kick
and Fuguego counters with a good low kick that Marcus was not able to check.
Fuguego swings widly with a right hand
and Marcus counters with a stiff right hand.
Fuguego misses with a shot to the body
enabling Marcus to counter with a crisp jab.
Fuguego rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Marcus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philip Marcus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marcus 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 47:49
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 48:47

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