PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Martello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waranhk Nsembo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nsembo has chosen ChessBoxin' as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Martello
vs
Nsembo

200 cm
26
248 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

193 cm
23
250 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Martello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Waranhk Nsembo!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martello dodges the punch combination from Nsembo.
Max Martello seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nsembo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nsembo wants it to stay on the feet.

Martello lands a left and a right that send Nsembo crashing to the mat, dazed. Martello thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Waranhk Nsembo has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martello swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nsembo counters with a one-two to the body.
Nsembo looks gassed!
Nsembo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Martello.
Martello looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nsembo is fending him off so far but Martello persists. Nope, Nsembo circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martello swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nsembo counters with a nice uppercut.
Martello rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nsembo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Martello shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nsembo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Martello. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martello wants to clinch but Nsembo slips to the side
and Nsembo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Martello looks to clinch
and Martello takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martello misses with a few strikes there.

Martello shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Martello is pressing down on Nsembo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nsembo is holding on for now.

Martello is trying to work for a kimura but Nsembo is defending well.

Nsembo kicks Martello off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martello drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Martello stays in close to Nsembo's body and controls the position.
Martello trying to control the position from guard on top but Nsembo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martello stands and throws Nsembo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Martello taking a breather here.

Martello tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Martello has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martello is looking to take a break and control but Nsembo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nsembo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Martello working the head and body with strikes.
Martello taking a breather here.
Martello wants to control but Nsembo is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martello misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Martello dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Waranhk Nsembo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Martello throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nsembo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Martello misses with the combination.
Martello fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martello works over Nsembo's head and body with a nice combination.
Nsembo is breathing heavily.
Martello will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Martello or perhaps it was just good defense by Nsembo which made him look bad.
Martello tries to clinch but Nsembo moves out of range.
Martello throws a right and a left that Nsembo avoids nicely.
Max Martello is winning the standup battle so far.
Martello will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

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.
Martello tries to clinch but Nsembo is having none of it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Martello checks a leg kick.
Martello misses with a wild combination.
Martello swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nsembo takes one to the side of the head.
Nsembo moves away from the strike by Martello.
Martello is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nsembo.
Nsembo slips a jab and a cross from Martello.
Martello tries to close the distance and clinch but Nsembo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martello connects with a jab.
Martello wants to clinch up but Nsembo keeps it at a distance.
Nsembo circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Martello is defended easily by Nsembo.
Nsembo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Martello dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Waranhk Nsembo'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nsembo swats away the attempt to clinch by Martello.
Martello uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nsembo.
Martello throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nsembo's waist but Nsembo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martello off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nsembo stuffs the takedown.
Nsembo looks to land a right hand but Martello moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martello misses with a takedown attempt - Nsembo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Martello. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nsembo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Martello will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martello tries to clinch there but Nsembo circles away.
Martello fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Martello shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nsembo pinned against the cage. Nsembo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martello shoots in for a double leg but Nsembo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A punch combination from Martello misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martello with a poor takedown
and Nsembo counters with a one-two to the body.
Martello throws a combination that misses
and Nsembo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Max Martello has been cut.
Nsembo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Max Martello is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martello wants to slow Nsembo down by chopping away at his legs.
Nsembo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martello throws a series of punches but Nsembo avoids them all with ease.
A combination from Martello does no damage.
Martello tries to close the distance and clinch but Nsembo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Martello with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nsembo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Martello's knee momentarily.
Waranhk Nsembo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nsembo throws a quick inside leg kick.
A left and a right from Nsembo both land. Nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waranhk Nsembo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Martello 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 James Ackerman scores the fight for Max Martello!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Max Martello!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Max Martello!

Max Martello wins by unanimous decision!