PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akoni Gray (ranked 28 p4p, 6 weight class) and Juan Marfaker (ranked 245 p4p, 37 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gray
vs
Marfaker

189 cm
30
210 lbs
21 - 3 - 1

208 cm
32
220 lbs
27 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Akoni Gray!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Marfaker!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marfaker throws a lazy uppercut
and Gray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Juan Marfaker has been cut.
Marfaker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gray throws a nice outside leg kick.
Marfaker jabs at Gray's body.
A big right from Marfaker misses.
That kick from Gray tenderised Marfaker's leg. Marfaker is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marfaker, right into the meat.
Gray lands a body shot.
Marfaker takes one to the chin there.
Gray buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Marfaker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marfaker misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Gray misses the target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A good leg kick by Marfaker.
Gray thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Marfaker if he has to take too many more of those.
Marfaker looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gray quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Gray moves out of range of the leg kick from Marfaker.
Gray was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Marfaker throws a right hand that misses
and Gray counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Marfaker at a distance.
Gray cracks Marfaker with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Marfaker fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Marfaker misses with a straight right.
Marfaker swings for the body but Gray moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Gray on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Marfaker lands with an uppercut that bounces Gray off the cage and back into range.
Marfaker throws the left hand but Gray avoids the punch easily.
Juan Marfaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gray will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A thudding body kick lands there by Marfaker!
Gray takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Marfaker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marfaker staying out of range there.
Marfaker takes a swing at Gray's ribcage but misses.
Marfaker scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gray in his tracks.
Gray looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Marfaker scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gray just misses with a punch to the body.
Marfaker lands with a thumping leg kick.
Marfaker looks to score with a jab to the body but Gray is just out of range.
Gray throwing a counter right hand but Marfaker manages to avoid it.
Gray checks a low kick from Marfaker.
Gray throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Marfaker.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Marfaker checks a leg kick.
Marfaker tries a low kick but Gray avoids it.
Marfaker is looking to land body kicks.
Marfaker lands a front kick.
Gray misses with an uppercut.
Gray throws a body punch but Marfaker moves out of range.
Gray looks to throw the jab but Marfaker is out of range.
Marfaker slips a jab from Gray.
Marfaker slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray cracks Marfaker with a right hand to the side of the head.
Marfaker throws a body kick that misses
letting Gray counter with a right hand.
Gray throws a hook to the side of Marfaker's head but Marfaker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Marfaker moves out of range of the strikes.
Gray gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gray scores with a jab. Marfaker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Marfaker ducks under a wild hook from Gray.
Nice defenses there by Marfaker.
Gray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gray keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marfaker.
Marfaker lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gray wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marfaker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gray misses with a kick to the body.
Marfaker throws a sloppy head kick and Gray moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marfaker clobbers Gray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gray staying out of range there.
Gray swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Gray misses.
Marfaker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gray has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Marfaker.
Marfaker misses with a body shot.
Gray misses with a double jab.
Gray throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gray ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gray avoids a kick to the body.
As Marfaker backs away, Gray returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marfaker misses with a looping left.
Marfaker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A swing and a miss from Gray.
Marfaker throws a sloppy head kick
and Gray counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Akoni Gray will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Juan Marfaker's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gray lands with a thumping leg kick.
Marfaker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gray throws a big shot that misses.
Marfaker is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Marfaker connects with the punch.
Gray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marfaker throws out the jab.
Marfaker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gray.
Marfaker attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A jab from Marfaker does it's job there.
Marfaker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gray was well out of range. Poor timing from Marfaker.
Gray loads up on a big right hand but Marfaker slips the punch.
Marfaker throws a body kick that misses.
It looked like Gray was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Marfaker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marfaker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gray throws out the jab.
Marfaker tries to work over Gray's front leg with a kick but Gray checks it.
It looked like Gray wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gray swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Juan Marfaker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Marfaker tries to land a front kick but Gray steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gray rushes Marfaker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Marfaker throws an elbow that misses.
Marfaker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gray takes an elbow to the temple.
Gray misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gray blocks an elbow strike from Marfaker.
Gray misses with a punch to the body.
Gray goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marfaker blocks an uppercut.
Marfaker blocking some punches.
Marfaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marfaker misses with a punch to the body.
Marfaker being controlled against the cage.
Marfaker misses with the head strike.
Marfaker tries to throw a body punch but Gray avoids it by throwing Marfaker back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Gray.
Gray lands a hook that snaps the head of Marfaker backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marfaker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker misses with a punch on the inside.
Gray lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gray scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marfaker looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Marfaker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gray lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Marfaker.
Marfaker is breathing heavily.
Gray tries a body shot but Marfaker blocks it.
Marfaker lands with a light punch inside.
Marfaker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gray.
Gray lands a hook that snaps the head of Marfaker backwards.
Gray misses with the head strike.

Gray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gray is looking to land body kicks.
Marfaker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marfaker defending well as Gray loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marfaker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marfaker moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Marfaker takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray lands with a straight right. Marfaker didn't see that one coming.
Gray misses with a looping right.
Gray looks to clinch
and Marfaker counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marfaker. Gray does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gray lands the left hand.
Gray misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marfaker.
Gray misses with an uppercut.
Marfaker does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Marfaker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gray looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Marfaker misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gray cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker works the jab nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Gray blocks the leg kick.
Marfaker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gray was well out of range. Poor timing from Marfaker.
Gray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gray fires out a quick counter leg kick but Marfaker just manages to avoid it.
Gray bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marfaker shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Marfaker tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Gray wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Marfaker checks a leg kick.
Marfaker cracks a nice hook into Gray's ribs.
Gray uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marfaker.
Marfaker misses the shot to the body.
Marfaker throws a hook but Gray avoids it easily.
Marfaker is looking to slow Gray down with leg kicks.
Marfaker throws a lazy head kick
and Gray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Akoni Gray will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Juan Marfaker's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gray swings for the body but Marfaker moves out of range.
A lazy left from Marfaker finds it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Gray. Those never looked like landing.
Gray misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gray has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Marfaker.
Gray avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gray misses with a looping left.
Gray ducks right into an uppercut from Marfaker.
Marfaker misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marfaker throws an off balance right hand
letting Gray counter with a right hand.
Gray looks for the body kick but Marfaker saw that one coming.
Gray stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Marfaker.
Marfaker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gray takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gray throws a hook but Marfaker avoids it easily.
A head kick from Marfaker lands but Gray takes it in his stride.
A chopping leg kick lands by Marfaker.
Marfaker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gray.
Marfaker lands with a hook. Gray tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gray checks a leg kick nicely.
Marfaker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gray scores with a jab to the jaw.
Marfaker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gray counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Marfaker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gray listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gray.
Marfaker is trying to counter with his kicks.
Gray is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gray throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gray throws a lazy uppercut
and Marfaker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray slips under a jab from Marfaker.
Gray is looking to counter punch.
Gray cracks Marfaker with a good jab.

Marfaker is rocked!
Marfaker will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Marfaker is still on wobbly legs! Can Gray finish him?
Marfaker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gray.

Gray has closed the distance and engaged Marfaker in a clinch.
Gray lands a right hand that snaps the head of Marfaker backwards.
Marfaker throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Marfaker throws an elbow but misses.
Gray creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Marfaker with a big uppercut! Marfaker tries to clinch up but Gray pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Marfaker to the mat! Marfaker covers up and Gray unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Akoni Gray!
Akoni Gray retains his light heavyweight title!
After the fight, Akoni Gray was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.