PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Mrka (ranked 22115 p4p, 5524 weight class) and Jean Jacque Custo (ranked 518 p4p, 444 weight class). Mrka comes to the cage accompanied by Prokofiev. The key to victory for Ivan Mrka has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mrka
vs
Custo

175 cm
22
157
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
21
152
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ivan Mrka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Jacque Custo!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mrka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Custo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mrka on his heels. He'll look to pass Mrka's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Custo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mrka wants to stand up but Custo is controlling him.
Custo looking to pass the guard.
Custo sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrka controls Custo momentarily but Custo frees himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Custo looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
We've been told by Mrka's head coaches at 3Band MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Mrka scores with a head kick.

It looks like Jean Jacque Custo has been cut.
Custo's coach down at Canucks Combat Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Custo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Mrka moves into the clinch successfully.
Custo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mrka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good body shot from Mrka.
Custo stalling against the cage.

Mrka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mrka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mrka works over Custo's head and body with a nice combination.

Custo is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Custo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mrka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Custo is in Mrka's guard.
Custo wants to pass the guard but Mrka is keeping the position.
Custo's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Custo trying to control but Mrka is working from the bottom.
Custo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mrka is keeping the position for now.
Mrka wants to stand and escape but Custo is having none of it.
Custo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mrka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Custo trying to control but Mrka is working from the bottom.
Custo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mrka misses with a looping left.

Custo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mrka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mrka looking for a sweep. Not yet Mrka, not yet.
Mrka keeping full guard, as Custo tries to pass.
Custo controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Custo prevents Mrka from getting back to his feet.
Custo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mrka is keeping the position for now.
Custo's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mrka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mrka throws a good cross that connects.

Mrka gets caught flat footed, as Custo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mrka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Custo is controlling him.
Mrka is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Custo dives into side control.
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 Ivan Mrka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jean Jacque Custo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mrka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Custo, pushing him back against the cage.

Mrka breaks from the clinch.
Custo keeps the fight on the outside.
Mrka sets himself, and Custo steps forward looking for the clinch! Mrka avoids it this time.
Mrka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mrka throws a head kick that misses.

Custo shoots in and bounces Mrka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mrka wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Custo manages to pass to side control.
Mrka is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Custo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mrka.
Custo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mrka being controlled here, momentarily.
Mrka wants to get back to his feet but Custo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Custo passes Mrka's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Custo moves nicely into side control.
Custo controlling the position.
Mrka sneaks back into half guard.
Custo trying to control the action but Mrka is working from the bottom.
Mrka is trying to maintain the position but Custo is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Custo tries to pass to full mount but Mrka defends it.
Custo trying to control the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Custo wants to free his trapped foot but Mrka is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jean Jacque Custo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mrka tries to clinch but Custo is having none of it.

Custo feints and as Mrka raises his hands in defense, Custo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Custo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Custo looking to pass the guard.
Mrka is looking to stand back up but Custo counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mrka.
Mrka pushes Custo off but Custo dives into side control.
Mrka is trying to buck Custo off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Custo taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Jacque Custo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jean Jacque Custo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mrka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Custo closes the distance and clinches up with Mrka, looking for a takedown. Custo pushes Mrka against the cage but Mrka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mrka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Custo.
Mrka scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice uppercut lands for Mrka. That snapped Custo's head back.
Horrible takedown attempt by Custo or perhaps it was just good defense by Mrka, which made it look bad.
Ivan Mrka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Jacque Custo.
Mrka connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Custo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Custo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Custo shoots in and gets a takedown into Mrka's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Custo prevents Mrka from getting back to his feet.
Custo tries to free his leg and advance position but Mrka is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Custo is controlling him.
Mrka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Custo won't allow Mrka to get back to his feet.
Custo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mrka misses with a head kick.
Custo tries to counter with a clinch but Mrka shakes him off and moves away.

Custo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mrka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mrka tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Custo punching from mount but Mrka doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Custo content just to control the position here.

Custo looking for a guillotine from mount but Mrka is having none of it.
Custo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mrka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Custo controlling the pace for now.
Mrka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Custo tries to control but Mrka wriggling away.
Custo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Custo is continuing to stall.
Custo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Custo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mrka is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Custo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Custo trying to control but Mrka is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mrka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jean Jacque Custo.
I think Custo 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 Topper Green scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jean Jacque Custo!
An out of breath and clearly excited Jean Jacque Custo thanked na for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).