PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Marquez (ranked 7464 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Bartholemew (ranked 3003 p4p, 0 weight class). Craig Bartholemew has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marquez
vs
Bartholemew

182 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francisco Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Craig Bartholemew!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bartholemew tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bartholemew goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marquez prevents it.
Marquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bartholemew pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bartholemew takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Marquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bartholemew clinches up with Marquez and pushes him back against the cage.
Marquez lands with a right to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez lands a shoulder strike.
Marquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Marquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bartholemew tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marquez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marquez fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marquez moves into the clinch successfully.
Marquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bartholemew has him pressed against the cage.
Marquez tries to pull guard but Bartholemew holds him up against the cage and eventually Marquez drops back down to his feet.
Bartholemew wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Marquez gets control of Bartholemew's arms and successfully pulls guard. Marquez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bartholemew won't allow Marquez to sweep him here.
Marquez keeping moving, preventing Bartholemew from controlling successfully.

Marquez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bartholemew defends well.
Bartholemew must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marquez is trying to control the position but Bartholemew postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez seems keen to control Bartholemew's posture.
Marquez keeping moving, preventing Bartholemew from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Marquez working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bartholemew looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bartholemew looks for a takedown but Marquez sprawls well.
It appears Marquez was looking to counter with a kick there.
Francisco Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Bartholemew.

Marquez clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew tries for a takedown but Marquez manages to get underhooks.
Bartholemew tries to pull guard but Marquez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Marquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bartholemew just stands there and leans against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Marquez stalling against the cage.
Bartholemew has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Marquez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bartholemew is trying to break free.
Bartholemew taking a breather.
The referee calls for Marquez to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bartholemew managing to block the knees to the body from Marquez.
Bartholemew fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Marquez is trying to pull guard but Bartholemew turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Marquez manages to break the clinch.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown but Bartholemew shows good takedown defense.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bartholemew sprawls well. Bartholemew wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Marquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Bartholemew throws the kick towards the body but Marquez avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marquez but Marquez pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Marquez clinches up with Bartholemew and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Marquez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bartholemew throws a one two combo.
Marquez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bartholemew finds it's way round the side to connect with Marquez's head.
Marquez keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marquez.
Marquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marquez tries to clinch up.
Marquez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez avoids the head kick by Bartholemew.
Bartholemew gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Marquez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Marquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Bartholemew, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francisco Marquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemew misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bartholemew.
Marquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bartholemew can do to turn this around?

Marquez closes the distance and clinches.

Marquez jumps guard and drags Bartholemew to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bartholemew stopping the sweep attempt from Marquez.
Bartholemew stands and throws Marquez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bartholemew trying to control the action but Marquez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew in the domination position with Marquez hanging on.
Marquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bartholemew looking to control but instead Marquez has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Bartholemew seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marquez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bartholemew tries to stand and escape but Marquez is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez wants to get back to full guard.
Marquez is working hard here to advance position.
It looks like Bartholemew is going to stand back up.

Bartholemew is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marquez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bartholemew wants to free his trapped foot but Marquez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bartholemew will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
It looked like Marquez was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bartholemew.
Marquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bartholemew throws a series of punches but Marquez moves out of range.
Marquez digs a good body shot into Bartholemew's ribs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marquez.
Marquez sets himself, and Bartholemew steps forward looking for the clinch! Marquez avoids it this time.
Marquez has a takedown stuffed.
Bartholemew tries to close the distance and clinch but Marquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bartholemew misses with a wild combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bartholemew is looking to clinch but Marquez is avoiding it.
Marquez feinted with a counter takedown.
Bartholemew takes one on the button.
Bartholemew fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Craig Bartholemew will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marquez shoots in and drives through. Bartholemew sprawls well.
Bartholemew moves in looking to clinch but Marquez pushes him off.
Marquez is looking to counter the offense by Bartholemew and move into the clinch.
Marquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bartholemew as he avoids it easily.
Marquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bartholemew.
It looked like Marquez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bartholemew throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marquez moves in looking to clinch but Bartholemew pushes him off.
Bartholemew is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Marquez gets a clinch.
Bartholemew fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marquez pulls guard successfully.
Bartholemew trying to control the position from guard on top but Marquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bartholemew wants to stand but Marquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marquez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bartholemew controls the pace.

Marquez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bartholemew defends it easily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bartholemew not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nice sprawl there from Bartholemew as Marquez shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francisco Marquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bartholemew on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bartholemew is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marquez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bartholemew throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Marquez clinches up with Bartholemew and pushes him back against the cage.
Marquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bartholemew has him pressed against the cage.
Bartholemew wants to stall.
Bartholemew wants a takedown but no success here.
Marquez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bartholemew.
Bartholemew is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marquez to keep the fight standing.
Bartholemew gets underhooks to prevent Marquez's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew tries for a takedown but Marquez manages to get underhooks.
Marquez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marquez blocks a body shot from Bartholemew.
Marquez tries for a takedown but Bartholemew manages to get underhooks.

Bartholemew breaks the clinch.
Marquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bartholemew.
Bartholemew throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marquez's waist but Marquez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bartholemew off to one side.
Bartholemew takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Marquez drives through and clinches with Bartholemew against the cage.
Marquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bartholemew gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bartholemew lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bartholemew misses with a hook from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bartholemew misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bartholemew avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bartholemew trying to control the position but instead, Marquez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bartholemew into the cage.
Bartholemew is looking to take this one to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francisco Marquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marquez 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francisco Marquez!