PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Djukic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Martelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Djukic comes to the cage accompanied by Juice - Sam. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Djukic
vs
Martelli

202 cm
23
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
19
259 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nikola Djukic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Martelli!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martelli swinging wildly here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Djukic.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Djukic stands up.
Djukic throws a series of strikes that have Martelli backpedaling.
Djukic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Martelli sprawls well. Martelli wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Djukic gets slowly back to his feet.
Djukic scores with a one two! Martelli had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Gabriel Martelli has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Djukic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Djukic moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Djukic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martelli has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Djukic jumps guard but Martelli turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Djukic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martelli slows down the pace here.

Martelli gets control of Djukic's arms and successfully pulls guard. Martelli will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Martelli not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Martelli looking to control but Djukic passes into half guard.
Martelli works his way to full guard. Good work.
Martelli lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Djukic!

Martelli is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Djukic goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Martelli walks into a left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Djukic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Martelli sprawls well initially but Djukic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Martelli tries to kick Djukic off but Djukic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Martelli is trying to maintain the position but Djukic is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Djukic working Martelli over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Djukic is looking to advance position but Martelli won't allow it.
Martelli is looking to improve his position.
Djukic wants to pass to mount but Martelli is defending the position.
Martelli is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Martelli wants to control but Djukic is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martelli trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Martelli looks gassed!
Martelli can't escape the position.
Djukic sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Djukic wants to control but Martelli has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Djukic wants to control but Martelli is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Djukic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Martelli's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Martelli looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Martelli takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Martelli gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Djukic.

Djukic gets a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Djukic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Djukic trying to pass the guard but Martelli defending well.
Martelli wants to control but Djukic is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Djukic is trying to control. Martelli wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Djukic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Djukic perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

We're going to have a standup here because Nikola Djukic wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Martelli shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Djukic as he avoids it easily.
Martelli is breathing heavily.

Martelli moves into the clinch successfully.

Djukic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Djukic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Martelli sprawls well. Martelli wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Djukic gets slowly back to his feet.
Martelli doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Djukic counters with a left and a right that stings Martelli.
Djukic throws a good cross that connects.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Djukic throws a front kick that sends Martelli stumbling back into the cage.
Nikola Djukic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Djukic scores with a kick to the body.

Djukic rushes Martelli and presses him up against the cage.

Djukic has picked Martelli up - he's going for a ride! Djukic dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Djukic controlling the action here.
Djukic winds up and cracks Martelli with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nikola Djukic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Djukic uses his free foot to push down on Martelli's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Martelli.
Djukic controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Djukic breaks from Martelli's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Djukic lands with some strikes.
Djukic sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Martelli wants to control but Djukic is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Djukic controlling the pace for now.
Djukic lands a heavy elbow.
Martelli tries to reverse the position but Djukic maintains control.
Djukic wants to control the pace but Martelli is squirming around nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Djukic controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Djukic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Martelli's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The fighters circling - Martelli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Martelli tries to close the distance and clinch up but Djukic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Martelli tries to clinch but Djukic is having none of it.
Djukic tries to clinch but Martelli moves out of range.
Djukic misses with a wild body shot.
Djukic throws a leg kick which misses Martelli's front leg but catches the back leg as Martelli tries to avoid it.

Djukic drives through with a takedown into guard.
Martelli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Martelli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Djukic wants to pass the guard but Martelli is keeping the position.
Martelli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martelli keeping moving, preventing Djukic from controlling successfully.
Djukic engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Djukic is looking to stand up but Martelli won't let him.

Nikola Djukic has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Djukic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Martelli sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Djukic somewhat.
Djukic 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.
Djukic lands a nice looking body kick.
Djukic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Djukic throws a push kick but Martelli slaps the foot to one side.
Martelli closes this distance looking for a takedown but Djukic circles away.
Nice jab there from Djukic.

Martelli gets tackled into the cage by Djukic. Djukic maintains the clinch.
Djukic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Martelli prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Djukic fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Djukic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Djukic keeps control of Martelli as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Martelli wants to take the fight to the mat but Djukic manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Djukic tries to pull guard but Martelli forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Djukic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Djukic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Djukic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Martelli can do to turn this around?
Martelli tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Djukic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Martelli has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Djukic closes the distance and clinches.
Martelli looking to slow down the pace here.
Djukic throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martelli stalling against the cage.

Martelli ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Martelli no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Martelli trying to strike off his back.
Martelli 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.
Djukic wants to get up but he can't break Martelli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Djukic wants to control from the top but Martelli keeps moving.
Nikola Djukic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Djukic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Martelli has his feet on Djukic's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikola Djukic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Djukic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikola Djukic!