PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between The Filipino Champ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Martins (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.

Filipino Champ
vs
Martins

175 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
24
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, The Filipino Champ!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Martins!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martins clinches.
Champ tries to pull guard but Martins holds him up against the cage and eventually Champ drops back down to his feet.

Martins gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Champ regains guard.

Martins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Martins stopping the sweep attempt from Champ.
Martins is in close to Champ's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Martins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Champ is keeping the position for now.
Champ tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Martins scoring with some ground and pound.
Martins engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Martins pushing down on Champ's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Martins scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Champ tries to get to full guard but Martins has control of the leg.
Martins trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champ wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Martins in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Martins 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.
Martins winds up and cracks Champ with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Martins trying to control the pace.
Champ gets back to full guard.
Champ bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martins's guard.

Champ stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Martins 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.
Champ looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Champ throwing strikes from guard but Martins blocks nicely.
Champ is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Champ tries to free his leg and advance position but Martins is retaining full guard.
Martins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Martins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Champ moves into full guard.
Martins controls from within his opponent's guard.
Martins's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champ tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Champ manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martins manages to get himself to full guard.

Champ trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martins managing to control the position.
Champ stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martins swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Martins is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Champ tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Martins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Martins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Martins won't allow Champ to sweep him here.
Martins tries to free his leg and advance position but Champ is retaining full guard.
Champ looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Martins tries to free his leg and advance position but Champ is retaining full guard.
Martins stays in close to Champ's body and controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Champ looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martins is one step ahead there.
Martins wants to stand but Champ is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Martins 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.

Martins throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Champ tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Martins is in Champ's guard.
James Martins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martins tries to free his leg and advance position but Champ is retaining full guard.
Champ lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Martins working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Champ doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Champ manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Champ's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Champ trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Martins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Champ works over Martins with some ground and pound from guard.
Martins keeping full guard, as Champ tries to pass.

Champ 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.
Martins has control of Champ's left arm, preventing Champ from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins can't keep his opponent in guard - Champ advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Champ seems to be working for a kimura but Martins defends the submission attempt.
Martins is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Champ scores with a couple of nice shots.
Martins on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Champ connects with a nice short shot to Martins's temple.

Champ wants to work for an arm triangle but Martins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Champ is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Champ throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Martins keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Champ looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Martins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Champ seems to be working for a kimura but Martins defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martins is controlling Champ's trapped leg to prevent Champ from advancing to side control.
Champ stops Martins from getting back to his feet.
Champ landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Martins trying to hold on to Champ's head to control him but Champ postures up.
Martins punching from the bottom.
Martins taking some punishment here, with Champ in his half guard.

Martins is defending against the submission attempts here by Champ.

Champ is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Martins doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Champ.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Martins is defending against the submission attempts here by Champ.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martins actively working from the bottom here.
Champ slips a nice elbow through Martins's hands, connecting with Martins's forehead.
Champ working over Martins with some ground and pound. Martins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Champ lands a nice short elbow.
Champ working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Champ has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Champ is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Champ winds up and cracks Martins with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Martins moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Champ pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martins is keeping the position for now.
Champ makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Martins has Champ pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Champ wants to pass the guard but Martins is keeping the position.
Champ pushing down on Martins's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Champ drops an elbow to the side of Martins's head.
Martins wants to control but Champ is keeping busy.
Martins is positioning himself well to prevent Champ advancing to mount.
Champ lands with a punch from half guard.
Champ drops an elbow to the side of Martins's head.
Champ working over Martins with some ground and pound. Martins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Champ is looking for a kimura but Martins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Champ to get the leverage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martins taking some punishment here, with Champ in his half guard.
Champ scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Martins has his hands clasped together around Champ's back. He's all about the action.

Martins is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Champ pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Filipino Champ dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Martins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martins stalling.
Champ slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Martins won't allow Champ to sweep him here.

Champ has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Martins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Champ wants to sweep but no luck.
Champ being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martins distracts Champ with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champ wants to sweep here but Martins controlling him for the moment.
Martins is pushing down on Champ's leg trying to pass to half guard. Champ is fighting to maintain full guard but Martins has managed to sneak the leg through.
Champ wants to get back to full guard.

Martins is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Champ has managed to free his arm - good work.
Martins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Champ wants to improve his position but Martins is controlling well.
Martins working the head and body with strikes.
Champ is trying to get back to full guard.
Martins content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Champ is trying to get back to full guard.

Champ looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Champ is looking to improve his position.
Champ is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Martins scores with a couple of nice shots.
Champ is looking for a sweep. Martins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Martins takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Martins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Martins stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champ is looking to improve his position.
Martins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Martins missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Champ is looking for a sweep. Martins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Martins stalling.
Champ is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Champ is working hard here to advance position.
Champ avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Martins.

That's four 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.
Martins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ground and pound from Martins.
Martins trying to control the pace.
Champ wants to improve his position but Martins is controlling well.
Champ is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Martins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Martins's back!
James Martins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martins looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Champ scores with punches to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Champ doesn't have the hooks in and Martins manages to turn into his guard.

Champ is looking for a triangle but Martins pushes his legs off easily.
Martins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Martins distracts Champ with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Martins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Martins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for The Filipino Champ!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for The Filipino Champ!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for The Filipino Champ!

The Filipino Champ wins by unanimous decision!