PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yunel Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raven LaCroix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Martinez
vs
LaCroix

169 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Solid chin

Poison Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yunel Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raven LaCroix!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez shoots in looking for a takedown. LaCroix tries to sprawl out of it but Martinez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. LaCroix manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from LaCroix as Martinez shoots in.
LaCroix tries to close the distance and clinch but Martinez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

LaCroix fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Martinez sprawls well initially but LaCroix persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Martinez is positioning himself well to prevent LaCroix advancing to mount.
Martinez trying to control from the bottom.
LaCroix tries to stand but can't do so whilst Martinez controls his leg.
Martinez trying to control here.
LaCroix 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.
Martinez tries to get to full guard but LaCroix has control of the leg.
Martinez is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
LaCroix is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

LaCroix gets a clinch.
LaCroix prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yunel Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaCroix drops down looking for an ankle pick but Martinez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt

so LaCroix counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
LaCroix sitting in guard here, content to control.
LaCroix has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Martinez is proving hard to escape from.
Martinez looking to hit a scissor sweep but LaCroix is one step ahead there.
LaCroix has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Martinez is proving hard to escape from.
Martinez controlling LaCroix's posture.
Martinez looking for a sweep. Not yet Martinez, not yet.
LaCroix looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Martinez is trying to control the position but LaCroix postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Martinez with a lazy takedown attempt

and LaCroix decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Martinez's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
LaCroix wants to get up but he can't break Martinez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
LaCroix controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Martinez is trying to control the position but LaCroix postures up.
Martinez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because LaCroix is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Martinez looking for a sweep. Not yet Martinez, not yet.
Martinez being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that LaCroix has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
LaCroix preventing the sweep.
Martinez is trying to keep LaCroix in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

LaCroix stands up and waves to Martinez to follow him.
Martinez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Martinez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

LaCroix shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Martinez's guard.
LaCroix is stalling in the full guard.
Martinez looking for a sweep. Not yet Martinez, not yet.
Martinez trying to keep a closed guard but LaCroix is proving a slippery customer.
LaCroix won't allow Martinez to sweep him here.
Martinez working a defensive guard here.
Martinez has LaCroix pulled in close to control his posture.
Martinez is trying to keep LaCroix in close.
LaCroix must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Martinez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and LaCroix counters with a single leg into guard. Martinez didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martinez trying to keep a closed guard but LaCroix is proving a slippery customer.
LaCroix not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Martinez looking for a sweep. Not yet Martinez, not yet.
LaCroix has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Martinez is proving hard to escape from.
Martinez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
LaCroix won't allow Martinez to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LaCroix has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Martinez is proving hard to escape from.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt

and LaCroix counters with a single leg into guard. Martinez didn't expect that.
Martinez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raven LaCroix dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

LaCroix 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 control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Martinez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Martinez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Martinez wants to sweep here but LaCroix controlling him for the moment.
Martinez is trying to control the position but LaCroix postures up.
Martinez 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.
LaCroix is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Martinez looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Martinez gets caught flat footed, as LaCroix shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
LaCroix has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Martinez is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing LaCroix from controlling successfully.
Martinez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. LaCroix manages to get himself to full guard.
Martinez passes LaCroix's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Martinez trying to control from half guard but LaCroix is working away.
Martinez is pressing down on LaCroix's thigh, looking to free his foot. LaCroix is holding on for now.
Raven LaCroix has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martinez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but LaCroix does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
LaCroix is trying to stand.
Martinez wants to take a breather but LaCroix is having none of it.
Martinez stalling.
LaCroix is doing well to control the position and prevent Martinez from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wants to take a breather but LaCroix is having none of it.

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

LaCroix 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 can't do much from the bottom here.
Martinez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but LaCroix wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez is trying to control LaCroix's posture but LaCroix avoids it.
LaCroix wants to stand but Martinez is controlling his arm.
Martinez manages to get back to half guard.
Martinez is trying to control but can't.
LaCroix stalling.
Martinez trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix prevents Martinez from improving his position.
LaCroix is controlling the pace.
Martinez is looking to improve his position.
LaCroix sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Martinez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Martinez trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
LaCroix is controlling the pace.
Martinez trying to control from the bottom.
LaCroix tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Martinez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

LaCroix stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Martinez to get to his feet.
Martinez with a lazy takedown attempt

so LaCroix counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

LaCroix decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
LaCroix shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Martinez as he avoids it easily.
Martinez with a lazy takedown attempt

and LaCroix counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raven LaCroix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

LaCroix tries to clinch but Martinez moves out of range.
Martinez misses with a takedown

and LaCroix counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
LaCroix is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Martinez wants to get back to full guard.
Martinez is looking to control LaCroix's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Martinez avoid being mounted?
LaCroix controlling the action here.
LaCroix is thwarting Martinez's attempts to control the position.
LaCroix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaCroix stalling.
LaCroix is thwarting Martinez's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
LaCroix tries to clinch there but Martinez circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by LaCroix.
Martinez misses with a takedown

and LaCroix counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Martinez tries to roll over but LaCroix keeps him under control.
Martinez trying to control here.
Martinez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Martinez seems keen to control LaCroix's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix won't allow Martinez to sweep him here.
LaCroix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martinez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
LaCroix wants to stand but Martinez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Martinez looking to hit a scissor sweep but LaCroix is one step ahead there.
Martinez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Martinez wants to sweep here but LaCroix controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
LaCroix keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

LaCroix decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
LaCroix tries to stand but can't do so whilst Martinez controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is positioning himself well to prevent LaCroix advancing to mount.
Martinez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. LaCroix is working away from the top position though.
Martinez wants to improve his position but LaCroix is controlling well.

LaCroix escapes and gets back to his feet.
Yunel Martinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martinez moves out of range of the body kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

LaCroix shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than LaCroix was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Martinez wants to hold on but LaCroix pushes him away.
Martinez can't escape the position.
Martinez tries to hold on but LaCroix postures up.
LaCroix controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaCroix prevents Martinez from getting the reversal.
Martinez wants to control but LaCroix is having none of it.
LaCroix controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
LaCroix tries to control but Martinez wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raven LaCroix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well LaCroix 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 26:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raven LaCroix!