PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Flint Marko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Emanuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emanuel is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Wizard by Black Sabbath. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marko
vs
Emanuel

181 cm
29
193 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

187 cm
33
185 lbs
17 - 16 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Flint Marko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Emanuel!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emanuel thows a body shot but no joy.
Marko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Emanuel walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Marko has a takedown stuffed.
A jab from Marko misses.
Marko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Emanuel counters with a good, hard body kick but Marko shrugs it off.
Marko looks to land a left hand but Emanuel moved out of range nicely.
Emanuel defending well as Marko loads up on a big left hand.
Marko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice jab there from Emanuel.
Marko misses with an uppercut. Emanuel saw that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emanuel throws a combination. Marko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Marko misses with an uppercut. Emanuel saw that one coming.
Marko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Marko lands a head shot.
Emanuel connects with a looping right hand.
Emanuel scores with a head kick. Marko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Marko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Marko throwing strikes but Emanuel manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Marko is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Emanuel off and has taken his back!

Marko is looking for the choke from the back position but Emanuel is controlling his hands well.
Emanuel wants to escape the position.
Marko is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Emanuel has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Marko throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Marko lands an elbow to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Emanuel is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Marko gets his way!

Marko looking for the choke from the back.
Marko has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Emanuel.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Marko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Marko.
You can see the frustration on Emanuel's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Emanuel grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Emanuel is trying to break free.
Marko has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Marko is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Marko missing with strikes from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Marko manages to miss with strikes from the back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Marko is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
I really don't envy Emanuel right now.
Marko 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.
Marko doesn't have the hooks in and Emanuel manages to turn into his guard.
Emanuel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Marko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Emanuel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Marko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marko is working hard here to advance position.
Emanuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Marko is retaining full guard.

Marko looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Emanuel has picked Marko up and slammed him! Marko can't keep hold of the triangle and Emanuel manages to pass to side control!
Marko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Marko actively working from the bottom here.
Marko is pressing down on Emanuel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel preventing the sweep.
Marko wants to hit a switch here but Emanuel passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Marko there!
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!
Marko is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emanuel lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marko is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flint Marko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marko takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Emanuel stuffs the takedown attempt from Marko. Marko gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd cheers as Emanuel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Marko doesn't seem phased though.
Emanuel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Marko walks forward, straight into a front kick from Emanuel.
Emanuel tries to close the distance and clinch but Marko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matthew Emanuel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marko's jab looks to have found its range, popping Emanuel under the eye.
Emanuel scores with a push kick.
Nice sprawl there from Emanuel as Marko shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flint Marko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marko works the jab nicely.
Emanuel lands with a kick to the temple. Marko shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Marko takes a jab right on the kisser.
Emanuel lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Emanuel lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Emanuel moves into the clinch successfully.

Marko is fighting off a takedown attempt but Emanuel is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Marko to the mat. Marko regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emanuel lands a couple of digs.
Emanuel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marko is keeping the position for now.

Marko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Emanuel passes Marko's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Marko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Emanuel pulls his head out easily.
Emanuel prevents Marko from improving his position.
Marko won't allow Emanuel to pass to mount.

Emanuel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Marko sees it coming and defends easily.
Marko is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Emanuel distracts Marko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Marko is looking for a triangle here but Emanuel uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Emanuel scores with punches from side control.
Emanuel trying to control the position but Marko is working away.
Marko is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko sneaks back into half guard.
Emanuel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Marko is looking to improve his position.
Marko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marko.
Emanuel preventing the sweep.
Emanuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Marko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emanuel passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marko tries to roll over but Emanuel keeps him under control.
Marko moves into full guard.

Marko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Emanuel defends well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marko wants to sweep but no luck.
Marko wants to improve his position but instead Emanuel has moved into half guard.
Marko works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Emanuel's guard.
Emanuel wants to sweep but no luck.
Marko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Emanuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Marko takes a swing at Emanuel's ribcage but misses.
Good shot there by Emanuel.
Emanuel ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Emanuel lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Emanuel lands a jab to Marko's midsection.
Marko is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Emanuel throws a head kick that half lands.
Marko throws a hook but Emanuel blocks it.
Emanuel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Marko throws a looping overhand right but Emanuel ducks down to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emanuel throws a head kick that half lands.

Marko is rocked!

Emanuel has Marko up against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Marko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Emanuel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Emanuel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Emanuel manages to pull guard.
Emanuel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marko.

Emanuel has his foot on Marko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marko works his way back into a safe position though.
Marko lands a couple of digs.
Marko throwing strikes from guard but Emanuel blocks nicely.
Emanuel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marko.
Marko seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marko working some strikes from top position.

Emanuel looking for a guillotine here but Marko defends easily.
Emanuel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Emanuel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Marko defends well.
Marko scoring with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Emanuel is on top in guard.
Marko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Emanuel!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Emanuel looks a forlorn figure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marko lands a nice shot to the head.
Marko landing strikes from the mount and Emanuel is in trouble!
Marko prevents Emanuel from getting the reversal.
Marko landing strikes from the mount.

Emanuel is rocked!
Marko loads up with a big shot that hurts Emanuel! He's pulled Marko in close but Marko has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Emanuel survive? More strikes from Marko and Emanuel is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Flint Marko!
Flint Marko was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.