PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Josie Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Skjelbred (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marquez comes to the cage accompanied by the most annoying Mexican polka music you have heard in your life. Skjelbred comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bad To The Bone kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring each other down here, as John Skjelbred enters the cage!

Marquez
vs
Skjelbred

173 cm
23
148 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

175 cm
34
124 lbs
24 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ace of Spades Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josie Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Skjelbred!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skjelbred throws a series of punches but Marquez avoids them all with ease.
Marquez scores with a body shot.
Skjelbred paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Marquez tries to work over Skjelbred's front leg with a kick but Skjelbred checks it.
Skjelbred has a takedown stuffed.
Skjelbred misses with a wild body shot.
Marquez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Marquez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marquez throws a right hand that Skjelbred ducks under and follows up with a left that Skjelbred also avoids with ease.
Marquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marquez stuns Skjelbred with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Skjelbred is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Marquez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Marquez throws a shot from downtown. Skjelbred moves away and avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice uppercut there from Skjelbred.
Marquez misses the jab.
Skjelbred misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Marquez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fighters circling - Marquez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Skjelbred misses with a body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Skjelbred. Marquez shrugs it off though.
Marquez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Marquez, as that shot connected.
Skjelbred throws a head kick that misses.
Skjelbred misses with a looping right.
Marquez with a hook.
Skjelbred misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marquez swinging wildly here.
Skjelbred misses with a takedown attempt - Marquez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marquez misses with an uppercut.
Josie Marquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marquez stalks Skjelbred and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Skjelbred's face. Skjelbred staggers backwards, shaken.

Skjelbred is rocked!

It looks like John Skjelbred has been cut.
Marquez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Skjelbred counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Skjelbred shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marquez's guard.
Marquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Skjelbred is looking to advance position but Marquez has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Skjelbred working to try and regain half guard.
Marquez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Marquez controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Marquez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Marquez controlling from mount.
Marquez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Marquez content just to control the position here.
Skjelbred avoids a series of strikes thrown by Marquez.
Skjelbred is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Marquez controlling the pace for now.
Skjelbred is squirming around, avoiding Marquez's attempts to control the action.
Skjelbred really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marquez wants to control the pace but Skjelbred is squirming around nicely.
Skjelbred tries to hold on but Marquez postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josie Marquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Skjelbred's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A head kick misses from Skjelbred.
An inside leg kick lands from Skjelbred.
Skjelbred avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Marquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marquez keeps the fight on the outside.
A looping hook to the body misses from Skjelbred. Marquez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marquez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Skjelbred tries to move into range but Marquez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A head kick misses from Skjelbred.
Skjelbred takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marquez throws a right hand that misses
and Skjelbred counters with a right hand to the body.
Skjelbred will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Skjelbred thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Marquez if he has to take too many more of those.
Skjelbred keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Skjelbred.
Marquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marquez misses with a hook.
Marquez lands with a straight right. Skjelbred didn't see that one coming.
Marquez jabs Skjelbred right on the nose. Skjelbred blinks but takes it well.
Marquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Skjelbred.
Marquez throws a nice looking combination but Skjelbred bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marquez throws a leg kick that is checked

and Skjelbred counters by moving into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Marquez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Marquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Skjelbred.
Skjelbred stalling in the clinch but Marquez improves position.
Marquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Skjelbred jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Marquez walks away with a smile on his face. Skjelbred gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez takes a swing at Skjelbred's ribcage but misses.
Marquez lands a nice looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Skjelbred misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marquez. Skjelbred does a little dance to reset his feet.

Skjelbred has taken the fight to the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Skjelbred.

Marquez breaks from the clinch.
Marquez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Skjelbred fails with an attempt to clinch.
John Skjelbred is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Skjelbred tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Marquez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Skjelbred, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Marquez stuns Skjelbred with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skjelbred lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Skjelbred throws a head kick but Marquez moves out of range.
Skjelbred is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Marquez rather than just go for the knockout.
Skjelbred showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marquez.
Skjelbred tries to close the distance and clinch but Marquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A swing and a miss from Marquez.
Skjelbred shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marquez pinned against the cage. Marquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Josie Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Skjelbred.
Skjelbred misses with a wild combination.
Skjelbred misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marquez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Skjelbred sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Skjelbred throws a right and a left that Marquez avoids nicely.
Skjelbred fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez throws a looping overhand right but Skjelbred ducks down to avoid it.
Skjelbred dodges the punch combination from Marquez.
Skjelbred misses with a combination
and Marquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marquez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Skjelbred is still on wobbly legs! Can Marquez finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marquez throws a jab when Skjelbred was well out of range.
Marquez misses with a hook. Skjelbred ducked under it nicely.
Marquez tries to bum rush Skjelbred with a series of wild strikes but Skjelbred uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Skjelbred blocks a jab.
Skjelbred walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Marquez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Skjelbred is looking to clinch but Marquez is avoiding it.
Marquez fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Skjelbred is out of range.
Marquez swinging wildly here.
Marquez tries to bum rush Skjelbred with a series of wild strikes but Skjelbred uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marquez misses with the combination.
Skjelbred looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Marquez throws a lazy uppercut
and Skjelbred counters with a stiff right hand.
Skjelbred seems to have recovered his senses.
Josie Marquez is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marquez misses with an uppercut.
Skjelbred staying out of range there.
Skjelbred will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice body punch from Marquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josie Marquez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Skjelbred's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Skjelbred lands a nice looking body shot.

Skjelbred has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marquez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Skjelbred up against the cage.

Skjelbred pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marquez controls from within his opponent's guard.

Skjelbred looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Marquez advances to half guard.
Marquez stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Skjelbred knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Marquez is stalling here. Skjelbred is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Marquez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Skjelbred has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Skjelbred goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Marquez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Skjelbred's guard! Nice work there by Marquez!
Skjelbred is trying to control the position but Marquez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Skjelbred looking to control.
Marquez stays in close to Skjelbred's body and controls the position.
Marquez throwing strikes but missing.
Skjelbred avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Marquez works the jab nicely.
Marquez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Skjelbred throws a hook to the side of Marquez's head but Marquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Marquez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Skjelbred moves in looking to clinch but Marquez pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Skjelbred ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Skjelbred walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Marquez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The fighters circling - Marquez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Skjelbred takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Marquez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Good work by Skjelbred as he checks the leg kick.
Marquez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Marquez.
Skjelbred dives in and grabs Marquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marquez pushes down on Skjelbred's head and hops out.
Marquez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Skjelbred throws a series of punches but Marquez avoids them all with ease.
Marquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Skjelbred.
Marquez lands an overhand right.
John Skjelbred has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez misses with a hook

and Skjelbred moves into the clinch.
Josie Marquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marquez letting Skjelbred take a breather here.
Skjelbred goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marquez prevents it.
Marquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skjelbred lands with a left to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Skjelbred.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Skjelbred.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josie Marquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marquez, 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josie Marquez!
An out of breath Josie Marquez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.