PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Garvey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melekh David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garvey's entrance music is One Loaf of Bread -- Damian Marley. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Garvey
vs
David

170 cm
27
152 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

170 cm
25
154 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marcus Garvey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melekh David!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
David uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Garvey.

Garvey shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Garvey gets to his feet. David looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
David throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Garvey fails with an attempt to clinch.
David throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Garvey misses with a low kick.
David lands a jab to the head.
A big right from David misses.
Garvey shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
David misses with an uppercut.
David misses with a double jab.
Marcus Garvey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Garvey finds it's way through David's defenses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garvey lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garvey defending well as David loads up on a big left hand.
David stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Garvey throws a head kick but David moves out of range.

David closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
David missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
David has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Garvey is looking for a sweep. David is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garvey tries to kick David off but David keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Garvey is trying to control but can't.
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. David connects with a nice short shot to Garvey's temple.
The fighters are battling for position here. Garvey manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garvey is trying to control the position from the bottom.
David in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garvey is trying to keep David in close.
David is looking to work some ground and pound but Garvey has wrist control.
David preventing the sweep.
Garvey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garvey not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
David stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garvey swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Marcus Garvey just wasn't active enough.
David checks the leg kick.
Garvey tries to land a front kick but David steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A nice inside leg kick there by Garvey. That's going to slow David down.
David uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Garvey.
David swings and misses with a hook to the body.
David doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Garvey counters with a nice low kick that buckles David's knee momentarily.
Garvey moves forwards but David connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Garvey misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garvey connects with a looping right hand.
David uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Garvey.
Nice straight punches there by David. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of David.
Garvey throws a leg kick but David sees it coming and checks it nicely.

David closes the distance and clinches.
David blocks a body shot from Garvey.
Garvey can't find room to land a body shot as David controls the action.

David pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
David scores with a one two! Garvey had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Garvey throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
David lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Garvey misses with a head kick.

David clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Melekh David will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

David moves out of range of the strikes.
A combination from David does no damage.
David throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Garvey counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Garvey keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from David.
David tries to bum rush Garvey with a series of wild strikes but Garvey uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

David clinches.
Garvey lands a nice uppercut.
David looking to slow down the pace here.
Garvey presses David against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by David.
Garvey lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt David or not.
David is trying to pull guard but Garvey has him pressed against the cage.

David jumps guard and drags Garvey to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
David lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Garvey!

That's one minute gone in the round.
David lands with some strikes.
Garvey avoids a series of strikes thrown by David.

David looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

David goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Garvey is on top in guard.
Garvey wants to get up but he can't break David's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garvey controls from within his opponent's guard.

David is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garvey defends well.
David tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garvey would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
David looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Garvey wanted to stand there but David had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marcus Garvey wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Garvey scores with a crisp jab that stopped David in his tracks.

Garvey gets tackled into the cage by David. David maintains the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Garvey.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garvey misses with a hook to the ribs.
Garvey lands a hook that snaps the head of David backwards.
Garvey struggles to land a body shot inside as David controls his hands.
Garvey misses with a punch to the body.
Garvey swings wildly with an uppercut but David uses good head movement to avoid it.
David has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Garvey after a bit of a struggle.
David prevents a body shot from Garvey.
David effectively controlling the action here.
Garvey is trying to force a seperation but David has the dominant position.
Garvey tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
David blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Garvey lands with a right to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garvey is trying to force a seperation but David has the dominant position.

David breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garvey leaves David with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Marcus Garvey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melekh David.
Garvey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
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 Marcus Garvey will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Garvey scores with a jab to the body.
Garvey takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
David lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
David moves out of range of the leg kick from Garvey.
David closes this distance looking for a takedown but Garvey circles away.
David throws a poor cross that misses
and Garvey cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
David fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Garvey tries to clinch there but David circles away.
Melekh David seems to be getting the better of the standup.
David throws a right and a left that both miss.

Garvey closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
David wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garvey tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
David trying to hold on to Garvey's head to control him but Garvey postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
David misses with a jab, cross combination.
David misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David closes this distance looking for a takedown but Garvey circles away.
Marcus Garvey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melekh David.
David throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Garvey.
Melekh David is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
David blocks a leg kick.
David will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
David drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
David might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Garvey working aggressively here.

David pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garvey misses with a straight right.
David throws the left hand but Garvey avoids the punch easily.

Garvey looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for David!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garvey wants to control the pace but David is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
David tries to reverse the position but Garvey maintains control.
Garvey trying to control but he's not successful this time.
David is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garvey content just to control the position here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
David is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcus Garvey.
I think Garvey has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Melekh David!
After the fight, Melekh David was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.