PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brian Marais (ranked 3176 p4p, 263 weight class) and Trymore Nkomo (ranked 5849 p4p, 382 weight class). Marais's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Offspring - Come Out And Play. Nkomo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by On the Floor. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Marais
vs
Nkomo

168 cm
19
138 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Sportivité

$10 Trap Queen Aesthetics

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Marais!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trymore Nkomo!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nkomo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marais's guard.

Marais escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nkomo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marais keeping moving, preventing Nkomo from controlling successfully.
Nkomo tries to free his leg and advance position but Marais is retaining full guard.

Marais is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Marais working for submissions but it's allowed Nkomo to get to half guard.
Marais is trying to get back to full guard.
Nkomo is keen to just control but Marais is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nkomo is looking to advance position but Marais won't allow it.

Marais looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nkomo trying to pass the guard but Marais defending well.

Nkomo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Marais sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marais manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Marais tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nkomo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Marais drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Nkomo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marais throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Nkomo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nkomo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marais is one step ahead there.

Marais thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nkomo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marais postures up and lands a big shot to Nkomo's brow.
Marais works over Nkomo with some ground and pound from guard.
Nkomo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marais stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nkomo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marais trying to control the position from guard on top but Nkomo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marais is pushing down on Nkomo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nkomo is fighting to maintain full guard but Marais has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nkomo wants to get back to full guard.
Marais looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Marais is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nkomo works his way to full guard. Good work.

Marais drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Marais jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nkomo controls Marais momentarily but Marais frees himself.
Marais postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marais missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Nkomo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marais is aware though and is defending well.
Nkomo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marais would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've been informed that Nkomo has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Marais has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Marais won't allow Nkomo to sweep him here.

Nkomo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Marais drops back looking for a leg! Nkomo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nkomo manages to kick Marais off! Marais jumps back into Nkomo's guard.
Marais throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marais drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Marais seems to have locked his on tight now - Nkomo screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Marais, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Brian Marais!
Brian Marais thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Trymore Nkomo was interviewed post fight and said 'They don't call me "Brave" for nothing.'.