PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Panos Kirifidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Martin (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.

Kirifidis
vs
Martin

175 cm
21
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Panos Kirifidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Martin!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Martin goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kirifidis turns into him and now he's in Martin's guard.
Kirifidis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Martin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Kirifidis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kirifidis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martin is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kirifidis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Martin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kirifidis has Martin in his guard.
Kirifidis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Martin stopping the sweep attempt from Kirifidis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Martin is fighting to break Kirifidis's control of his arms but Kirifidis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Martin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kirifidis is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kirifidis has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Martin is on top in guard.
Martin wants to pass the guard but Kirifidis is keeping the position.
Kirifidis has a closed guard, preventing Martin from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Martin working the strikes but Kirifidis uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Martin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kirifidis defends it well.

Martin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kirifidis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Martin.

Martin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kirifidis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Martin is trying to control. Kirifidis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kirifidis is trying to get back to full guard.
Martin thows a huge punch but Kirifidis dodges it nicely.
Martin is keen to just control but Kirifidis is a slippery customer.

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.
Kirifidis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kirifidis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Martin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kirifidis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Martin is controlling him.
Kirifidis is breathing heavily.

Martin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kirifidis dives on top into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kirifidis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Martin trying to control the position.

Kirifidis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Kirifidis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kirifidis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Martin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A left and a right from Martin both land. Nice combination.

Martin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Martin wants to control from the top but Kirifidis keeps moving.
Martin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirifidis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Martin throws and elbow that misses. Kirifidis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Martin's guard. Nice move by Kirifidis!
Kirifidis looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kirifidis is working hard here to advance position.
Kirifidis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirifidis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Martin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kirifidis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kirifidis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Martin's head.

Martin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kirifidis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kirifidis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kirifidis throwing strikes but missing.

Martin looking for a guillotine here but Kirifidis defends easily.
Kirifidis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Martin's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martin working for a triangle but Kirifidis defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirifidis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Martin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kirifidis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kirifidis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kirifidis slips a nice elbow through Martin's hands, connecting with Martin's forehead.
Kirifidis is nestled in close to Martin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Martin wants to get back to full guard.
James Martin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kirifidis drops an elbow to the side of Martin's head.
Kirifidis lands with a punch from half guard.
Kirifidis working the head and body with strikes.
Kirifidis slips a nice elbow through Martin's hands, connecting with Martin's forehead.

Martin looking for submissions off his back.
Kirifidis working over Martin with some ground and pound. Martin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirifidis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Martin sees it coming and defends easily.
Kirifidis lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Kirifidis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Martin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kirifidis.

Martin is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Kirifidis is tapping! Great win for Martin!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). James Martin!