PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Zombie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baldomir Markova (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.

Zombie
vs
Markova

188 cm
20
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Rob Zombie!
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, Baldomir Markova!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zombie throws a series of punches but Markova avoids them all with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Markova. No joy for Zombie on that attempt.
Zombie doesn't manage to clinch there - Markova circles away.

Zombie gets caught flat footed, as Markova shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zombie wants to sweep here but Markova controlling him for the moment.
Markova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zombie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Markova sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zombie is trying to keep Markova in close.
Zombie could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Markova sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Markova tries to free his leg and advance position but Zombie is retaining full guard.
Zombie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Markova slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombie is trying to control the position but Markova postures up.
Markova is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Markova's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Zombie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Markova's guard.
Markova wants to sweep but no luck.
Markova controlling the position.
Zombie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie trying to control but Markova is working from the bottom.
Zombie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Markova is proving hard to escape from.
Markova tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Markova has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zombie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Markova's guard.
Zombie is breathing heavily.
Markova punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zombie lands a jab to the nose.
Zombie tries to clinch but Markova moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zombie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zombie lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zombie swats away the attempt to clinch by Markova.

Markova clinches.

Markova works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Markova passes Zombie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Markova trying to mount his opponent but Zombie defends it.
Markova is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Markova controlling the action here.
Markova trying to control from half guard but Zombie is working away.
Markova prevents Zombie from standing back up.
Markova content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zombie trying to control here.
Markova thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zombie's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zombie throws a right hand that Markova ducks under and follows up with a left that Markova also avoids with ease.

Markova decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zombie wants to get back to his feet.
Zombie is trying to control but can't.
Zombie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zombie.
Zombie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Markova is in close to Zombie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Markova slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Markova pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zombie is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baldomir Markova dominated that round.
That's time! Zombie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zombie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Markova counters with a takedown into side control.
Markova controls the position.
Zombie struggling a bit here.
The referee asks Markova politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Markova prefers to stall for the moment though.
Zombie stops Markova from passing to mount.
Zombie wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
You can see the frustration on Zombie's face as Markova controls the position.
Zombie tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markova biding his time, controlling Zombie.
Markova scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Zombie is looking for a way out.
Markova trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Zombie doesn't escape.

Despite being in the dominant position, Baldomir Markova just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zombie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zombie throws a strike but Markova rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zombie is looking to stand up but Markova isn't so interested in that idea.

Zombie looking for a guillotine here but Markova defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markova lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Markova trying to control but Zombie is working from the bottom.
Markova stops Zombie from standing up.
Markova trying to control the position from guard on top but Zombie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zombie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Markova counters with a shoot takedown. Zombie fights it but they end up in guard.
Zombie wants to stand up but Markova is controlling him.
Markova must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zombie looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zombie keeping moving, preventing Markova from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markova stops Zombie from standing up.
Markova trying to control but Zombie is working from the bottom.

Zombie pushes Markova off and gets back to his feet.
Zombie fails with the takedown

and Markova counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Zombie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Markova passes to full mount!
Markova controlling the pace for now.
Zombie tries to buck Markova off but he can't manage it.
Markova controlling the pace for now.
Zombie tries to hold on but Markova pushes him away.
Markova takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Baldomir Markova just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Markova feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markova is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Markova stopping the sweep attempt from Zombie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baldomir Markova showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Zombie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Markova has Zombie up against the cage in a clinch.
Zombie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zombie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Markova smiles and moves away.
Zombie misses with a takedown attempt

and Markova counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Zombie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zombie tries to kick Markova off but Markova keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Markova not doing much here.
Zombie wants to get back to full guard.
Markova slips a nice elbow through Zombie's hands, connecting with Zombie's forehead.
Markova wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zombie keeps working.
Zombie trying to hold on to Markova's head to control him but Markova postures up.
Zombie is trying to stand back up but Markova is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markova sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Baldomir Markova has got the better of the ground game so far.
Markova takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zombie is trying to escape back to his feet but Markova uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Markova wants to control but Zombie is keeping him busy.
Zombie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Markova's best efforts.
Zombie looks like he's trying to stand up.
Markova content to control rather than advance.
Zombie wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Markova performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zombie is not content to let Markova control the position.
Markova is controlling the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Baldomir Markova just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Markova shoots in and bounces Zombie off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zombie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Markova controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zombie working a defensive guard here.
Markova stops Zombie from standing up.
Markova is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Baldomir Markova just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zombie shoots and misses

and Markova counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zombie!
Zombie wants to get back to his feet.
Zombie tries to hold on but Markova pushes him away.
Zombie is looking to improve his position but Markova isn't that keen on the idea.
Markova avoids the attempt from Zombie to control.
Markova wants to control the pace but Zombie is squirming around nicely.
Zombie tries to hold on but Markova pushes him away.
Rob Zombie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zombie flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Markova is trying to control here but Zombie has managed to regain half guard.
Zombie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Markova tries to free his leg and advance position but Zombie is retaining full guard.

Zombie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Markova 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 Zombie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baldomir Markova comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Markova winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baldomir Markova!