PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josie Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marquez has chosen the most annoying Mexican polka music you have heard in your life as his entrance music. Josie Marquez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maia
vs
Marquez

167 cm
21
140 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
148 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josie Marquez!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marquez checks a low kick from Maia.
Maia throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Marquez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A jab from Marquez misses.
Maia takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Marquez thuds his right hand into Maia's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Marquez lands a nice shot to the body.
Maia throws a low kick, looking for Marquez's leg but Marquez calmly moves out of range.
Marquez punishes Maia's body with a nice straight punch.
Marquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marquez punishes Maia's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia throws a leg kick but Marquez sees it coming and moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Marquez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maia attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Marquez misses.
Sloppy strikes from Marquez. Those never looked like landing.
Maia fails with the takedown.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Marquez!

Maia is rocked!
Marquez lands a glancing blow to the side of Maia's head.
Oh Maia is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maia tried to score with a low kick but Marquez checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez throws out a powerful jab.
Marquez misses with a double jab.
Josie Marquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Maia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Marquez has wrist control.
Maia trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Marquez trying to control the position here.
Marquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maia seems to have got his legs back now.
Maia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marquez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Maia is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Maia works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia slips a nice elbow through Marquez's hands, connecting with Marquez's forehead.
Marquez wants to control but Maia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marquez trying to control but Maia postures up.
Ground and pound from Maia.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maia keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Marquez is not content to let Maia control the position.
Marquez wants to control but Maia is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia thows a huge punch but Marquez dodges it nicely.
Maia controlling the action here.
Marquez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maia.
Well, if Maia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maia missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marquez wants to improve his position but Maia is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marquez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josie Marquez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Some bone on bone action there as Marquez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Marquez lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.
Marquez looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Nice shot lands for Marquez.
Marquez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maia.
Maia shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marquez defends it nicely.
Marquez lands with a shot to the body.
Josie Marquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marquez.
Marquez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Marquez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maia.
Marquez looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Marquez.
Marquez lands a lovely overhand right.
A leg kick checked by Marquez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez misses with a body kick.
Marquez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Marquez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Fernando Maia has been cut.
Maia misses with a low kick.
Marquez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maia fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Marquez checks it well.
Marquez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marquez misses with a head kick.
Maia throws a leg kick but Marquez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Josie Marquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maia defending well as Marquez loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez misses with a wild combination.
Maia misses with a leg kick.
Maia throws a low kick but Marquez avoids it.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Marquez sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maia throws out a leg kick but Marquez moves out of range and Maia only half commits.
A clash of legs there as Marquez blocks the low kick.
Maia fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez jabs at Maia's body.
Marquez throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Maia throws a low kick but Marquez avoids it.
Maia fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Marquez checks it well.
Maia throws a low kick but Marquez moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marquez misses with a few strikes there.
Marquez cracks Maia with an open hand slap.
Marquez connects with the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josie Marquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fernando Maia's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Maia throws a leg kick but Marquez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Marquez looks for the body kick but Maia saw that one coming.
Marquez misses with a double jab

and Maia decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Marquez's guard.
Marquez wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
Maia throwing strikes but missing.
Marquez keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Marquez is retaining full guard.
Maia wants to control from the top but Marquez keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maia.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maia works over Marquez with some ground and pound from guard.
Maia wants to control from the top but Marquez keeps moving.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marquez is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia being controlled here momentarily.
Marquez keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.

Fernando Maia has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maia throws a chopping leg kick but Marquez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maia takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Marquez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Marquez throws out a loose jab but Maia uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marquez blocks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez scores with a three punch combo!
A combination from Marquez does no damage.
Maia moves out of range as Marquez strikes.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick from Maia misses.
Nice jab there from Marquez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia slips a straight right by Marquez.
Maia misses with a low kick.
Josie Marquez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Marquez just misses with a punch to the body.

Marquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Marquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Maia won't allow it.
Marquez prevents Maia from breaking the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia looking for a takedown.
Fernando Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia is trying to break the clinch but Marquez is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Fernando Maia.
I think Marquez 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josie Marquez!
A victorious Josie Marquez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.