PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matty Markos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesus Pineiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Markos
vs
Pineiro

185 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

178 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Voodoo Nutrition
KAISER

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 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Matty Markos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jesus Pineiro!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markos keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Pineiro is looking to clinch but Markos is avoiding it.
Markos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pineiro circles away.

Markos shoots in and gets a takedown into Pineiro's guard.
Pineiro is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Markos is controlling him.
Pineiro keeping moving, preventing Markos from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pineiro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Markos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markos tries to free his leg and advance position but Pineiro is retaining full guard.
Markos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Markos looking to sit in guard and control but Pineiro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Markos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pineiro manages to get himself to full guard.

Pineiro keeping moving, preventing Markos from controlling successfully.
Markos slips nicely into half guard.
Pineiro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Markos is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markos trying to control the action but Pineiro is working from the bottom.
Markos trying to mount his opponent but Pineiro defends it.
Pineiro is looking to improve his position.
Markos not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markos wants to pass to mount but Pineiro is defending the position.
Pineiro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Markos.
Pineiro tries to roll over but Markos keeps him under control.
Markos is trying to control the action in half guard but Pineiro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Markos shoots in and bounces Pineiro off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pineiro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Markos looking to pass the guard.
Markos advances position into side control!
Markos throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Markos is trying to get an arm triangle but Pineiro is defending well.
Pineiro pushes Markos away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Markos gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matty Markos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Pineiro as Markos shoots in.
Pineiro's coach down at Werewolf's cave was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Pineiro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Markos darts in and clinches Pineiro up against the cage.

Markos turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Markos manages to end up in side control.
Markos wants to control but Pineiro is keeping him busy.
Markos just content to control the position.
Pineiro wants to get back to his feet but Markos drags him back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markos taking a break here but Pineiro is having none of it and regains half guard.
Markos is trying to control the action in half guard but Pineiro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pineiro trying to control but Markos postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pineiro tries to kick Markos off but Markos keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pineiro tries to clinch there but Markos circles away.

Pineiro gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pineiro wants to stand and escape but Markos is having none of it.
Pineiro is breathing heavily.
Markos throwing strikes but missing.
Markos postures up in Pineiro's guard and throws a big left but Pineiro blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markos wants to pass the guard but Pineiro is keeping the position.
Markos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Markos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Markos misses with a takedown attempt - Pineiro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pineiro throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Markos misses.
Pineiro unleashes a big counter combination but Markos bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Markos moves out of range as Pineiro strikes.
Jesus Pineiro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Markos moves away from the strike by Pineiro.
Matty Markos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pineiro.
Pineiro tries to close the distance and clinch but Markos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Markos was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Markos rushes Pineiro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pineiro is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Markos gets control of Pineiro's arms and successfully pulls guard. Markos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Markos controlling Pineiro's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pineiro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Markos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Pineiro gets to his feet. Markos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Pineiro throws a right and a left that Markos avoids nicely.

Pineiro tries to sprawl but Markos drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Pineiro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Markos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Markos trying to control from half guard but Pineiro is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matty Markos dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Markos closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pineiro's guard.
Pineiro is looking to stand back up but Markos counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Pineiro.

Markos decides to return to a standing position.

Markos takes the fight into the clinch.

Markos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Markos moves into the clinch.
Markos stalls.

Markos pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Markos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pineiro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Markos is trying to control the position but Pineiro postures up.
Markos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Markos is trying to control the position but Pineiro postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Markos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pineiro is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Markos seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pineiro wants to get up but he can't break Markos's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pineiro moves in looking to clinch but Markos pushes him off.
Pineiro misses with a body kick.
Markos is looking for a counter combo.
Pineiro misses with a body kick.
Pineiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Markos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Markos lands in his opponent's guard.
Markos pushes down on Pineiro's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pineiro is looking to control Markos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pineiro avoid being mounted?
Markos not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Markos stands up from half guard.
Pineiro throws a series of punches but Markos moves out of range.
A head kick by Pineiro misses

and Markos holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Markos jumps into guard, dragging Pineiro to the mat.
Matty Markos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pineiro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Markos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pineiro manages to get himself to full guard.

Jesus Pineiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Markos is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Markos is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matty Markos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Markos, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matty Markos!
A relieved looking Matty Markos thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Jesus Pineiro was interviewed post fight and said 'This is my First Professional lose, Id like to Congratulate Hector Gracie on his win, Hes a hell of a fighter and will do wonders in the MMA world'.