PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Ficken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Aurelius (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.

Ficken
vs
Aurelius

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Steve Ficken!
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, Marcus Aurelius!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aurelius shoots in looking for a takedown. Ficken tries to sprawl out of it but Aurelius keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ficken manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Aurelius shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Aurelius showed some decent athleticism there.
Ficken trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aurelius missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Aurelius is working for a kimura but Ficken is defending it quite comfortably.
Aurelius looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius is trying to control the action in half guard but Ficken is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ficken is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aurelius's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aurelius's back!
Aurelius tries to roll but Ficken sticks to his back.
Aurelius is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ficken doesn't have the hooks in and Aurelius manages to turn into his guard.
Aurelius won't allow Ficken to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ficken is trying to keep Aurelius in close.
Ficken keeping moving, preventing Aurelius from controlling successfully.
Aurelius looking to pass the guard.
Aurelius controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Marcus Aurelius.
Aurelius looks for the body kick but Ficken saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius looks for a takedown but Ficken sprawls well.

Ficken closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ficken lands in his opponent's guard.

Aurelius has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ficken can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ficken trying to control but Aurelius is working from the bottom.

Aurelius is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ficken is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius wants to sweep here but Ficken controlling him for the moment.
Ficken is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ficken is looking to work some ground and pound but Aurelius has wrist control.
Ficken's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ficken wants to control from the top but Aurelius keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Steve Ficken.
Ficken fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aurelius shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ficken counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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 Steve Ficken will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aurelius throws a nice looking combination but Ficken bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aurelius fails with the takedown.
Steve Ficken is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ficken throws a right hand that Aurelius ducks under and follows up with a left that Aurelius also avoids with ease.
Aurelius shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ficken as he jumps to the side.
Ficken looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aurelius fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Steve Ficken has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Aurelius.

Ficken clinches up with Aurelius and pushes him back against the cage.
Ficken tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ficken gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Aurelius has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Aurelius tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Aurelius is breathing heavily.

Ficken manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Aurelius or perhaps it was just good defense by Ficken which made him look bad.

Ficken gets a takedown into half guard.
Ficken slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ficken looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aurelius flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Aurelius is trying to maintain the position but Ficken is very close to passing his half guard.
Ficken with the ground and pound but Aurelius uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Aurelius wants to sweep but no luck.
Ficken trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ficken slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius wants to get back to full guard.
Aurelius controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Ficken controlling the action here.
Ficken frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ficken trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve Ficken overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aurelius is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Aurelius is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Aurelius is squirming around, avoiding Ficken's attempts to control the action.
Aurelius wants to control but Ficken is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ficken punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ficken trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Ficken dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Aurelius has a takedown stuffed.
Ficken shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Aurelius eats them both and turns towards Ficken to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ficken misses with a kick to the body.
Ficken tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Aurelius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Aurelius throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ficken throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ficken takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ficken tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aurelius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ficken looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ficken throws a jab when Aurelius was well out of range.
Aurelius is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ficken sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Aurelius closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ficken to the mat! Ficken manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aurelius wants to control from the top but Ficken keeps moving.
Ficken trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius trying to control but Ficken is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steve Ficken wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Aurelius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ficken manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ficken is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aurelius sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marcus Aurelius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left and a right from Ficken both land. Nice combination.
Aurelius fails with the takedown

and Ficken counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Steve Ficken has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Aurelius.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Aurelius looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ficken has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Aurelius is desperately trying to improve his position but Ficken has a good base and remains in mount.
Aurelius is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ficken tries to control but Aurelius wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ficken controlling the position easily from mount.
Aurelius working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ficken trying to control but Aurelius is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Ficken showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ficken has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Ficken!