PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lars Huber (ranked 4496 p4p, 4501 weight class) and Darius Martins (ranked 305 p4p, 302 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Huber
vs
Martins

172 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lars Huber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darius Martins!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Huber stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Martins shoots for a double leg takedown but Huber sprawls well. He's pushed Martins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Martins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Huber avoids it really well and circles away.
Martins throws a head kick but Huber moves out of range.

Martins gets a takedown into half guard.
Martins is looking to take a break and control but Huber is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martins stalling.
Huber is trying to stand back up but Martins is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Martins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Huber has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Martins is working away from the top position though.
Martins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Huber does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Huber gets full guard.

Martins drops back looking for a leg! Huber is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Huber manages to kick Martins off! Martins jumps back into Huber's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Huber swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Huber wants to sweep but no luck.
Huber is trying to control the position but Martins postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Huber pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martins is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martins looks for a takedown but Huber sprawls well.
Lars Huber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darius Martins.

Martins scores with a takedown into Huber's guard.

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

Martins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Huber looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Martins has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Huber has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Martins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Huber closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Huber gets control of Martins's arms and successfully pulls guard. Huber will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Martins landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huber controls Martins momentarily but Martins frees himself.
Martins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Huber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Martins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Martins landing with the ground and pound.
Huber keeping moving, preventing Martins from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lars Huber will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Martins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Martins lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Huber looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Martins misses with a kick to the body
and Huber counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Huber closes the distance and clinches.
Huber tries to break the clinch but Martins is controlling the position.
Huber is trying to break the clinch but Martins has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huber is trying to break free.

Martins breaks from the clinch.
Martins throws a wild body kick that Huber sees coming a mile off.
Huber appears to be looking for a big counter.
Martins tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Huber counters with a one-two to the body.
Martins tries to clinch up but Huber circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Martins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Huber is fending him off so far but Martins persists. Nope, Huber circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Martins with that takedown attempt.
Lars Huber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darius Martins.

Huber rushes Martins and presses him up against the cage.
Huber wants to break free but Martins has control.

Martins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Martins shoots in for a double leg but Huber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Martins shoots in but Huber avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Huber moves in looking to clinch but Martins pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Huber moves into the clinch successfully.
Martins prevents Huber from breaking the clinch.

Huber jumps into guard, dragging Martins to the mat.
Huber trying to control the position.
Martins wants to control from the top but Huber keeps moving.
Darius Martins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Huber seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Huber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Huber manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martins manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martins is trying to control the position but Huber postures up.
Martins pulls Huber in close to his closed guard and prevents Huber from doing any damage or advancing position.
Martins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martins keeping moving, preventing Huber from controlling successfully.
Huber makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four 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.
Huber trying to control but Martins is working from the bottom.
Huber is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Martins can do to turn this around?
Huber controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Martins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Martins shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Huber pushes Martins off and gets back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Huber dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Martins forces Huber back against the cage and clinches.

Martins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martins throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Huber counters with a single leg into guard. Martins didn't expect that.

Huber stands up from Martins's guard - Huber perhaps looking for a knockout.

Martins gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Martins breaks from the clinch.
Huber tries to clinch up.
Martins shoots in for a takedown but Huber shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Martins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
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!
Huber fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lars Huber is winning the standup battle so far.
Huber scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huber fails with an attempt to clinch.
And Martins tries to counter it with a takedown but Huber pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Huber wants to clinch.
Martins wants to clinch.
Martins avoids the head kick by Huber.
Huber sets himself, and Martins steps forward looking for the clinch! Huber avoids it this time.

Huber gets caught napping as Martins dives in and scores a takedown. Huber manages to retain guard.
Huber is wriggling around but Martins manages to pass to half guard.

Martins wants to control but Huber is keeping him busy.

Huber is defending against the submission attempts here by Martins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martins wants to control but Huber is keeping him busy.
Huber keeping control of the position.

Martins stands up out of the half guard.

Martins closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Huber did well to prevent Martins getting side control.

Huber pushes Martins off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Martins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Huber wants to get back to his feet.
Huber keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Martins drops an elbow to the side of Huber's head.
Huber wants to control but Martins is keeping busy.
Martins slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huber wants to get back to full guard.
Huber throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Martins takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Huber is looking to improve his position.
Huber gets full guard.
Huber wants to sweep but no luck.

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 Lars Huber.
Well Huber 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Huber!