PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paulo rodrigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Markson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulo rodrigo is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

rodrigo
vs
Markson

180 cm
20
165 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

176 cm
21
157 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo rodrigo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kyle Markson!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
rodrigo swinging wilding here.
rodrigo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
rodrigo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Markson.
rodrigo takes a swing at Markson's ribcage but misses.
rodrigo misses with a looping left.
rodrigo misses with a two punch combination.
Markson swats away the attempt to clinch by rodrigo.
Markson slips a jab and a cross from rodrigo.
Markson fails with the takedown.
Markson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from rodrigo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Markson.

rodrigo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but rodrigo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Paulo rodrigo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Markson.
rodrigo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Markson backwards.

rodrigo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Markson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
rodrigo taking some punishment here, with Markson in his half guard.
Markson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Markson is trying to work for a kimura but rodrigo is defending well.
Markson wants to take a breather but rodrigo is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markson throwing shots but rodrigo is blocking nicely.
rodrigo trying to control here.
rodrigo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
rodrigo is not content to let Markson control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Markson slips a straight right by rodrigo.
rodrigo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Markson manages to avoid it.
A big right from rodrigo misses.
Paulo rodrigo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Markson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from rodrigo.
A combination from rodrigo does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rodrigo misses with a double jab.
Paulo rodrigo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Markson gets a takedown into half guard.

Markson is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed rodrigo to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Markson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Markson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Markson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Markson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! rodrigo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Markson, into his guard.
Markson has control of rodrigo's left arm, preventing rodrigo from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markson working a defensive guard but rodrigo passes into half guard.
Markson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Markson looking for a sweep. Not yet Markson, not yet.
Markson has control of rodrigo's left arm, preventing rodrigo from doing any damage.
Markson is trying to keep rodrigo in close.
rodrigo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Markson has momentary wrist control but rodrigo slips an elbow through the middle.
rodrigo works over Markson with some ground and pound from guard.
rodrigo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paulo rodrigo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

rodrigo throws a series of punches but Markson avoids them all with ease.
rodrigo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Markson.
rodrigo misses with a jab, cross combination.

Markson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
rodrigo sneaks back into half guard.
Markson is stalling here. rodrigo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Markson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and rodrigo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Markson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked rodrigo off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
rodrigo is in bad spot here.
rodrigo is trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Markson is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. rodrigo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markson scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

rodrigo preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Markson.

Markson looking to break rodrigo's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. rodrigo remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Markson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Markson is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. rodrigo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
rodrigo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Markson throwing shots but rodrigo is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markson misses with a head shot. rodrigo uses the momentum to regain guard.

rodrigo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Markson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
rodrigo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Markson stands and steps away. rodrigo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
rodrigo tries to clinch up.
rodrigo fails in his attempt to clinch.
rodrigo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paulo rodrigo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rodrigo looks to land a combination but Markson avoids it well.
Markson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Markson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from rodrigo.
Markson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by rodrigo.
rodrigo is looking to clinch but Markson is avoiding it.

Markson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Markson drops back, looking for a kneebar! rodrigo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. rodrigo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from rodrigo!
Markson wants to control but rodrigo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on rodrigo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Markson gets back to full guard.
Markson is controlling rodrigo's posture.
Markson looking for a sweep. Not yet Markson, not yet.
rodrigo stops Markson from standing up.
Markson controlling rodrigo's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Markson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

rodrigo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
rodrigo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Markson smiles and moves away.
rodrigo fails with an attempt to clinch.
rodrigo loads up on a big right hand but Markson slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
rodrigo misses with a hook.
Markson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
rodrigo throws a right hand that Markson ducks under and follows up with a left that Markson also avoids with ease.
Markson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from rodrigo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rodrigo misses the shot to the body.

Markson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. rodrigo is trying to defend but Markson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
rodrigo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Markson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Markson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. rodrigo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Markson.
Kyle Markson has got the better of the ground game so far.
rodrigo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Markson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markson is keen to just control but rodrigo is a slippery customer.
Markson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Markson trying to mount his opponent but rodrigo defends it.
rodrigo is not content to let Markson control the position.
Markson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing rodrigo to regain full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Markson.
Markson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear rodrigo down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Markson decides to stand back up.
rodrigo cracks Markson with a good jab.
Some wild striking there from rodrigo.

Markson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Markson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… rodrigo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by rodrigo and Markson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Markson fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Markson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Markson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
rodrigo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Markson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
rodrigo is not content to let Markson control the position.
Markson is trying to ground and pound but rodrigo uses the momentary lack of control by Markson to regain half guard.
rodrigo trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Markson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Markson 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Markson!