PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alvaro Marroquin (ranked 25283 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyung Yeon Kang (ranked 5743 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Marroquin
vs
Yeon Kang

175 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alvaro Marroquin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyung Yeon Kang!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marroquin looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Kang drives through and clinches with Marroquin against the cage.
Kang is looking for a takedown.

Kang breaks from the clinch.

Kang has closed the distance and engaged Marroquin in a clinch.
Kang jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Marroquin walks away with a smile on his face. Kang gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alvaro Marroquin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyung Yeon Kang.
Marroquin throws a hook to the side of Kang's head but Kang sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marroquin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kang counters with a leg kick.

Kang gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marroquin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvaro Marroquin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang shoots for a double leg takedown but Marroquin sprawls well. He's pushed Kang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A little feinted left hand from Marroquin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Marroquin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kang.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kang misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kang is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Kang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marroquin misses with a double jab
and Kang makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Marroquin really felt that one!
Kang keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kang is defended easily by Marroquin.
As Kang looks to move away, Marroquin throws a big counter combo but Kang just gets out of the way.

Kang closes the distance and pushes Marroquin back into the cage.
Marroquin is looking to break free of the clinch but Kang has double underhooks.

Kang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kang plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kang clinches with his opponent.

Kang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marroquin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kang tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kang shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marroquin pinned against the cage. Marroquin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kang misses with a takedown attempt - Marroquin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kang rushes Marroquin and presses him up against the cage.
Kang is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Marroquin is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marroquin is trying to push Kang away but Kang has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kang goes for a takedown attempt but Marroquin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marroquin connects with a single shot there.
Kang misses with a double jab.
Marroquin misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kang closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marroquin circles away.
Marroquin moves forwards but Kang connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Marroquin scores with a punch to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyung Yeon Kang dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kyung Yeon Kang's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kang tries to clinch up.

Kang has closed the distance and engaged Marroquin in a clinch.
Kang working aggressively here.
Kang can't get the takedown.
Kang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marroquin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kang.
Kang slowing the pace effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kang drives through with a takedown into Marroquin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Marroquin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marroquin can't break the clinch.
Marroquin wants to get back to striking at distance but Kang won't allow it.
Kang tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marroquin smiles and moves away.
Alvaro Marroquin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyung Yeon Kang.
Kang staying out of range there.
Kang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Marroquin slaps away a takedown attempt from Kang, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marroquin misses with a series of wild punches.
Kang closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marroquin circles away.
Kang fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marroquin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kang shoots in but Marroquin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marroquin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kang back to the cage. Marroquin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kang uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marroquin.
Kang connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kang. That's going to slow Marroquin down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marroquin throws a right hand that Kang ducks under and follows up with a left that Kang also avoids with ease.
Kang throws a big counter head kick but Marroquin avoids it with no problem.
Marroquin throws a hook but Kang avoids it easily.

Kang closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Marroquin is trying to break free.
Kang lands a knee to the head.
Kang has a couple of punches blocked by Marroquin.
Kang tries to pull guard but Marroquin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Marroquin blocking some punches.
Kang content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang is trying to push Marroquin away but Marroquin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Marroquin manages to break the clinch.
Marroquin looks to land a combination but Kang avoids it well.
Kang fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Marroquin as Kang shoots in.
Alvaro Marroquin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marroquin swats away the attempt to clinch by Kang.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kang or perhaps it was just good defense by Marroquin, which made it look bad.
Kang blocks a jab.
Kang tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kang misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvaro Marroquin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kyung Yeon Kang's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kang pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kang blocks a head kick by Marroquin.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kang.
Marroquin throws out a loose jab but Kang uses good head movement to avoid it.
Despite the aggression on Kang's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kang throws a head kick that Marroquin semi-blocks.
Marroquin throws a right and a left that both miss.

Kang closes the distance and clinches.
Kang tries to throw a body punch but Marroquin avoids it by throwing Kang back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kang is pushing Marroquin up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kang tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marroquin smiles and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marroquin misses with a double jab.

Kang clinches up with Marroquin and pushes him back against the cage.
Marroquin tries to break free but Kang pushes him back against the cage.
Kang holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kang jumps guard but Marroquin stands there with Kang around his waist. Kang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alvaro Marroquin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyung Yeon Kang.
Kang tries for a takedown but Marroquin manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marroquin wants to break free but Kang has control.
Marroquin blocks a body shot from Kang.
Kang has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marroquin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kang tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Marroquin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kang is leaning against Marroquin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kang is pushing Marroquin up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marroquin is trying to break free.

Kang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kang shoots in for a takedown but Marroquin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marroquin throws a nice looking combination but Kang bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marroquin throws a series of punches but Kang avoids them all with ease.
Kang shoots in but Marroquin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kang missing with a left hand there. Marroquin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang slips a straight right by Marroquin.
Marroquin misses with a hook. Kang ducked under it nicely.
Marroquin swinging wildly here.
Despite the aggression on Kang's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Alvaro Marroquin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marroquin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kang.
Kang closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marroquin circles away.
Kang slips under a jab.
Kang defending well as Marroquin loads up on a big left hand.
Marroquin scores with a decent looking hook.
Kang throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marroquin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kang moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kang shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Marroquin defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alvaro Marroquin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marroquin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alvaro Marroquin!