PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johan Marco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maki Lam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Marco
vs
Lam

165 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johan Marco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maki Lam!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marco wants to clinch up but Lam keeps it at a distance.
Lam fails with the takedown.
Marco is looking to clinch.

Marco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lam sprawls well initially but Marco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Marco trying to control the action but Lam is working from the bottom.
Marco looks to land a strike but Lam avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Marco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lam manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Marco is looking to get to half guard.
Lam wants to control the pace but Marco is squirming around nicely.
Marco is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marco is wriggling around trying to escape.
Marco tries to hold on but Lam pushes him away.
Lam controlling from mount.
Marco is trying to escape the mount.
Lam tries to control but Marco wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lam avoids the attempt from Marco to control.
Lam looking to finish Marco with some ground and pound. This is bad for Marco!
Marco working to try and regain half guard.
Lam lands a big shot there that rocks Marco but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lam avoids the attempt from Marco to control.
Lam trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Marco can't escape the position.
Marco tries to hold on but Lam postures up.
Marco is breathing heavily.
Marco working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marco is working hard here to advance position.
Lam with the ground and pound from mount.
Lam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marco tries to reverse the position but Lam maintains control.
Marco bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Marco trying to control but Lam is working from the bottom.
Lam looking for a sweep. Not yet Lam, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lam wants to get back to his feet but Marco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lam is controlling Marco's posture.
Lam is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lam keeping moving, preventing Marco from controlling successfully.
Marco prevents Lam from getting back to his feet.

Lam manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Lam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marco swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marco wants to clinch up but Lam keeps it at a distance.
Marco moves in looking to clinch but Lam pushes him off.
Marco moves out of range as Lam throws a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maki Lam will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lam sprawls well initially but Marco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Marco working Lam over with strikes.
Marco wants to pass the guard but Lam is defending well.
Marco sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Marco not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lam trying to control from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Marco lands a nice short elbow.
Marco is looking to pass Lam's guard but actually Lam recovers to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marco trying to control the position from guard on top but Lam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lam not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marco postures up in Lam's guard and throws a big left but Lam blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Marco shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Marco was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Marco looking to ground and pound but Lam is blocking nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by Marco there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Marco goes for an armbar but Lam turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Lam.
Lam with a nice head shot there.
Lam stopping the sweep attempt from Marco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marco is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marco controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Marco wants to control from the top but Lam keeps moving.
Marco knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lam on the ground.
Marco lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Marco looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marco scoring with punches to the head and body.
Marco distracts Lam with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Marco stands up over Lam, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Marco advances position into side control!
Marco trying to control the action but Lam is working from the bottom.
Marco moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Marco in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lam takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Marco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lam keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marco just content to control the position.
Marco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lam keeps working.

Marco is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lam is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lam struggling a bit here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Marco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Marco dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marco tries to clinch up but Lam circles away and keeps his distance.
Johan Marco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marco lands with a kick to the temple. Lam shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Marco swinging wilding here.
Johan Marco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lam fails with the takedown

and Marco counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lam looking to control.
Marco chips away with some ground and pound.

Marco drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lam looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lam looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lam!
Lam trying to control the position but Marco is working away.
Lam controlling from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lam in side control lands a decent elbow.
Marco gets back to half guard.
Marco is trying to get back to full guard.
Lam wants to stand up but Marco has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Marco trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Lam punishing his opponent with strikes.
Marco really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Marco tries to hold on but Lam pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marco tries to reverse the position but Lam maintains control.
Lam tries to control but Marco wriggling away.
Marco is trying desperately to improve position.
Lam avoids the attempt from Marco to control.
Marco tries to reverse the position but Lam maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marco sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Marco trying to hold on to Lam's head to control him but Lam postures up.
Marco is looking to improve his position.
Lam tries to pass the half guard into mount. Marco knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marco keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marco tries to roll over but Lam keeps him under control.
Marco missing with punches from the bottom.
Marco trying to control but Lam postures up.
Johan Marco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lam blocks the strikes from Marco.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A shot to de liver by Marco. Beautiful body shot.
Lam with a poor takedown

and Marco counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lam can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Marco controls the pace.
Marco won't allow Lam to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Marco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marco 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Marco!