PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Marx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wesley Reaper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marx comes to the cage accompanied by S.O.S. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marx
vs
Reaper

204 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Marx!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wesley Reaper!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reaper has a takedown stuffed.
Reaper swats away the attempt to clinch by Marx.

Reaper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Marx turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Marx manages to end up in side control.
Marx wants to control but Reaper is keeping him busy.
Reaper avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Marx.
Reaper struggling a bit here.
Reaper is not content to let Marx control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Reaper's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marx working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Marx wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reaper keeps working.

Marx goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Reaper has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Marx but great work by Reaper.
Reaper controlling the position from side mount.
Reaper wants to take a breather but Marx manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Reaper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marx is pulling down on Reaper's head to control his posture.

Reaper stands up and waves to Marx to follow him.
Marx tries to land a front kick but Reaper steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Marx fails with the takedown.
Reaper looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marx misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marx tries to clinch
and Reaper counters with a low kick, right behind Marx 's knee.
Reaper is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Reaper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marx.
Reaper will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
John Marx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wesley Reaper.
Marx misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marx is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Marx. No joy for Reaper on that attempt.
Reaper fails with a takedown attempt.
Reaper fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marx as he avoids it easily.
Marx avoids the head kick by Reaper.
Marx tries to clinch there but Reaper circles away.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marx but Marx pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Marx closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reaper circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Marx as Reaper shoots in.
Marx shoots for a takedown but Reaper saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reaper forces Marx back against the cage and clinches.

Reaper ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Reaper no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Marx has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marx tries to free his leg and advance position but Reaper is retaining full 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 John Marx will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Marx showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Reaper.
Marx throws out a loose jab but Reaper uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marx shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reaper defends it nicely.
Marx misses with a jab, cross combination.

Reaper closes the distance and clinches.
Marx's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Reaper prevents the takedown attempt.
Reaper tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marx is pressed up against the cage. Reaper has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marx down to the mat. Marx avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
John Marx is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marx stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marx wants it to stay on the feet.
John Marx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wesley Reaper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marx is fending him off so far but Reaper persists. Nope, Marx circles away and we're back to standing.
Marx throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reaper's waist but Reaper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marx off to one side.
Marx looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reaper looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reaper fails with a takedown attempt.
Marx connects with a high kick.
Marx shoots in but no luck this time.
Reaper shoots for a double leg takedown but Marx sprawls well. He's pushed Reaper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Marx. No joy for Reaper on that attempt.
Reaper doesn't manage to clinch there - Marx circles away.
Marx is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Reaper is defended easily by Marx.
Marx lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marx as he jumps to the side.

Marx drives through and clinches with Reaper against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marx is trying to push Reaper away but Reaper has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Reaper pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reaper tries to clinch up but Marx circles away and keeps his distance.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marx as he jumps to the side.
John Marx is winning the standup battle so far.
Reaper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marx shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marx tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reaper swivels and escapes.
Reaper throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marx is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marx shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reaper as he jumps to the side.

Marx tries to keep at a distance but Reaper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marx drops down looking for an ankle pick but Reaper pulls his leg out and moves away.

Reaper clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reaper breaks from the clinch.
Marx tries to clinch but Reaper is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wesley Reaper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Marx's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Reaper is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Marx wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Reaper breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marx misses with a takedown attempt - Reaper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Reaper avoids a kick to the body.
Marx is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reaper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marx stuns Reaper with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Reaper has managed to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Marx tries to pull guard but Reaper forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Marx. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice right hand lands inside from Reaper.
Reaper pressing his opponent against the cage.
Reaper tries to score a body lock takedown but Marx shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reaper has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marx after a bit of a struggle.
Reaper wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Reaper works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Marx jumps into guard, dragging Reaper to the mat.
Marx is trying to keep Reaper in close.
Reaper sitting in guard here, content to control.
Reaper wants to control from the top but Marx keeps moving.
Marx trying to keep a closed guard but Reaper is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Good standup being displayed there by Reaper as he connects with a hook.
Reaper shoots in for a takedown but Marx shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Reaper. No joy for Marx on that attempt.
Reaper is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marx sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reaper fails with a takedown attempt.

Reaper moves into the clinch.
Reaper is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Marx pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marx lands an elbow that stopped Reaper in his tracks for a moment.
Reaper is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marx pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Reaper with that takedown attempt.
Reaper fails to land the takedown.
Reaper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Reaper is defended easily by Marx.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marx tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reaper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marx somewhat.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wesley Reaper.
I think Reaper 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 for Wesley Reaper!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for John Marx!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Wesley Reaper!

Wesley Reaper wins by split decision!