PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francis Marlon (ranked 4786 p4p, 504 weight class) and Twee Keer (ranked 4139 p4p, 452 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marlon
vs
Keer

175 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francis Marlon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Twee Keer!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marlon misses with a body kick.
Keer has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Marlon is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Marlon bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keer is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keer can't do much from the bottom here.
Marlon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Keer on the ground.

Marlon is trying to get an arm triangle but Keer is defending well.
Keer manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marlon is looking for a kimura but Keer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marlon to get the leverage.
Keer is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marlon is working away from the top position though.
Marlon content to control rather than advance.
Keer is controlling Marlon's trapped leg to prevent Marlon from advancing to side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Well, if Marlon is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marlon circles away from the clinch attempt.

Keer 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.
Keer stopping the sweep attempt from Marlon.
Keer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marlon throwing short punches from the bottom.
Marlon keeping full guard, as Keer tries to pass.
Keer throwing strikes from guard but Marlon blocks nicely.

Marlon is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marlon has picked Keer up - he's going for a ride! Marlon dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Marlon is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Keer wants to control but Marlon is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Marlon is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Keer gets full guard.
Marlon is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marlon seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Keer for as long as he can get away with.
Marlon continues to stall.

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

Marlon has managed to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marlon breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Marlon dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Keer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Keer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Keer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Keer stands up from Marlon's guard - Keer perhaps looking for a knockout.
Keer throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Marlon's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marlon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Keer as he jumps to the side.
Keer wants to clinch
and Marlon counters with a series of strikes. Keer will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marlon is trying to defend but Keer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Marlon manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Keer keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Marlon manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Keer jumps into guard, dragging Marlon to the mat.

Marlon stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Marlon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Twee Keer has been cut.
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!

Marlon drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Keer is breathing heavily.
Keer punching from the bottom - just letting Marlon know he's still in a fight.
Marlon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Keer looking for a guillotine here but Marlon defends easily.

Marlon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Keer, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marlon has Keer up against the cage in a clinch.
Marlon prevents Keer from breaking the clinch.

Marlon pulls Keer into guard.
Keer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Keer preventing the sweep.
Marlon pulls Keer in close to prevent any damage.
Marlon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Keer.
Keer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Keer preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keer trying to control the position from guard on top but Marlon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Marlon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marlon keeps the fight on the outside.
Marlon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Keer can do to turn this around?
Marlon fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Keer is out of range.
Keer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Marlon blocks a head kick by Keer.
Keer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marlon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Keer tries to avoid it but Marlon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Keer to the ground. Keer escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Marlon backs off Keer throws a huge counter combo but Marlon manages to avoid it all.

Marlon has closed the distance and engaged Keer in a clinch.
Marlon lands with a right to the head.
Keer stops a takedown attempt from Marlon.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Marlon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marlon tries to pull guard but Keer won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Marlon dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Twee Keer's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Marlon moves into the clinch.

Marlon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Keer is looking to get back to his feet here but Marlon is keeping cool and he's managed to take Keer's back.
Marlon slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Keer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Keer is looking to improve his position.

Marlon decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keer lands a head kick!

Marlon rushes Keer and presses him up against the cage.
Marlon taking a breather.
Marlon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Keer being controlled against the cage.
Keer is trying to break the clinch but Marlon is controlling him.
Twee Keer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Marlon manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Marlon tries to pull guard but Keer holds him up against the cage and eventually Marlon drops back down to his feet.
Marlon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Marlon breaks the clinch.
Marlon avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marlon throws a counter high kick but Keer was just alert enough to avoid it.

Marlon has Keer up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marlon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Keer to keep the fight standing.
Marlon is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Marlon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Keer is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Marlon can't fight it off and eventually Keer manages to take the fight to the floor. Marlon looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marlon keeping moving, preventing Keer from controlling successfully.
Keer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Keer stopping the sweep attempt from Marlon.
Marlon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Francis Marlon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keer throwing strikes from guard but Marlon blocks nicely.
Marlon seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Keer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Keer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

Marlon manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Keer on his heels. He'll look to pass Keer's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Keer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Marlon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Marlon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Francis Marlon.
Well Marlon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Marlon!
Francis Marlon decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.