PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dan Twardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Martini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mario Martini has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Twardy
vs
Martini

178 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Twardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mario Martini!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Twardy takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Twardy throws a leg kick but Martini checks it.
Martini pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Martini clinches with his opponent.
Twardy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Martini pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dan Twardy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice combination there by Martini.
Martini shoots in but no luck this time.
Twardy shoots and misses

and Martini counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Twardy doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Martini trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Twardy is striking but Martini is not phased and passes to half guard.

Martini is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Twardy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Twardy flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Martini wants to work for an arm triangle but Twardy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Martini is trying to work for a kimura but Twardy is defending well.
Martini looks gassed!
Martini wants to stand up but Twardy is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Twardy misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Martini looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Martini is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are battling for position here. Twardy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Twardy looking for a sweep. Not yet Twardy, not yet.
Twardy throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Twardy wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Martini finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Martini showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Twardy.
Twardy tries for a takedown but Martini circles away easily
and Martini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Twardy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Martini decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martini is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Twardy!
Martini prevents Twardy from getting the reversal.
Twardy is working hard here to advance position.
Twardy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Martini on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Twardy regains half guard.
Martini blocks the strikes from Twardy.
Twardy wants to get back to full guard.
Twardy moves into full guard.
Martini slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Martini decides to stand back up. Martini steps back and let's Twardy get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Martini dominated that round.
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.

Twardy wants to clinch but Martini slips to the side
and Martini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Twardy closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Twardy lands in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Martini is on top in guard.

Twardy throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Martini escapes and throws Twardy's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Twardy tries to bench press Martini off him but Martini keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Twardy or perhaps it was just good defense by Martini which made him look bad.
Twardy gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Martini.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Twardy tries to clinch up but Martini circles away and keeps his distance.
Martini lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Martini with a lazy takedown attempt

and Twardy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Martini's guard.
Twardy postures up in Martini's guard and throws a big left but Martini blocks it.

Martini has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Twardy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Twardy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Martini looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Twardy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martini looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Twardy throwing strikes but missing.

Martini throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Martini working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Twardy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Twardy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Twardy tries to free his leg and advance position but Martini is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Twardy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Martini pulls Twardy in close to prevent any damage.
Martini manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Twardy is squirming around, avoiding Martini's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Martini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Some wild striking there from Martini.

Martini gets the takedown into side control.
Mario Martini has got the better of the ground game so far.
Twardy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Twardy is not content to let Martini control the position.
Twardy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Martini presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martini quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Martini but it's paid off an Twardy is forced to tap! Nice work by Martini.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mario Martini!