PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Marciano
vs
Black

180 cm
25
189 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocky Marciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Black!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marciano misses with a double jab.

Black gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Black lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Marciano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black controlling the action here for a moment.
Black prevents the takedown attempt.
Black lands an elbow inside that Marciano shrugs off.

It looks like Rocky Marciano has been cut.
Black lands an elbow that stopped Marciano in his tracks for a moment.
Marciano blocks an uppercut.
Marciano drops down looking for an ankle pick but Black pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Marciano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Black gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano tries to break free but Black pushes him back against the cage.
Black lands a left hand.
Black lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Black has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Marciano is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Marciano is trying to drag Black to the mat but Black just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Black lands with a left to the head.
Black throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marciano blocks it with crossed arms.
Black misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Black misses with a punch to the body.
Black tries to score a body lock takedown but Marciano shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Marciano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Marciano is looking to control Black's arms but Black gets an underhook and turns him. Now Marciano has his back to the cage.
Black comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Black decides to pull guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Marciano has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Black is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Black looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marciano is one step ahead there.
Black trying to control the position.
Marciano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marciano misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch but Marciano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marciano checks a leg kick nicely.
Black throws a low kick but Marciano moves out of range easily.
Marciano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rocky Marciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Black shoots in for a takedown but Marciano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marciano thows a body shot but no joy.
Marciano fails with a takedown attempt.
Marciano is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Marciano finds it's way through Black's defenses.
Marciano misses with a wild combination.
A big right from Black misses.
Black pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Marciano tries to clinch there but Black circles away.
Black doesn't manage to clinch there - Marciano circles away.
Black tries to clinch but Marciano moves out of range.
Black misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Black fails with an attempt to clinch.
Black avoids the body shot from Marciano.
Marciano lands with a good body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Black dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rocky Marciano's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Black throws a right and a left that Marciano avoids nicely.
Marciano shoots in and drives through. Black sprawls well.
Marciano misses with a combination
and Black counters with a nice kick to the body.
Marciano shoots in for a double leg but Black sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Black misses with a head kick.
Black dodges the punch combination from Marciano.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Marciano, as that shot connected.
Black turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Black leaves Marciano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Marciano. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Marciano gets tackled into the cage by Black. Black maintains the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Black is leaning against Marciano and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Marciano has Black pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Marciano pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Black tumbling to the mat - Marciano dives into Black's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Black has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Black manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Black lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to control but Marciano wriggling away.
Marciano is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Black looking to control but Marciano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black dominating with strikes here.
Black wants to control the pace but Marciano is squirming around nicely.
Black punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano is looking to improve his position but Black isn't that keen on the idea.
Black looking to control but Marciano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marciano is wriggling around trying to escape.
Black with shots to the head and body - Marciano looks very uncomfortable down there.
Black dominating with strikes here.
Black fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Black looking to control but Marciano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Black lands a big shot there that rocks Marciano but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black landing strikes, looking to finish!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black lands with some strikes.

Marciano is rocked!
Black looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oh Marciano is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Black postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Marciano badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Black around the waist but Black pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Black is the winner by TKO! Black jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Black!