PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Valerio Bartoli (ranked 309 p4p, 44 weight class) and Jhin Markell (ranked 338 p4p, 46 weight class). Bartoli's entrance music is Modulate - Bass Alert. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bartoli
vs
Markell

180 cm
23
170 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

182 cm
30
182 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valerio Bartoli!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jhin Markell!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartoli ducks under a wild hook from Markell.
As Markell backs away, Bartoli returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Markell.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Markell tries to advance to mount but Bartoli denies him.
Bartoli avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Markell.
Bartoli is looking to reverse the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Markell.
Markell works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markell working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Markell misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bartoli takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bartoli's coaches at AK Beasties have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Markell tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartoli struggling a bit here.
Markell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Markell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bartoli keeps working.
Bartoli is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markell throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bartoli can't do much from the bottom here.
Bartoli dodges the ground and pound from Markell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Markell tries to move to mount but Bartoli blocks the move with his legs.
Bartoli taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bartoli is looking to reverse the position.
Bartoli is working hard here to advance position.
Markell trying to control the action but Bartoli is working from the bottom.

Markell tries for a kimura but Bartoli is defending well.
Markell tries to advance to mount but can't.
Markell is looking to take a break and control but Bartoli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bartoli parries the strikes from Markell easily there. Markell is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bartoli to escape.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Markell working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markell is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Markell wants to control but Bartoli is keeping him busy.
Bartoli takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bartoli struggling a bit here.
Markell throws an elbow but Bartoli slips to the side and avoids it well.
The strikes coming from Markell are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Markell is working Bartoli over with some ground and pound from side control.

Markell looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Markell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bartoli knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markell tries to move to mount but Bartoli blocks the move with his legs.
Markell creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bartoli sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Markell looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bartoli is avoiding damage well.
Markell wants to control but Bartoli is keeping him busy.
Markell laying and praying for a moment but Bartoli takes advantage and regains half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Markell content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhin Markell dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bartoli takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Markell scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bartoli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Markell throws a body punch but Bartoli moves out of range.
Markell misses with a takedown
and Bartoli counters with a left to the body.
Jhin Markell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartoli lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bartoli throws a jab but it's blocked by Markell.
Markell shoots in looking for a takedown. Bartoli tries to sprawl out of it but Markell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bartoli manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markell looks to score with a jab to the body but Bartoli is just out of range.
A jab from Markell misses.
Bartoli swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bartoli keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Valerio Bartoli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhin Markell.
Markell throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Markell swings widly with a right hand

and Bartoli counters with a nice right hand that sends Markell toppling to the canvas! Markell scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Bartoli finish him?!

Markell is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Markell. Bartoli does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markell takes a swing at Bartoli's ribcage but misses.
Bartoli is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markell misses the body punch
and Bartoli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Markell is still on wobbly legs! Can Bartoli finish him?
Bartoli lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bartoli wants to slow Markell down by chopping away at his legs.
Markell wants to counter with a clinch but Bartoli pushes him away.
Markell seems to have recovered his senses.
Markell misses with a wild body shot.
Bartoli throws a quick counter head kick but Markell was just out of range.
Jhin Markell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Markell fails with the takedown
and Bartoli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Markell throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bartoli counters with a huge right that knocks Markell out cold! Bartoli is running around with a crazed look on his face - you can see how much that meant to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Valerio Bartoli!
Valerio Bartoli retains his welterweight title!
In his post fight interview, Valerio Bartoli started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.