PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Romain Martel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Dufva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Martel
vs
Dufva

175 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Romain Martel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sven Dufva!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dufva doesn't manage to clinch there - Martel circles away.
Dufva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dufva is looking to clinch.
Martel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dufva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Martel's waist but Martel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dufva off to one side.

Martel feints and as Dufva raises his hands in defense, Martel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dufva looking for a sweep. Not yet Dufva, not yet.
Martel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Dufva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Dufva has his foot on Martel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Martel works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Dufva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Martel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martel is breathing heavily.
Dufva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Martel postures up.

Dufva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Martel with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Martel wants to control from the top but Dufva keeps moving.
Dufva is trying to keep Martel in close.
Dufva is looking to stand up but Martel isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Martel tries to keep at a distance but Dufva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Martel wants a takedown but no success here.

Dufva pulls Martel into guard.
Dufva seems keen to control Martel's posture.
Martel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Martel is fighting to break Dufva's control of his arms but Dufva is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dufva working a defensive guard here.
Martel trying to control the position from guard on top but Dufva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dufva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martel is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martel trying to control the position from guard on top but Dufva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dufva wants to sweep but no luck.
Martel controlling from the top position.
Martel seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Dufva for as long as he can get away with.

Dufva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Martel wants to control from the top but Dufva keeps moving.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Romain Martel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Martel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dufva but Dufva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romain Martel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Dufva or perhaps it was just good defense by Martel which made him look bad.
Dufva shoots in but Martel avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Martel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dufva gets underhooks to prevent Martel's takedown attempt.
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 Romain Martel will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Martel scores with a takedown into Dufva's guard.
Martel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Martel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Martel preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dufva is on top in guard.
Dufva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Martel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Dufva is breathing heavily.
Martel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dufva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Martel tries to pass to full mount but Dufva defends it.
Martel trying to control from half guard but Dufva is working away.
Martel controlling the pace.
Nice strikes from Martel there.
Martel wants to pass to mount but Dufva is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dufva tries to get to full guard but Martel has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Dufva lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dufva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dufva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Martel as he jumps to the side.

Martel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dufva trying to control from the bottom.
Dufva striking from half guard on the bottom.
Dufva wants to improve his position but Martel is controlling well.
Martel wants to free his trapped foot but Dufva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Martel works his way into full mount!
Martel wants to control the pace but Dufva is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dufva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dufva tries to hold on but Martel pushes him away.
Martel looking to control but Dufva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dufva is looking to improve his position but Martel isn't that keen on the idea.
Dufva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Dufva wants to get back to full 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.
Dufva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Martel is working away from the top position though.

Dufva looking for submissions off his back.
Martel trying to control from Dufva's half guard. Dufva has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Martel trying to control the position from guard on top but Dufva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dufva being controlled here, momentarily.
Martel prevents Dufva from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Martel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice takedown defense from Dufva. No joy for Martel on that attempt.
Dufva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Martel counters with a single leg into guard. Dufva didn't expect that.
Martel stopping the sweep attempt from Dufva.
Dufva keeping moving, preventing Martel from controlling successfully.
Martel content to stall in guard here.
Martel trying to control but Dufva is working from the bottom.
Martel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martel trying to control but Dufva is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dufva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Martel passes into half guard.
Dufva trying to control from the bottom.
Martel trying to control the action but Dufva is working from the bottom.
Dufva controlling the position well.
Dufva looks like he's trying to stand up.
Martel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dufva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dufva.
Martel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dufva pulls Martel in close to his closed guard and prevents Martel from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dufva being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Romain Martel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Dufva fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Martel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dufva but Dufva pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dufva as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romain Martel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dufva drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dufva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Martel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dufva is one step ahead there.
Dufva trying to control the position from guard on top but Martel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martel wants to sweep here but Dufva controlling him for the moment.
Martel trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martel 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.
Dufva sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Martel closes the distance and clinches.
Dufva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Martel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dufva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dufva.
Dufva lands a body punch in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Dufva.
Martel prevents Dufva from breaking the clinch.
Dufva has had enough of the clinch but Martel keeps him there for the moment.

Dufva has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Martel clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Martel trying to control the hands but Dufva breaks the grip.

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 Romain Martel.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romain Martel!