Quick Fight Championship PBP Commentary

Main event

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tsyuoshi Taranaki (ranked 3044 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francisco Marquez (ranked 3450 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Taranaki
vs
Marquez

175 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

182 cm
25
157 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tsyuoshi Taranaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francisco Marquez!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marquez looks for a takedown but Taranaki sprawls well.
Marquez blocks a head kick by Taranaki.
Marquez wants to counter the offense by Taranaki and move into the clinch position.
Marquez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taranaki avoids it really well and circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Taranaki blocks the leg kick.
Taranaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Marquez shoots in looking for a takedown but Taranaki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Marquez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Marquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Marquez. No joy for Taranaki on that attempt.
Marquez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taranaki's waist but Taranaki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marquez off to one side.
Marquez avoids the body shot from Taranaki.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Taranaki but Taranaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marquez clinches up with Taranaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Marquez is trying to push Taranaki away but Taranaki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Taranaki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Marquez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Taranaki up against the cage.

Marquez gets control of Taranaki's arms and successfully pulls guard. Marquez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Marquez is trying to keep Taranaki in close.
Taranaki wants to pass the guard but Marquez is keeping the position.
Taranaki stops Marquez from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez looking to control.

Marquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taranaki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Taranaki wants to control from the top but Marquez keeps moving.
Taranaki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Taranaki throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taranaki leaves Marquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taranaki as he avoids it easily.
Marquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taranaki.
Taranaki shoots in and drives through. Marquez sprawls well.
Taranaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taranaki appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Marquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Taranaki sprawls well. He's pushed Marquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Marquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Taranaki keeps control of Marquez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Marquez is trying to pull guard but Taranaki has him pressed against the cage.
Taranaki lands a nice shot to the body.
Taranaki jumps guard but Marquez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Taranaki is working for takedown but Marquez is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marquez successfully pulls guard.
Marquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Taranaki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Marquez working a defensive guard here.
Marquez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taranaki pushing down on Marquez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Francisco Marquez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marquez ducks right into an uppercut from Taranaki.
Marquez dives in and grabs Taranaki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taranaki pushes down on Marquez's head and hops out.
Taranaki throws a right and a left that Marquez avoids nicely.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Marquez as he avoids it easily.
Marquez darts in looking for a takedown but Taranaki gets double underhooks and turns Marquez into the cage.
Marquez misses with the combination.
Taranaki was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Marquez.
Taranaki slaps away a takedown attempt from Marquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranaki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Marquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Taranaki fails to land the takedown.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Marquez takes the fight into the clinch.

Taranaki breaks from the clinch.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki is winning the standup battle so far.
Marquez fails with the takedown
and Taranaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marquez tries for a takedown but Taranaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taranaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Marquez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Marquez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taranaki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taranaki is trying to maintain a safe position but Marquez gets an underhook and turns Taranaki into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Marquez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taranaki.

Taranaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taranaki tries to clinch up
and Marquez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marquez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Taranaki can pounce on him.
Marquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taranaki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taranaki wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marquez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Marquez dives in and grabs Taranaki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taranaki pushes down on Marquez's head and hops out.
Danga de danga de dang - Marquez scores with a four punch combination!
Marquez tries to clinch but Taranaki moves away
and Taranaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taranaki dives in and grabs Marquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marquez pushes down on Taranaki's head and hops out.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taranaki goes for a double leg but Marquez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Marquez continues to drive forward.
Taranaki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marquez circles away quickly and effectively.

Marquez gets tackled into the cage by Taranaki. Taranaki maintains the clinch.
Marquez has Taranaki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Taranaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Marquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Marquez tries for a takedown but Taranaki manages to get underhooks.

Taranaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marquez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Marquez is rocked!

It looks like Francisco Marquez has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Marquez. No joy for Taranaki on that attempt.
Marquez is still on wobbly legs! Can Taranaki finish him?
Marquez leaves Taranaki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taranaki.
Marquez wants to clinch but Taranaki slips to the side
and Taranaki counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Taranaki misses with a takedown attempt - Marquez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marquez unleashes a big counter combination but Taranaki bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taranaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marquez unleashes a big counter combination but Taranaki bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taranaki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Marquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taranaki somewhat.
Marquez misses with a head kick.

Marquez drives through and clinches with Taranaki against the cage.
A short uppercut from Taranaki.

Taranaki jumps into guard, dragging Marquez to the mat.
Taranaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taranaki wants to sweep here but Marquez controlling him for the moment.
Taranaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taranaki is trying to keep Marquez in close.
Marquez passes Taranaki's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Taranaki is pressing down on Marquez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taranaki looking to control.
Marquez being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tsyuoshi Taranaki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Francisco Marquez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taranaki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A chopping leg kick lands by Taranaki.
Taranaki misses with a takedown attempt - Marquez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taranaki as he avoids it easily.
Marquez seems to have recovered his senses.

Marquez pushes Taranaki up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez wants to take the fight to the mat but Taranaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Taranaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Marquez has managed to clinch.
Taranaki is pressed up against the cage. Marquez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taranaki down to the mat. Taranaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francisco Marquez.
Marquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki wants to clinch up but Marquez keeps it at a distance.

Marquez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marquez fails to pull guard.
Taranaki tries to break free but Marquez pushes him back against the cage.
Taranaki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Marquez's efforts to push away.
Marquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taranaki just stands there and leans against the cage.
Taranaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marquez.
Marquez leaning his opponent against the cage.
Taranaki is trying to drag Marquez to the mat but Marquez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Marquez controlling the action here for a moment.
Marquez tries to pull guard but Taranaki won't allow it.

Marquez pulls guard successfully.
Marquez is trying to keep Taranaki in close.
Marquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Marquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taranaki is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taranaki is one step ahead there.

Taranaki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Marquez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Taranaki has Marquez in his guard.

Marquez passes Taranaki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Marquez is taking a breather. Taranaki says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taranaki is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Francisco Marquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taranaki wants to improve his position but Marquez is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taranaki wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francisco Marquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Francisco Marquez!