PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Travis Bickle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cranky Mark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bickle comes into the arena with Edu Kehäkettunen & Stig Dogg - Kullii blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bickle
vs
Mark

185 cm
24
182 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
182 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Travis Bickle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cranky Mark!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bickle connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mark throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mark lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bickle looks to land a right hand but Mark moved out of range.
A head kick misses from Mark.
Mark takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bickle looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bickle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A head kick misses from Mark.
Bickle will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Mark uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bickle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mark swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bickle misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Bickle.
That kick from Bickle tenderised Mark's leg. Mark is trying to keep his angry face on.
Travis Bickle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Mark there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mark throws a sloppy head kick and Bickle moves out of range easily.
Bickle checks the leg kick.
Mark does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bickle tries a head kick but it misses.
Bickle turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mark swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bickle lands a really nice looking cross but Mark seems unphased.
Mark lands a leg kick that knocks Bickle off balance momentarily.
Mark throws a chopping leg kick but Bickle manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Bickle connects with a jab.
Bickle throws a hook to the side of Mark's head but Mark sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mark connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mark throws a leg kick
and Bickle counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mark's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mark.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bickle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mark.
Mark takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Cranky Mark has been cut.
Travis Bickle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Mark.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bickle.
Bickle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mark.
An inside leg kick from Mark misses.
Mark throws a body kick that misses.
Mark misses with a low kick.
A shot to the body from Bickle misses

and Mark counters with a takedown into side control.
Bickle is trying to control Mark's posture but Mark avoids it.
Mark working the ground and pound but Bickle is defending the strikes.
Mark has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle sneaks back into half guard.
Mark with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bickle wants to improve his position but Mark is controlling well.
Bickle is trying to maintain the position but Mark is very close to passing his half guard.
Bickle tries to get to full guard but Mark has control of the leg.
Mark not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bickle desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Mark content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mark is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bickle is controlling Mark's trapped leg to prevent Mark from advancing to side control.
Bickle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bickle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mark tries to free his leg and advance position but Bickle is retaining full guard.
Mark throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mark stands up over Bickle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bickle wants to stand up but Mark is controlling him.
Bickle keeping moving, preventing Mark from controlling successfully.
Bickle is controlling Mark's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
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 Travis Bickle will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cranky Mark's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mark scores with a kick to the midsection.
Bickle on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mark is looking to land body kicks.
Bickle has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mark.
Mark tries to land a front kick but Bickle steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mark throws a front kick aimed at Bickle's knee but Bickle avoids it well.
A good leg kick by Mark.
Bickle loads up on a big right hand but Mark slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mark. Bickle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mark scores with a leg kick.
Bickle is looking to slow Mark down with leg kicks.
Bickle scores with the left hand. Mark knows he should have avoided that one.
Mark looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Mark is predictable there
and Bickle makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mark throws a head kick that misses.
Bickle tries to land a front kick but Mark steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bickle feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Marks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bickle swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mark.
Bickle throws a leg kick

and Mark counters with a single leg into guard. Bickle didn't expect that.
Mark working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bickle looking to control.
Mark trying to control but Bickle is working from the bottom.
Bickle pulls Mark in close to prevent any damage.
Bickle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cranky Mark has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle seems keen to control Mark's posture.
Bickle keeping moving, preventing Mark from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bickle controls Mark momentarily but Mark frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
It looks like Bickle has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Bickle misses with the body kick

so Mark counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bickle is trying to control the position but Mark postures up.
Mark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bickle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mark slips nicely into half guard.
Mark thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bickle's head.

Mark is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bickle defends it well.
Mark trying to control from half guard but Bickle is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle trying to control from the bottom.
Mark missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
My spies in Araba Fenice inform me that Mark has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Bickle is trying to control but can't.
Bickle controlling the position well.
Bickle wants to control but Mark is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mark passes into side control, despite Bickle's attempt to control the position.
Bickle is trying to control Mark's posture but Mark avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bickle is not content to let Mark control the position.
Bickle wants to control but Mark postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mark cracks Bickle with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Bickle gets back to half guard.
Bickle is trying to control but can't.
Bickle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mark's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mark's back!
Mark trying to control the position but Bickle manages to sink in the hooks.
Mark is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Mark staying busy and making it hard for Bickle to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cranky Mark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cranky Mark's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mark slips under a jab.
Mark tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Travis Bickle is winning the standup battle so far.
Bickle ducks right into an uppercut from Mark.
Bickle is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mark lands a leg kick that knocks Bickle off balance momentarily.
Bickle is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bickle checks a leg kick.
Mark throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mark thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bickle if he has to take too many more of those.
Bickle throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mark's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bickle throws a leg kick that is checked

and Mark counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mark wants to control from the top but Bickle keeps moving.
Bickle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mark scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bickle is keeping the position for now.
Bickle looking to control.
Mark in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mark landing with the ground and pound.
Mark trying to control the position from guard on top but Bickle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bickle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bickle has his hands on Mark's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mark misses with a leg kick.
Bickle connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mark throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mark takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Decent striking displayed by Mark there.
Bickle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mark uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bickle.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mark.
Mark misses with a leg kick
and Bickle counters with a nice uppercut.
Bickle tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Mark is able to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle connects with a solid leg kick.
Mark displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bickle throws out the jab.
Mark takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mark has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Bickle.
Mark connects with an inside leg kick.
Mark goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bickle takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mark checks a leg kick.
Mark finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bickle checks a leg kick.
Bickle takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Bickle lands with a hook. Mark tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bickle cracks the inside of Mark's front leg.
Mark throws a jab but it's blocked by Bickle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bickle connects with an inside leg kick.
Mark with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mark takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mark takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Bickle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mark.
Bickle throws a jab but it's blocked by Mark.
Mark throws a sloppy head kick and Bickle moves out of range easily.
Bickle lands with a cross.
Mark throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mark checks a low kick from Bickle.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cranky Mark.
I think Mark 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cranky Mark!
Cranky Mark seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.