PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yunel Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randall Floyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Martinez
vs
Floyd

169 cm
20
151 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

175 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yunel Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Randall Floyd!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez fails to land the takedown.

Martinez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Floyd's half guard.
Martinez controlling the pace.
Martinez wants to free his trapped foot but Floyd is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Martinez is working hard here to advance position.
Martinez is thwarting Floyd's attempts to control the position.
Floyd manages to get to full guard.
Martinez looking to pass the guard.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but Floyd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Martinez preventing the sweep.
Martinez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Martinez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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.
Floyd is trying to control the position but Martinez postures up.
Martinez advances to half guard.
Martinez is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez trying to advance position but Floyd counters by regaining guard.
Floyd can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martinez controls the pace.
Floyd keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
Martinez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Floyd is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yunel Martinez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt - Floyd sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Martinez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yunel Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez is breathing heavily.

Floyd gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Floyd tries to pull guard but Martinez holds him up against the cage and eventually Floyd drops back down to his feet.
Martinez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Floyd gets control of Martinez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Floyd will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Floyd keeping full guard, as Martinez tries to pass.
Floyd is trying to control the position but Martinez postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez won't allow Floyd to sweep him here.
Floyd is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Martinez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Martinez working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Martinez gets caught flat footed, as Floyd shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Floyd wants to pass the guard but Martinez is keeping the position.
Floyd trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martinez trying to control the position here.
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 Yunel Martinez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Martinez fails with the takedown
and Floyd counters with a two punch combo.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Floyd circles away easily
and Floyd counters with a leg kick.
Floyd is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martinez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Floyd counters with a shoot takedown. Martinez fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yunel Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Floyd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Martinez seems keen to control Floyd's posture.
Floyd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martinez looking to control but Floyd passes into half guard.
Floyd wants to stand up but Martinez has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Martinez is staying active underneath Floyd, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Floyd.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Floyd works his foot free and advances to mount.
Floyd wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Martinez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Floyd working Martinez over with strikes here.
Floyd can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Martinez is looking to escape.

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.
Martinez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Floyd fails to take his opponent's back.
Floyd can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Martinez is looking to escape.
Martinez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Martinez wants to control but Floyd is having none of it.
Floyd controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to hold on but Floyd postures up.
Martinez is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Floyd controlling the position easily from mount.
Martinez is trying to escape the mount.
Floyd tries to control but Martinez wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Martinez regains half guard.
Martinez is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Floyd jumps into side control!
Floyd working the ground and pound but Martinez is defending the strikes.
Floyd throws an elbow but Martinez slips to the side and avoids it well.
Martinez trying his best to control but Floyd has mounted him.
Floyd takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Floyd tries to control but Martinez wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Floyd controlling the pace for now.
Martinez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Floyd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Martinez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Martinez stuffs the takedown.

Martinez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Floyd is trying to stall.

Martinez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martinez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Floyd shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Martinez is looking to control Floyd's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Martinez avoid being mounted?
Floyd is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez wants to improve his position but Floyd is controlling well.
Martinez wants to control but Floyd is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez is pressing down on Floyd's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Martinez looking to control.
Martinez is pulling down on Floyd's head to control his posture.
Floyd pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martinez is keeping the position for now.
Floyd being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Floyd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martinez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Floyd wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
Martinez keeping full guard, as Floyd tries to pass.
Martinez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martinez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to control the position but Floyd postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Floyd tries to close the distance and clinch up but Martinez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Floyd fails to land the takedown.
Yunel Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randall Floyd.
Floyd shoots in for a takedown but Martinez shows good takedown defense.

Floyd fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Martinez sprawls well initially but Floyd persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Martinez tries to get to full guard but Floyd has control of the leg.
Floyd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.
Floyd wants to pass to mount but Martinez is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez controlling the position well.
Martinez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Floyd's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Floyd's back!
Martinez controlling the position well here. Floyd rolled but Martinez kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez avoiding Floyd 's attempts to control his hands.

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 Yunel Martinez.
I think Martinez 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yunel Martinez!