PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Marley (ranked 1 p4p, 55 weight class) and Jason Hightower (ranked 1 p4p, 6 weight class). Marley comes to the cage accompanied by WANTED. Hightower has chosen The Power as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jason Hightower looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Marley
vs
Hightower

199 cm
28
265
30 - 3 - 0

207 cm
35
258
42 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Conviction
© Trap House

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ezekiel Marley!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jason Hightower!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hightower slips under a jab from Marley.
We've been informed that Hightower has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Marley thuds a left hand into Hightower's body.
Hightower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Marley gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A right hand to the body from Marley.
Hightower lands an uppercut.
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower looks winded!
Marley avoiding damage as Hightower throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for Marley.
Marley lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Marley stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Marley lands a good knee to the midsection. Hightower won't want to take too many of those.
Marley lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hightower backwards.
Our sources have told us that Marley has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
A left hand lands to the body for Marley.
Marley is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marley scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marley unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Marley presses Hightower against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Marley.
Good body shot from Marley.
Marley unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hightower lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right handed body shot lands from Marley.
Marley lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hightower or not.
Marley tries to land knees in the clinch but Hightower avoids the damage to the body.
Marley lands a knee to the body.
Marley landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hightower on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Marley landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Marley lands a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A hook to the body from Marley.
Marley lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Marley lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Marley using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hightower takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marley lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Marley pushes Hightower back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marley lands a hook that snaps the head of Hightower backwards.
Marley working Hightower over with knees to the body.
Marley with a knee to the head.
Marley cracks Hightower with a nice body shot.
Marley scores with a shoulder strike.
Marley lands a body shot.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Marley obliges.
Marley tries to land knees in the clinch but Hightower avoids the damage to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Marley.
Marley lands a body punch in the clinch.
Marley scores a nice knee to the body.
Marley working Hightower over with knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Marley scores with a nice short uppercut.
Marley working Hightower over with knees to the body.
Marley landing knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Marley obliges.
Marley landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Marley.
Marley lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marley lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marley landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Marley makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from Marley.
Hightower takes a knee to the side of the body.

Marley manages to break the clinch.
Hightower takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Marley cracks Hightower with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Marley has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Hightower to stand back up!

Hightower is rocked!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marley pounces like a tiger and cracks Hightower with a vicious hook! Hightower is down but not out! Marley follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ezekiel Marley!
Ezekiel Marley retains his heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Ezekiel Marley thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.