PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Roger Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Luther (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.

Martinez
vs
Luther

162 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)
Alpha-Male Supplements +Laundry Service

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roger Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Luther!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luther closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Martinez looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Luther throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Luther is working for a submission of some sort.
Luther is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Martinez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Luther looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Luther thows a huge punch but Martinez dodges it nicely.
Martinez is looking to escape.

Luther is working for a submission of some sort.
Martinez is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther is trying to control the action in half guard but Martinez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Luther is looking for a kimura here.
Luther missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Luther wants to pass the guard but Martinez is defending well.
Luther wants to take a breather but Martinez is having none of it.
Martinez is looking to escape.
Luther missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Martinez is refusing to be controlled, as Luther sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Chris Luther hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Martinez darts in trying to clinch

and Luther holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Luther escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martinez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Luther counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Luther working Martinez over with knees to the body.

Luther is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Martinez can't fight it off and eventually Luther manages to take the fight to the floor. Martinez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martinez wants to stand and escape but Luther is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther throwing strikes from guard but Martinez blocks nicely.
Luther looking to pass the guard.
Luther wants to stand but Martinez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Luther throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martinez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Luther looking to pass the guard.
Luther would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Luther must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Martinez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Luther from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Luther throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Martinez slips a jab and a cross from Luther.

Luther changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Martinez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Martinez is trying to get back to his feet.
Martinez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Luther.

Luther is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Martinez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez tries to escape but Luther is in control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Luther tries to advance to mount but can't.
Martinez is trying to get back to his feet.
Luther tries to move to mount but Martinez blocks the move with his legs.
Luther tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Luther is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Luther working the ground and pound but Martinez is defending the strikes.
Martinez dodges the ground and pound from Luther.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to buck Luther off.
Luther trying to control the position but Martinez is working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Luther.
Luther is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Luther wants to stand but Martinez has his arm trapped.
Luther is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Luther is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Martinez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Martinez is trying to buck Luther off.
Luther tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Luther wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.
Luther wants to stand but Martinez has his arm trapped.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Luther tries to advance to mount but Martinez denies him.
Martinez pushes Luther away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Luther gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Luther tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Luther is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Martinez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet but Luther drags him back down.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Luther is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Martinez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Luther wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.
Luther might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Martinez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martinez stops Luther from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Luther 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.

Luther sizes up Martinez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Luther has closed the distance and engaged Martinez in a clinch.
Martinez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Luther lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Luther tightens his grip and picks Martinez up, before dumping him to the ground. Martinez manages to land in guard.
Martinez has a closed guard, preventing Luther from standing up.
Luther won't allow Martinez to get back to his feet.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Luther from controlling successfully.
Luther throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martinez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Luther is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chris Luther wasn't active enough on the ground.

Luther forces Martinez back against the cage and clinches.

Luther pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Luther forces Martinez back against the cage and clinches.

Luther has hold of one of Martinez's legs. Martinez is fighting the takedown attempt but Luther gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Luther throwing strikes from guard but Martinez blocks nicely.
Luther is looking to stand up but Martinez won't let him.
Luther trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Luther 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Luther drops back looking for a leg! Martinez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Martinez manages to kick Luther off! Luther jumps back into Martinez's guard.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Luther from controlling successfully.
Chris Luther has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martinez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther wants to pass the guard but Martinez is keeping the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Martinez wants to stand but Luther is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chris Luther was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Luther closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Martinez quickly recovers to half guard.
Luther seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Martinez pushes Luther off looking to stand but Luther dives back in and keeps control.

Luther is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Martinez is just riding it out for now. Luther eventually gives up the hold.
Martinez tries to kick Luther off but Luther keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luther thows a huge punch but Martinez dodges it nicely.
Luther is keen to just control but Martinez is a slippery customer.
Luther landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Martinez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Luther is pressing down on Martinez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martinez is holding on for now.
Luther is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.
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!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Luther is keen to just control but Martinez is a slippery customer.
Luther throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Martinez tries to kick Luther off but Luther keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Luther has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Martinez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Martinez gets caught napping as Luther dives in and scores a takedown. Martinez manages to retain guard.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Luther from controlling successfully.
Martinez is looking to stand up but Luther isn't so interested in that idea.
Luther wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Luther won't allow Martinez to get back to his feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chris Luther.

Luther scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet.
Luther is trying to control. Martinez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Martinez is looking to escape.
Martinez is staying active underneath Luther, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Martinez is looking to escape.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chris Luther wasn't active enough on the ground.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Luther paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Luther scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Luther prevents Martinez from escaping the position.
Luther in side control, throwing shots but Martinez defends.
Martinez is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Luther advances nicely into full mount.
You get the feeling that Martinez really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Luther tries to control but Martinez wriggling away.
Martinez wants to try and get back to his feet.
Martinez blocking the ground and pound.
Martinez is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Luther thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Martinez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Martinez trying desperately to get to his feet.
Luther trying to control but Martinez is having none of it.
Martinez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Luther tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Luther trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Luther is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Martinez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Luther with shots to the head and body - Martinez looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Martinez really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Luther looking to ground and pound but Martinez is blocking nicely.

Luther is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Martinez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Martinez shrugs it off.
You get the feeling that Martinez really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Luther throwing strikes here but Martinez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Luther looking to control but Martinez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Martinez trying desperately to get to his feet.
Martinez avoids a series of strikes thrown by Luther.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luther trying to control but Martinez is having none of it.
Luther is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Martinez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Luther showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Luther shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Luther showed some decent athleticism there.
Luther seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Martinez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Martinez is trying to stand back up but Luther is controlling him
Luther tries to pass to full mount but Martinez defends it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Martinez is refusing to be controlled, as Luther sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chris Luther was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Luther has taken the fight to the clinch.

Luther has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Martinez uses from the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Luther is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luther working for a triangle but Martinez defends it easily.
Martinez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Luther is proving hard to escape from.
Martinez preventing the sweep.
Martinez wants to stand but Luther is controlling his posture from full guard.
Luther not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luther has control of Martinez's left arm, preventing Martinez from doing any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chris Luther.

Luther closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Luther lands with a short shot to the head.

Luther pulls guard successfully.
Luther is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Martinez is controlling him.
Martinez is looking to stand up but Luther won't let him.

Luther looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Luther has a closed guard, preventing Martinez from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luther looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Martinez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Luther's guard.
Luther is adopting a defensive guard.
Martinez wants to stand but Luther has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Luther throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Martinez wanted to stand there but Luther had control of the position.
Luther working a defensive guard here.

Luther looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Luther is working an open guard so Martinez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Roger Martinez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Luther closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Luther sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Martinez defending well though.
Martinez is staying active underneath Luther, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Luther wants to control but Martinez is keeping him busy.
Martinez pushes Luther off looking to stand but Luther dives back in and keeps control.
Luther wants to control but Martinez is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chris Luther.

Luther closes the distance and clinches.

Luther breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Luther throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Martinez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Luther is in Martinez's guard.
Luther won't allow Martinez to get back to his feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Luther looking to pass the guard.

Luther drops back looking for a leg! Martinez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Martinez manages to kick Luther off! Luther jumps back into Martinez's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Luther trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Luther is looking to stand up but Martinez won't let him.
Luther stops Martinez from standing up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Martinez manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Luther feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but Luther is having none of it.
Martinez keeping full guard, as Luther tries to pass.
Martinez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Luther is controlling him.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Luther closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Martinez's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martinez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Luther is controlling him.
Luther trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Luther won't allow Martinez to get back to his feet.
Luther trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but Luther is having none of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Luther thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wants to stand but Luther is controlling the position.
Luther postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Luther tries to stand but Martinez is controlling from the bottom.
Luther prevents Martinez from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roger Martinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chris Luther is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Luther trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Luther comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Luther 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Luther!