PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Marcos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zero has chosen Fozzy's "Shine Forever" as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Marcos
vs
Zero

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raymond Marcos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Zero!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marcos's waist but Marcos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zero off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Marcos. No joy for Zero on that attempt.
Marcos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Raymond Marcos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marcos scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Marcos misses with a left hand
and Zero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Raymond Marcos has been cut.
Marcos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zero manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marcos wants to clinch.
Zero throws a head kick but Marcos moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zero.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Marcos tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zero wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Marcos is not content to let Zero control the position.

Zero stands up and beckons Marcos to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero misses with a wild combination.

Marcos closes the distance and clinches.
Zero can't get the takedown.
Raymond Marcos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Zero.
Marcos leaning his opponent against the cage.
Zero fails to pull guard.
Zero goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marcos prevents it.
Zero is working for takedown but Marcos is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zero is trying to pull guard but Marcos has him pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Marcos.
A nice left hand lands by Marcos.
Marcos lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcos stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zero is trying to drag Marcos to the mat but Marcos just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Marcos scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zero's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marcos is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Marcos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zero backwards.
A short uppercut from Marcos.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Marcos misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Marcos.
Marcos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Marcos lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zero backwards.
Zero has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marcos after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcos throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zeros head.
Marcos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zero wants to take the fight to the mat but Marcos manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zero fails to pull guard.
Zero drops down looking for an ankle pick but Marcos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zero swats away the attempt to clinch by Marcos.
Marcos wants to clinch up but Zero keeps it at a distance.
Marcos tries to clinch up
and Zero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marcos tries to close the distance and clinch but Zero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marcos lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcos tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zero counters with a shoot takedown. Marcos fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zero decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Marcos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zero.
Zero takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Marcos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marcos is looking to clinch but Zero is avoiding it.
Marcos wants to clinch
and Zero counters with a low kick, right behind Marcos 's knee.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marcos slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zero fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
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 Raymond Marcos will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Raymond Marcos's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marcos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Marcos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zero takes a shot to the head.
Marcos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Marcos lands a damaging elbow.
Marcos lands a left hand.
Marcos working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zero has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marcos after a bit of a struggle.

Zero decides to pull guard.
Zero trying to control the position here.

Zero uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Raymond Marcos is winning the standup battle so far.
Marcos tries to clinch up but Zero circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcos scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zero shoots in for a takedown but Marcos shows good takedown defense.
Zero shoots in for a double leg but Marcos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Raymond Marcos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Zero.
Nice sprawl there from Marcos as Zero shoots in.
Zero is breathing heavily.
Marcos lands with an uppercut that bounces Zero off the cage and back into range.

It looks like Ray Zero has been cut.
Zero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marcos's waist but Marcos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zero off to one side.
Marcos tries to clinch there but Zero circles away.
Marcos wants to clinch

so Zero counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marcos being controlled here, momentarily.
Marcos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marcos can't keep his opponent in guard - Zero advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcos trying to control from the bottom.
Zero is trying to control the action in half guard but Marcos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Zero stands up from half guard.
Marcos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zero manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marcos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zero.
Marcos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zero fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Raymond Marcos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marcos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zero.
Marcos fails with an attempt to clinch.

Marcos has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Marcos.
Marcos lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Raymond Marcos has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Zero lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zero prevents Marcos from improving his position.
Marcos wants to control the action here but instead Zero manages to pass to full mount!
Zero prevents Marcos from getting the reversal.
Marcos is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Zero is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Marcos to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Marcos shrugs it off.
Zero can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Marcos is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcos tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero controlling from mount.
Zero is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Marcos can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zero looking for a guillotine from mount but Marcos is having none of it.
Marcos is looking to improve his position but Zero isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zero trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ray Zero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zero is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Marcos can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Zero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Marcos connects with a right hand. Zero shakes it off.
Marcos misses with a combination

and Zero counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Zero drops back looking for a leg! Marcos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Marcos manages to kick Zero off! Zero jumps back into Marcos's guard.
Marcos keeping full guard, as Zero tries to pass.
Zero trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcos throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zero is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcos keeping moving, preventing Zero from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Marcos wants to get back to his feet but Zero is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Ray Zero has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Zero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zero circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zero changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marcos tries to avoid it but Zero manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marcos to the ground. Marcos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marcos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marcos wants it to stay on the feet.
Raymond Marcos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Zero.
Zero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marcos fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Zero.
Zero shoots in looking for a takedown. Marcos tries to sprawl out of it but Zero keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Marcos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marcos is looking to clinch but Zero is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marcos forces Zero back against the cage and clinches.
Marcos throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zeros head.
Marcos prevents the takedown attempt.
Marcos lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zero backwards.

Zero has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Marcos regains guard immediately.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zero won't allow Marcos to sweep him here.

Zero decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Marcos, up you get!
Marcos tries to clinch up.
Marcos tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zero counters with a straight right hand.
Zero lands a jab to the head.
Raymond Marcos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Marcos moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcos lands with a left to the head.
Zero's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zero is trying to drag Marcos to the mat but Marcos just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Marcos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Marcos slows down the pace here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Marcos creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zero wants to take the fight to the mat but Marcos manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Zero is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Marcos pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marcos taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero wants a takedown but no success here.
Marcos scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Marcos.
Marcos lands a damaging elbow.
Zero is looking to take this one to the mat.
Marcos landing knees to the head.
Marcos stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Marcos gets through Zero's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Marcos looking to slow down the pace here.
Zero changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Marcos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marcos lands with a good body shot.

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 Raymond Marcos.
I think Marcos 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Raymond Marcos!