PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Korba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Martins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Korba
vs
Martins

185 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Zentrope Fighting Universe

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Erwin Korba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Will Martins!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korba shoots and misses
and Korba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Korba scores a takedown into full mount!
Korba avoids the attempt from Martins to control.
Martins is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martins is trying desperately to improve position.
Korba punching from mount but Martins doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Martins tries to hold on but Korba postures up.

Korba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Martins is now in Korba's guard. A big mistake from Korba there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korba managing to control the position.
Korba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Martins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Martins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Korba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Martins has managed to get both his arms back between Korba's legs - danger averted.
Korba is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Martins is controlling him.
Korba wants to sweep here but Martins controlling him for the moment.
Korba wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Korba keeping full guard, as Martins tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Korba pushes Martins off and gets back to his feet.
Martins tries for a takedown but Korba circles away easily

and Korba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Korba drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Martins manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Korba has Martins in his guard.
Korba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Martins.
Korba managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Korba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Martins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Martins prevents Korba from getting back to his feet.
Korba is trying to keep Martins in close.
Martins throwing strikes but missing.
Martins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Korba trying to control the position.
Martins throwing strikes but missing.
Martins looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Korba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Martins.
Martins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Martins tries to free his leg and advance position but Korba is retaining full guard.

Korba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Martins defends it easily.
Martins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Korba is keeping the position for now.
Korba keeping moving, preventing Martins from controlling successfully.
Martins is working Korba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martins trying to control but Korba is working from the bottom.

Korba working for a triangle but Martins defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erwin Korba dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Martins shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Korba is trying to defend but Martins finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Korba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Korba is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Martins scores with a couple of nice shots.
Martins thows a huge punch but Korba dodges it nicely.
Martins thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martins is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Korba!
Martins working the ground and pound effectively.
The referee warns Korba that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins trying to control but Korba is having none of it.
Korba manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Martins missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Martins looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Martins working over Korba with some ground and pound. Korba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Korba trying to hold on to Martins's head to control him but Martins postures up.
Korba is staying active underneath Martins, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Martins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Martins looks to land a strike but Korba avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Korba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Korba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Martins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martins is one step ahead there.

Korba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Martins defends it easily.
Martins works over Korba with some ground and pound from guard.
Martins postures up in Korba's guard and throws a big left but Korba blocks it.
Korba manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martins manages to get himself to full guard.
Korba thows a big elbow that misses.
Martins working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Korba gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Martins closes the distance but Korba moves to the side

so Korba counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Martins throwing short punches from the bottom.

Korba drops back, looking for a kneebar! Martins looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Martins looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Martins!
Martins working the body and head with strikes.
Korba avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Martins.
Korba tries to buck Martins off but Martins is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korba is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Korba on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Korba manages to get back to half guard.
Erwin Korba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Korba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Martins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Korba blocking the ground and pound attempt from Martins.
Martins lands with a punch from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice strikes from Martins there.
Martins lands with a punch from half guard.
Martins looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Korba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Korba is trying to stand back up but Martins is controlling him
Martins lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Martins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Martins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Korba's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Martins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Martins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Korba's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Martins lands a nice short elbow.
Korba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Martins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Martins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Martins lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Martins postures up.
Korba wants to sweep but no luck.
Martins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Korba's head.
Korba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martins with a nice head shot there.
Martins postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Martins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Korba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Korba looking to control.
Martins landing with the ground and pound.

Korba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Martins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Martins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Martins throws a strike but Korba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Martins working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Martins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martins wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korba is looking to work some ground and pound but Martins has wrist control.

Korba has his foot on Martins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Martins works his way back into a safe position though.
Martins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Korba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Korba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Martins throws a strike but Korba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Martins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martins pulls Korba in close to prevent any damage.
Korba wants to control from the top but Martins keeps moving.
Martins is trying to control the position but Korba postures up.

Korba gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Martins with a lazy takedown attempt

and Korba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Martins's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Will Martins.
Well Martins has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight for Will Martins!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Erwin Korba!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Will Martins!

Will Martins wins by split decision!