PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bato Gahi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Martinez
vs
Gahi

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ricardo Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bato Gahi!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gahi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gahi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Martinez sprawls well. Martinez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gahi gets slowly back to his feet.
Gahi shoots in for a takedown but Martinez shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gahi blocks a head kick by Martinez.
Gahi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Martinez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gahi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

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.
Gahi misses with a body shot.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Gahi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Martinez's half guard.
Gahi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Martinez is trying to stand up here but Gahi is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gahi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gahi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gahi is working for a kimura but Martinez is defending it quite comfortably.
Martinez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Martinez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gahi on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gahi controlling the action here.
Martinez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gahi.
Gahi slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gahi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bato Gahi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gahi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gahi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Martinez dodges the punch combination from Gahi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gahi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Martinez tries to avoid it but Gahi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Martinez to the ground. Martinez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ricardo Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bato Gahi.
Gahi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez scores with a head kick.
Martinez misses with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Martinez as Gahi shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gahi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martinez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gahi thows a big elbow that misses.
Gahi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gahi throwing strikes but missing.
Gahi wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gahi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gahi with a nice head shot there.
Gahi wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
Gahi is looking to work some ground and pound but Martinez has wrist control.
Gahi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gahi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Martinez has momentary wrist control but Gahi slips an elbow through the middle.
Gahi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gahi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martinez is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gahi wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
Gahi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ricardo Martinez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Martinez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gahi dives in and grabs Martinez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Martinez pushes down on Gahi's head and hops out.
Martinez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gahi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Martinez's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gahi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martinez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gahi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gahi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martinez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gahi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gahi works over Martinez with some ground and pound from guard.

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.
Gahi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gahi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gahi is looking to work some ground and pound but Martinez has wrist control.
Gahi content to stall in guard here.
Gahi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gahi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gahi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Martinez's head.
Gahi controlling from the top position.
Gahi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gahi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martinez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gahi throws a big right hand that misses.
Gahi throwing strikes but missing.
Gahi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four 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 wants to stand but Gahi is controlling the position.
Gahi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gahi won't allow Martinez to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Martinez stuffs the takedown attempt from Gahi. Gahi gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bato Gahi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gahi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bato Gahi!