PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keller Marley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fernandez
vs
Marley

188 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keller Marley!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Marley.
Fernandez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fernandez wants it to stay on the feet.

Marley clinches up with Fernandez and pushes him back against the cage.
Marley is working for takedown but Fernandez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fernandez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Marley pulls his leg out and moves away.

Marley dives in and scores a takedown into Fernandez's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fernandez is controlling Marley's posture.

Fernandez kicks Marley off and gets to his feet.
Marley tries for a takedown but Fernandez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alex Fernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keller Marley.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marley shoots in and drives through. Fernandez sprawls well.

Fernandez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fernandez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Marley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fernandez.
Fernandez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Marley controlling the position for now.
Marley looks gassed!
Fernandez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marley has hold of Fernandez's hands but Fernandez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Fernandez lands with a punch from half guard.
Fernandez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Fernandez drops an elbow to the side of Marley's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is controlling the pace.
Fernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fernandez wants to take a breather but Marley is having none of it.
Fernandez working Marley over with strikes.
Fernandez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fernandez is trying to control. Marley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fernandez thows a huge punch but Marley dodges it nicely.
Fernandez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fernandez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fernandez connects with a nice short shot to Marley's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez thows a huge punch but Marley dodges it nicely.
Fernandez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marley keeps working.
Fernandez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Marley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fernandez.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Marley can do anything to dispel that myth.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marley is refusing to be controlled, as Fernandez sits in half guard.
Fernandez tries to pass to full mount but Marley defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fernandez throws a looping overhand right but Marley ducks down to avoid it.

Marley dives in and scores a takedown into Fernandez's guard.
Marley stopping the sweep attempt from Fernandez.
Fernandez trying to keep a closed guard but Marley is proving a slippery customer.
Fernandez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fernandez uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marley shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fernandez as he avoids it easily.
Marley is breathing heavily.
Marley looks for a takedown but Fernandez sprawls well.

Marley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fernandez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fernandez trying to control but Marley is working from the bottom.
Fernandez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Alex Fernandez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fernandez shoots in for a takedown but Marley shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernandez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Marley enables Fernandez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Marley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fernandez forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fernandez wants to free his trapped foot but Marley is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez wants to control but Marley is keeping him busy.
Fernandez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fernandez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fernandez trying to mount his opponent but Marley defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fernandez controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Fernandez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fernandez working Marley over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Fernandez dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Marley gets caught napping as Fernandez dives in and scores a takedown. Marley manages to retain guard.
Fernandez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fernandez trying to control but Marley is working from the bottom.
Fernandez 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.
Fernandez scoring with some ground and pound.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Marley keeps moving.
Fernandez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Marley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alex Fernandez.
Marley leaves Fernandez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fernandez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fernandez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marley tries to avoid it but Fernandez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marley to the ground. Marley escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernandez shoots in looking for a takedown. Marley tries to sprawl out of it but Fernandez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fernandez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Fernandez as Marley shoots in.
Fernandez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marley moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marley shoots in for a double leg but Fernandez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Marley fails with a takedown attempt.

Fernandez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Marley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fernandez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fernandez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is looking to work some ground and pound but Marley has wrist control.
Marley keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Fernandez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Marley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fernandez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alex Fernandez just wasn't active enough.
Fernandez dives in and grabs Marley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marley pushes down on Fernandez's head and hops out.

Fernandez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Marley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Keller Marley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fernandez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Marley wants to get back to his feet but Fernandez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fernandez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fernandez with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marley keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.
Alex Fernandez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fernandez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Fernandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fernandez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight for Alex Fernandez!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Alex Fernandez!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Alex Fernandez!

Alex Fernandez wins by unanimous decision!