PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Weston Hodkiewicz (ranked 1025 p4p, 2398 weight class) and Luka Marka (ranked 147 p4p, 321 weight class). Hodkiewicz comes to the cage accompanied by Big Pimpin'. Marka has chosen The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hodkiewicz
vs
Marka

172 cm
25
175
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
177
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conquer

HARDCORE
Hardcore Alchemy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Weston Hodkiewicz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luka Marka!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, John Mangel and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marka digs a good body shot into Hodkiewicz's ribs.
Hodkiewicz moves out of range as Marka strikes.

Marka has closed the distance and engaged Hodkiewicz in a clinch.
Hodkiewicz lands a nice uppercut.
Hodkiewicz has Marka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Marka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hodkiewicz digs a right hand into Marka's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Marka's gas tank.
Hodkiewicz tries to throw a body punch but Marka avoids it by throwing Hodkiewicz back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Marka.

Marka has hold of one of Hodkiewicz's legs. Hodkiewicz is fighting the takedown attempt but Marka gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Marka stands up over Hodkiewicz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Marka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hodkiewicz is keeping the position for now.
Marka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
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!
Marka won't allow Hodkiewicz to sweep him here.

Hodkiewicz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marka distracts Hodkiewicz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hodkiewicz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marka is aware though and is defending well.
Marka landing some decent shots from guard.
Marka scoring with some ground and pound.
Marka passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Marka scores with a couple of short elbows.
Marka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hodkiewicz keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hodkiewicz is trying to improve his position.
Marka in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hodkiewicz sneaks back into half guard.

Marka is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hodkiewicz has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hodkiewicz actively working from the bottom here.
Marka landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Marka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hodkiewicz is looking for a sweep. Marka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marka working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marka lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marka not doing much here.
Marka looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hodkiewicz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hodkiewicz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hodkiewicz actively working from the bottom here.
Hodkiewicz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hodkiewicz.
Marka trying to control but Hodkiewicz is working from the bottom.
Marka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hodkiewicz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hodkiewicz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hodkiewicz throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Marka escapes and throws Hodkiewicz's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Hodkiewicz is looking to regain half guard here but Marka keeps moving and retains side control.
Hodkiewicz gets back to half guard.
Marka scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Marka wants to control but Hodkiewicz is keeping him busy.
Marka trying to mount his opponent but Hodkiewicz defends it.

Hodkiewicz is defending against the submission attempts here by Marka.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Marka dominated that round.
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.

Marka misses the shot to the body.
Marka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marka misses with a straight right.
Marka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Marka misses with a hook
and Hodkiewicz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A punch lands to the side of Hodkiewicz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marka misses with a hook. Hodkiewicz ducked under it nicely.
Marka looks to throw the jab but Hodkiewicz is out of range.
Marka misses with a hook
and Hodkiewicz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marka tries to clinch up
and Hodkiewicz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marka connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hodkiewicz. Hodkiewicz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marka lands an overhand right.
Marka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hodkiewicz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hodkiewicz just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Marka! But no joy.

Hodkiewicz closes the distance and clinches.
Marka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hodkiewicz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marka's elbow.
Marka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Hodkiewicz jumps into guard, dragging Marka to the mat.
Hodkiewicz keeping moving, preventing Marka from controlling successfully.

Hodkiewicz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marka defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hodkiewicz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hodkiewicz is on top in guard.

Hodkiewicz passes into half guard.

Hodkiewicz is working for a submission of some sort.

Marka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hodkiewicz pulls his head out easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hodkiewicz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marka has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hodkiewicz is working for a kimura but Marka is defending it quite comfortably.

Hodkiewicz is working for a kimura here but Marka manages to reverse the position and he's now in Hodkiewicz's guard.

Hodkiewicz is looking for a triangle but Marka pushes his legs off easily.
Marka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Hodkiewicz has his foot on Marka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marka works his way back into a safe position though.

Hodkiewicz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Marka is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marka wants to control from the top but Hodkiewicz keeps moving.

Hodkiewicz has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Marka is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hodkiewicz.
Luka Marka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hodkiewicz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marka scoring with punches from side control.
Hodkiewicz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hodkiewicz struggling a bit here.
Marka trying to control the action but Hodkiewicz is working from the bottom.
Marka looks up at the clock and then as Hodkiewicz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Marka smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Luka Marka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Marka. Hodkiewicz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marka is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Marka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hodkiewicz lands a nice looking body shot.
Marka scores with a jab to the head.
Hodkiewicz staying out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Hodkiewicz misses the target.
Marka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Marka scores with a jab to the head.
Marka avoids the body shot from Hodkiewicz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marka misses with a looping left.
It looked like Hodkiewicz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Hodkiewicz gets tackled into the cage by Marka. Marka maintains the clinch.
Hodkiewicz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Marka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hodkiewicz misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodkiewicz blocking some punches.
Marka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hodkiewicz backwards.
Marka is working Hodkiewicz over against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Marka.
Hodkiewicz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marka's elbow.
Marka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Marka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hodkiewicz takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Marka lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hodkiewicz or not.
Marka crunches a lovely knee into Hodkiewicz's ribcage.
A body shot lands from Marka.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marka lands a good knee to the midsection. Hodkiewicz won't want to take too many of those.
Marka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Marka.
Marka scores with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Marka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hodkiewicz backwards.
Marka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Luka Marka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right from Marka.
Marka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Marka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hodkiewicz.
Hodkiewicz working aggressively here.
Hodkiewicz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marka's elbow.
Marka lands a knee to the body.
Marka gets through Hodkiewicz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Marka gets through Hodkiewicz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Marka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hodkiewicz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marka's elbow.
Marka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Marka scores with a shoulder strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Marka obliges.
Marka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hodkiewiczs head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Marka.
Marka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hodkiewicz backwards.
Marka with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hodkiewicz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Marka with a knee to the head.
Marka scores with a knee to the head.
Marka crunches a lovely knee into Hodkiewicz's ribcage.
Marka lands a right hand.
Marka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hodkiewicz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Marka.
Marka gets through Hodkiewicz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hodkiewicz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Luka Marka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hodkiewicz tries to throw a body punch but Marka avoids it by throwing Hodkiewicz back against the cage.

Hodkiewicz pulls guard effortlessly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marka stays in close to Hodkiewicz's body and controls the position.
Marka looking to pass the guard.
Marka is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hodkiewicz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Weston Hodkiewicz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Marka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hodkiewicz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marka has managed to get both his arms back between Hodkiewicz's legs - danger averted.
Marka controlling from the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luka Marka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 26:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luka Marka!
Luka Marka bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
Weston Hodkiewicz spoke after the fight, saying 'This one hurts, it really does. I mean, he came to the cage in a dentist's outfit. I didn't know the Village People could fight.'.