PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Caio Bottura (ranked 519 p4p, 70 weight class) and Esko Marttinen (ranked 1361 p4p, 166 weight class). Bottura's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Face The Pain. Caio Bottura had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Bottura
vs
Marttinen

173 cm
31
165 lbs
24 - 12 - 2

182 cm
36
162 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
UnderGround Supplements

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 24 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Caio Bottura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esko Marttinen!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bottura throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Marttinen scores with a jab.
Marttinen tries to bum rush Bottura with a series of wild strikes but Bottura uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bottura throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Marttinen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bottura misses with a body kick.
Marttinen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bottura counters with a one-two to the body.
Marttinen throws a sloppy head kick and Bottura moves out of range easily.
Bottura misses with a combination
and Marttinen counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bottura is looking to score with low kicks.
Bottura throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Bottura tries to close the distance and clinch but Marttinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bottura misses with a body kick.

Marttinen has closed the distance and engaged Bottura in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Bottura.
Bottura tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bottura tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bottura drags the fight down to the ground.
Marttinen throwing strikes but missing.
Marttinen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marttinen with a flurry of punches that miss.

Bottura is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marttinen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bottura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marttinen wants to stand but Bottura is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marttinen trying to control but Bottura is working from the bottom.
Marttinen lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen postures up.

Bottura working for a triangle but Marttinen defends it easily.
Marttinen wants to control from the top but Bottura keeps moving.

Bottura has his foot on Marttinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Marttinen works his way back into a safe position though.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marttinen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marttinen forces his way into half guard.
Marttinen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bottura has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marttinen is working away from the top position though.

Marttinen is trying to work for a kimura but Bottura is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
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. Marttinen connects with a nice short shot to Bottura's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bottura looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bottura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marttinen pulls his head out easily.
Bottura is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Marttinen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bottura is looking to improve his position.
Bottura is controlling Marttinen's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Bottura is not content to let Marttinen control the position.
Bottura 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bottura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Marttinen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bottura looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bottura is trying to control the position but Marttinen postures up.

Bottura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marttinen stays in close to Bottura's body and controls the position.
Marttinen is in close to Bottura's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marttinen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marttinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bottura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bottura is trying to control the position but Marttinen postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esko Marttinen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Marttinen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Marttinen lands a couple of elbows.
Marttinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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

Bottura looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bottura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Marttinen wants to get back to full guard.

Bottura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marttinen is just riding it out for now. Bottura eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marttinen controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen is trying to get back to full guard.

Marttinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bottura pulls his head out easily.

Marttinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bottura pulls his head out easily.
Marttinen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marttinen.

Marttinen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bottura throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Marttinen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Marttinen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marttinen keeping full guard, as Bottura tries to pass.
Marttinen pulls Bottura in close to prevent any damage.
Bottura trying to control the position from guard on top but Marttinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bottura advances to half guard.
Bottura wants to control but Marttinen is keeping him busy.
Bottura looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bottura trying to pass the guard but Marttinen defending well.
Bottura throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bottura frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bottura thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Marttinen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Bottura.
Marttinen working to try and regain half guard.
Marttinen blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen working to try and regain half guard.
Bottura avoids the attempt from Marttinen to control.
Marttinen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Bottura.
Bottura tries to control but Marttinen wriggling away.
Bottura thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marttinen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Bottura.
Marttinen gets back to half guard.
Bottura wants to pass to mount but Marttinen is defending the position.
Bottura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marttinen keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caio Bottura dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marttinen lands with a slapping head kick.
Marttinen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bottura counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Marttinen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bottura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bottura misses with a wild body shot.
Marttinen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bottura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marttinen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marttinen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bottura swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Marttinen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bottura throws a lazy head kick
and Marttinen counters with a solid body kick.
Marttinen misses with a head kick.
As Marttinen looks to move away, Bottura throws a big counter combo but Marttinen just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Bottura to counter with a crisp jab.
Caio Bottura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bottura stuffs the takedown.
Caio Bottura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esko Marttinen.
Bottura throws a body punch but Marttinen moves out of range.

Bottura rushes Marttinen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bottura successfully pulls guard.

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

Bottura throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marttinen wants to stand but Bottura is controlling his posture from full guard.

Bottura has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Marttinen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bottura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen trying to control the position but Bottura is working away.
Marttinen advances to full mount.
Bottura sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bottura holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Marttinen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bottura with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bottura makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bottura.

Bottura had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marttinen defends it easily.
Marttinen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen preventing the sweep.
Bottura managing to control the position.

Bottura looking for a guillotine here but Marttinen defends easily.
Bottura has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bottura keeping moving, preventing Marttinen from controlling successfully.
Marttinen lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Marttinen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Bottura is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Marttinen trying to control but Bottura is working from the bottom.
Marttinen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bottura's head.
Marttinen wants to control from the top but Bottura keeps moving.
Marttinen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Marttinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bottura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marttinen scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marttinen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Caio Bottura.
I think Bottura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caio Bottura!
Caio Bottura decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.