PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shannon Khoury (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Davis
vs
Khoury

176 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Davis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shannon Khoury!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khoury on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Khoury stuffs the takedown.
Davis misses with a low kick.
Khoury is trying hard to land a takedown here. Davis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Khoury stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Khoury wants it to stay on the feet.
Khoury dives in and grabs Davis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes down on Khoury's head and hops out.
Khoury fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marcus Davis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shannon Khoury.
Davis scores with a kick to the body.
Davis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khoury avoids it really well and circles away.
Davis looks to throw the jab but Khoury is out of range.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but Khoury shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Davis with a lazy takedown attempt

and Khoury counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis can't do much from the bottom here.

Khoury stands up.
Khoury looks gassed!
Nice sprawl there from Khoury as Davis shoots in.
Davis shoots and misses

and Khoury counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Khoury.
Davis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Khoury jumps guard but Davis stands there with Khoury around his waist. Khoury gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Khoury missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khoury jumps guard but Davis stands there with Khoury around his waist. Khoury gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Davis tries for a takedown. No joy.
Davis stops a takedown attempt from Khoury.
Davis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Khoury fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Marcus Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khoury blocks the body kick.
Davis closes the distance and clinches up with Khoury, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes Khoury against the cage but Khoury circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Davis shoots and misses

and Khoury counters by moving into the clinch.
Davis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Khoury prevents it.
Khoury is trying to drag Davis to the mat but Davis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Khoury keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Davis's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis jumps guard but Khoury stands there with Davis around his waist. Davis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Davis just leaning against Khoury, taking a breather.

Khoury ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Khoury no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Davis stands and steps away. Khoury gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Khoury throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Davis's waist but Davis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Khoury off to one side.
Khoury is looking to clinch but Davis is avoiding it.
Davis misses with a takedown attempt - Khoury sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Davis looks for a takedown but Khoury sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Davis.
Khoury throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Davis misses with a head kick.
Davis with a poor takedown

and Khoury counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Khoury tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Khoury tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Davis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Khoury tries to pull guard but Davis won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Khoury pulls guard.

Khoury is looking for a triangle but Davis pushes his legs off easily.
Davis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shannon Khoury dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Davis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khoury sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Davis somewhat.
Davis has his takedown stuffed
and Khoury counters with a head kick. That will keep Davis thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Davis doesn't manage to clinch there - Khoury circles away.
Marcus Davis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Davis throws a head kick that misses

and Khoury moves into the clinch.
Khoury tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Davis smiles and moves away.
Davis doesn't manage to clinch there - Khoury circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khoury avoids the head kick by Davis.
Nice sprawl there from Khoury as Davis shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Davis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khoury fails with a takedown attempt.
Davis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khoury's waist but Khoury gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Davis off to one side.
Khoury avoids the head kick by Davis.
Khoury clinches but Davis breaks the clinch

and Davis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Davis.
Davis is pressed up against the cage. Khoury has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Davis down to the mat. Davis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Khoury tries to keep at a distance but Davis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Davis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Khoury.
Khoury is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khoury tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Davis pulls guard effortlessly.
Davis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Davis is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Khoury dives into side control.
Davis struggling a bit here.
Khoury in the domination position with Davis hanging on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khoury has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Khoury looks to clinch

and Davis counters by clinching up.
Davis taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Davis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Khoury fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Davis.
Davis throws out a loose jab but Khoury uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khoury needs to keep his hands up - Davis had a free shot at his head there.

Khoury fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Davis, pushing him back against the cage.
Davis looking to throw knees to the head but Khoury is blocking nicely.
Khoury fails to pull guard.
Davis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Davis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Khoury has him pressed against the cage.
Davis is trying to drag Khoury to the mat but Khoury just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Khoury throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Khoury drags the fight down to the ground.
Khoury is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Davis controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shannon Khoury will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Davis is defended easily by Khoury.
Davis doesn't manage to clinch there - Khoury circles away.

Khoury rushes Davis and presses him up against the cage.
Davis scores a nice knee to the body.
Davis keeps control of Khoury as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The referee calls for Davis to work.
Khoury gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Davis.
Khoury wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khoury keeps control of Davis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Davis avoids the elbow strike from Khoury, against the cage.
Davis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Davis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Davis looks for a takedown but Khoury sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davis looks to clinch

and Khoury holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Khoury jumps guard but Davis stands there with Khoury around his waist. Khoury gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Khoury is working for takedown but Davis is calmly controlling the position for now.
Khoury takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Khoury is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Davis is trying to drag Khoury to the mat but Khoury just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Davis gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Khoury regains guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis is looking to stand up but Khoury won't let him.
Khoury is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Davis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Khoury on the ground.

Khoury escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Davis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Khoury has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Davis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Davis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Davis's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Khoury had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Davis defends it easily.
Davis is stalling in the full guard.

Davis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Khoury, up you get!

Davis rushes Khoury and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis slows down the pace here.

Davis pulls guard effortlessly.

Davis wriggles free and stands up.
Davis throws out a powerful jab.
Davis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Davis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Davis misses with a double jab

and Khoury moves into the clinch.
Marcus Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shannon Khoury is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Davis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Khoury smiles and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Davis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Khoury 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!