PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Marquez (ranked 3818 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Zayed Abdulrakhman (ranked 3217 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marquez
vs
Zayed Abdulrakhman

182 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francisco Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ali Zayed Abdulrakhman!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marquez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Abdulrakhman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marquez.
Marquez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Abdulrakhman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Marquez won't be happy with that.
Abdulrakhman lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Marquez down.
Abdulrakhman wants to stand but Marquez has his arm trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marquez is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee asks Abdulrakhman politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Abdulrakhman prefers to stall for the moment though.
Marquez struggling a bit here.
Abdulrakhman tries to stand but Marquez is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdulrakhman remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Marquez gets back to half guard.
Abdulrakhman tries to stand and escape but Marquez is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Marquez trying to control here.

Abdulrakhman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marquez has managed to free his arm - good work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Abdulrakhman connects with a nice short shot to Marquez's temple.
Marquez is trying to stand back up but Abdulrakhman is controlling him
Abdulrakhman sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdulrakhman shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Marquez napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Abdulrakhman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Abdulrakhman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Marquez trying to remain calm as Abdulrakhman controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez manages to get back to half guard.
Abdulrakhman content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nice strikes from Abdulrakhman there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marquez pushes Abdulrakhman off looking to stand but Abdulrakhman dives back in and keeps control.

Abdulrakhman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Marquez is looking for a sweep. Abdulrakhman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Zayed Abdulrakhman 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.

Horrible takedown attempt by Marquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Abdulrakhman, which made it look bad.
Abdulrakhman steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Marquez.
Abdulrakhman circles away from the clinch attempt

and Abdulrakhman counters with a single leg into guard. Marquez didn't expect that.
Abdulrakhman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Abdulrakhman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Abdulrakhman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Abdulrakhman wants to control from the top but Marquez keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez is wriggling around but Abdulrakhman manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdulrakhman is working for a submission of some sort.
Marquez is trying to stand back up but Abdulrakhman is controlling him

Marquez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Marquez wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Abdulrakhman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Abdulrakhman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Abdulrakhman in particular looking to stall.
Marquez trying to control but Abdulrakhman postures up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Abdulrakhman connects with a nice short shot to Marquez's temple.
Marquez gets back to full guard.
Abdulrakhman controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulrakhman is looking to pass into half guard but Marquez pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Marquez is in guard.

Marquez wanted to stand there but Abdulrakhman had control of the position.
Abdulrakhman pulls Marquez in to control the position.
Marquez trying to control but Abdulrakhman is working from the bottom.
Marquez passes into half guard.
Marquez is trying to control the action in half guard but Abdulrakhman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Abdulrakhman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Abdulrakhman is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Abdulrakhman is looking to improve his position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Abdulrakhman keeps trying to improve his position.
Marquez 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.
Marquez wants to control but Abdulrakhman is keeping him busy.
Abdulrakhman is looking to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marquez shoots in looking for a takedown. Abdulrakhman tries to sprawl out of it but Marquez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Abdulrakhman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Abdulrakhman stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Zayed Abdulrakhman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Abdulrakhman throws a right and a left that Marquez avoids nicely.
Marquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Abdulrakhman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marquez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Francisco Marquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abdulrakhman looks for the body kick but Marquez saw that one coming.
A lazy body kick from Marquez

and Abdulrakhman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Marquez wants to get back to his feet but Abdulrakhman passes into half guard.

Marquez is rocked!

Oh Marquez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Abdulrakhman gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Marquez avoids the head kick by Abdulrakhman.

Abdulrakhman closes the distance looking for a takedown. Abdulrakhman picks Marquez up and slams him brutally to the floor. Marquez is out! He's out cold! Wow, you don't see a finish like that every day!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Ali Zayed Abdulrakhman!