PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between rafael BJJ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

BJJ
vs
Martin

150 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
23
140 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, rafael BJJ!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Martin!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin throws a series of punches but BJJ avoids them all with ease.
BJJ looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Martin tries for a takedown but BJJ sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Martin shoots in for a takedown but BJJ shows good takedown defense.

Martin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. BJJ looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Martin stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Martin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Martin clinches up with BJJ and pushes him back against the cage.
BJJ takes a knee right on the jaw!
BJJ really is a fat lump.
BJJ tries to pull guard but Martin holds him up against the cage and eventually BJJ drops back down to his feet.

Martin breaks the clinch.
BJJ shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Martin but Martin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Martin.

Martin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martin gets to his feet. BJJ looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Martin connects with a nice looking jab.
BJJ takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice sprawl there from BJJ as Martin shoots in.
rafael BJJ has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Martin.
Martin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like rafael BJJ has been cut.
Martin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Martin throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
BJJ closes this distance looking for a takedown but Martin circles away.
Paul Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Martin has BJJ up against the cage in a clinch.
Martin taking a breather.
Knees in the clinch landing for Martin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martin breaks the clinch.
Martin tries to bum rush BJJ with a series of wild strikes but BJJ uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Martin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martin shoots for a takedown but BJJ saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
BJJ takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Martin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Horrible takedown by BJJ or perhaps it was just good defense by Martin which made him look bad.
Martin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Martin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says BJJ as he avoids it easily.
Martin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
BJJ misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Martin, right into the meat.
Nice sprawl there from Martin as BJJ shoots in.
Martin throws a series of punches but BJJ avoids them all with ease.
Martin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
BJJ shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Martin but Martin pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Martin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
BJJ looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
BJJ wants to improve his position but instead Martin has moved into half guard.
BJJ wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BJJ is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Martin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Martin's back!
Will BJJ go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

BJJ looking for the choke from the back.

BJJ working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Martin showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Martin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on rafael BJJ's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

BJJ tries to clinch but Martin moves away
and Martin counters with a nice body kick.
Martin fails to land with a series of punches.

Martin has closed the distance and engaged BJJ in a clinch.
Martin scores with a knee to the head.
Martin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Martin stalling.

Martin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Martin with that takedown attempt.
BJJ tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Martin counters with an outside leg kick.
BJJ fails in his attempt to clinch.
BJJ is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Martin.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
BJJ stuffs the takedown attempt from Martin. Martin gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Martin lands but BJJ takes it in his stride.
Martin stuffs the takedown attempt from BJJ. BJJ gets slowly back to his feet.
Martin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
BJJ misses with a takedown attempt - Martin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Martin throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
rafael BJJ is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Martin clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Martin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Martin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and BJJ connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
rafael BJJ has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Martin.
BJJ misses with a takedown attempt
and Martin counters with a solid body kick.
Martin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? BJJ is fending him off so far but Martin persists. Nope, BJJ circles away and we're back to standing.
BJJ gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Martin counters with a head kick.
Martin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Martin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Martin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martin displaying some good clinch control by pressing BJJ up against the cage.
Martin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BJJ tries to score a body lock takedown but Martin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Martin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Martin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of BJJ backwards.
The referee calls for Martin to work.

Martin manages to break the clinch.
BJJ looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Martin is fending him off so far but BJJ persists. Nope, Martin circles away and we're back to standing.
Martin throws a series of punches but BJJ moves out of range.
Martin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
BJJ closes this distance looking for a takedown but Martin circles away.
Martin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around BJJ's waist but BJJ gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martin off to one side.
BJJ takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
BJJ shoots in but no luck this time.
Martin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Martin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has BJJ pinned against the cage. BJJ gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by BJJ.
Martin cracks a nice hook into BJJ's ribs.
BJJ fails to land the takedown.
BJJ with a lazy takedown attempt

and Martin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Martin passes to side control.
BJJ manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Martin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on rafael BJJ's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A slapping body kick lands there for Martin.
Martin looks for a takedown but BJJ sprawls well.
BJJ with a poor takedown
and Martin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Martin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by BJJ.
Martin lands with a slapping head kick.
Martin lands a nice looking body shot.
A head kick misses from Martin.
Martin misses with a double jab

and BJJ counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
BJJ looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
BJJ is looking to advance position but Martin has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martin has hold of BJJ's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and BJJ manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
BJJ can't escape the position.
BJJ is working hard here to advance position.
Martin is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. BJJ can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BJJ is wriggling around trying to escape.
BJJ takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

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.
Martin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Martin lands a big shot there that rocks BJJ but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Martin pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
BJJ is trying to escape the mount.
BJJ might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Martin scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin landing strikes, looking to finish!
BJJ is looking to get to half guard.
BJJ is bucking up trying to escape but Martin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
BJJ tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Martin landing shots from mount.
BJJ is looking to improve his position but Martin isn't that keen on the idea.
Paul Martin has got the better of the ground game so far.
BOOM! Martin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee warns BJJ that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
BJJ is trying desperately to improve position.
rafael BJJ has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul Martin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
rafael BJJ showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

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