PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Link Gatez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin has chosen Song of Ice and Fire Art Collection as his entrance music. 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.

Gatez
vs
Martin

178 cm
30
216 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

197 cm
33
223 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Link Gatez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George Martin!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gatez misses with a straight left.
Gatez misses with an uppercut
and Martin counters with a left to the body.
Martin jabs Gatez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Martin misses with a leg kick
and Gatez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Martin.
Gatez misses with a combination
and Martin counters with a solid body kick.
Martin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gatez moves out of range as Martin throws a body kick.
Martin throws a body punch but Gatez moves out of range.
Martin defending well as Gatez loads up on a big left hand.
Gatez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sloppy strikes from Martin. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Gatez misses.
Gatez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Martin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gatez avoids the body shot from Martin.
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gatez moves away.
Nice jab there from Martin.
Gatez lands with a right hand.
Gatez misses with a hook
and Martin counters with a right hand to the body.
Gatez throws a leg kick

and Martin counters with a shoot takedown. Gatez fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martinis looking to pass into half guard but Gatez pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gatez is in guard.
Martin keeping moving, preventing Gatez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gatez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Martin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Martin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Martin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gatez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gatez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Martin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gatez has managed to get both his arms back between Martin's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatez trying to control the position from guard on top but Martin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gatez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gatez lands a couple of digs.

Martin working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gatez has passed into half guard!
Gatez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Martin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gatez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Martin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Martin looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gatez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gatez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gatez prevents Martin from improving his position.
Gatez is trying to control. Martin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Martin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gatez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Martin wants to improve his position but Gatez is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Martin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gatez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Martin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gatez misses with a body kick.
Martin moves out of range as Gatez throws a body kick.
Gatez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Gatez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Martin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Martin slips nicely into half guard.
Gatez keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin wants to pass the guard but Gatez is defending well.

Martin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gatez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Martin.
Martin wants to pass to mount but Gatez is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin prevents Gatez from improving his position.
Gatez is controlling Martin's trapped leg to prevent Martin from advancing to side control.

Martin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gatez defends it well.
Gatez is pressing down on Martin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gatez working a defensive guard here.
Gatez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martin's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin looking for a sweep. Not yet Martin, not yet.
Gatez throws a big right hand that misses.
Gatez stopping the sweep attempt from Martin.
Gatez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gatez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Martin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatez stays in close to Martin's body and controls the position.
Martin 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.
George Martin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martin throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Martin keeping moving, preventing Gatez from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Link Gatez.
Martin tries to land a leg kick but Gatez saw it coming and moves away.
Gatez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Link Gatez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gatez misses the shot to the body.
Gatez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Martin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gatez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gatez is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Martin's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gatez throws a sloppy body shot
and Martin counters with a solid body kick.
Martin scores with a jab. Gatez acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Martin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gatez as he jumps to the side.
Martin throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Martin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Martin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Martin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gatez gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin trying to pass the guard but Gatez defending well.
Gatez wants to control but Martin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gatez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gatez pulls Martin in close to prevent any damage.
Martin won't allow Gatez to sweep him here.
Gatez is trying to control the position but Martin postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin looking to pass the guard.

Martin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gatez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gatez has escaped and now he's on top!

Martin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gatez defends well.
Martin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gatez!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gatez tries to hold on but Martin pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martin working for a submission but Gatez is keeping him at bay.
Martin avoids the attempt from Gatez to control.
Gatez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gatez tries to lock up and control but Martin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Gatez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

It looks like Link Gatez has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Martin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Link Gatez's cut is getting worse.
Martin moves to the back.
Martin is punishing Gatez with some ground and pound.

Link Gatez's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
You can see the frustration on Gatez's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gatez trying to control the hands but Martin won't let him.
Gatez wants to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Martin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Martin 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Martin!