PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zab Neri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Marques (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Neri
vs
Marques

180 cm
20
263 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, Zab Neri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Marques!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neri looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Neri. Marques shrugs it off though.
Marques looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Neri shoots in and bounces Marques off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Neri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marques keeping full guard, as Neri tries to pass.
Neri might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Neri gets to his feet - Marques follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neri scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Neri scores with a takedown into Marques's guard.
Neri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marques is keeping the position for now.
Marques avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Neri sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marques can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neri wants to stand but Marques is controlling his posture from full guard.
Marques really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Neri. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Neri throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neri passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Neri wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marques, who protects the arm well.

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.
Neri looks up at the clock and then as Marques takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Neri smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Neri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marques keeps working.
Neri tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zab Neri dominated that round.
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.

Marques fails with the takedown

and Neri counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Neri seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Neri distracts Marques with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Neri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marques preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Neri sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Neri trying to control the position from guard on top but Marques is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Neri tries to stand but Marques is controlling from the bottom.
Neri wants to control from the top but Marques keeps moving.
Marques seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Neri looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marques is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zab Neri dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A left and a right from Marques both land. Nice combination.

Neri feints and as Marques raises his hands in defense, Neri changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Neri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marques swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Marques is trying to keep Neri in close.
Marques keeping moving, preventing Neri from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neri sitting in guard here, content to control.
Neri trying to control but Marques is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Zab Neri just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Marques changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Neri looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Neri's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neri is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Neri trying to control from the bottom.
Neri throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neri is looking to control Marques's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Neri avoid being mounted?
Neri tries to roll over but Marques keeps him under control.
Well, if Marques 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neri gets full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rafael Marques.
Well Neri has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zab Neri!