PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nuro Higati (ranked 4736 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Martinez (ranked 4743 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.

Higati
vs
Martinez

184 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nuro Higati!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Angel Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Higati shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Higati is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Martinez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Martinez is trying to keep Higati in close.

Martinez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Higati sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Martinez's guard.
Higati controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Higati.
Martinez trying to control but Higati postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higati prevents Martinez from standing back up.
Higati with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Higati thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Martinez's head.
Higati wants to stand up but Martinez is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Higati misses with a two punch combination.

Higati 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.

Martinez pushes Higati off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Martinez moves in looking to clinch but Higati pushes him off.
Nice sprawl there from Higati as Martinez shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Higati gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Martinez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Higati fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Higati shoots in for a takedown but Martinez shows good takedown defense.
Higati changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Martinez tries to avoid it but Higati manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Martinez to the ground. Martinez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
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!
Higati tries to clinch there but Martinez circles away.
Martinez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Higati gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Martinez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Martinez preventing the sweep.
Martinez prevents Higati from getting back to his feet.
Higati trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higati working a defensive guard here.

Higati escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Martinez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Higati working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Martinez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Martinez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Higati is breathing heavily.
Martinez tries to stand but Higati is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but Higati is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Higati is looking to stand up but Martinez isn't so interested in that idea.
Higati throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Higati sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It looked like Higati was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Martinez.
Nuro Higati has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Angel Martinez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick by Higati misses
and Martinez counters with a series of strikes. Higati will be more careful next time no doubt.

Martinez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Higati drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Angel Martinez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Higati shoots in but no luck this time.

Martinez gets the takedown into side control.

Higati throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Martinez blocks a head kick by Higati.
Higati swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Higati fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martinez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Martinez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Higati sprawls well initially but Martinez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Higati is doing well to control the position and prevent Martinez from advancing to side control.
Martinez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Higati wants to control but Martinez is keeping busy.
Higati is controlling Martinez's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higati tries to roll over but Martinez keeps him under control.
Higati gets back to full guard.
Higati not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Martinez trying to control but Higati is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Higati can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martinez controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.
Martinez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Higati fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martinez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Higati avoids it really well and circles away.
Martinez tries to clinch up.

Higati shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martinez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Higati is standing up over Martinez. Martinez looks to escape but Higati dives into side control.

You can see the frustration on Martinez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higati wants to control but Martinez is keeping him busy.
Higati wants to stand but Martinez has his arm trapped.
Higati is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Martinez's shoulder. That is not cool.
Higati is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nuro Higati overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Higati tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Higati scores with punches from side control.
Higati controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Higati is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuro Higati dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Martinez moves into the clinch.
Higati is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Martinez pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Martinez pulls guard successfully.

Higati 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.
Higati would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higati tries to free his leg and advance position but Martinez is retaining full guard.
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.
Martinez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Higati. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Higati got a little sloppy there for a moment and Martinez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Higati has managed to get both his arms back between Martinez's legs - danger averted.
Martinez wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Martinez darts in looking for a takedown but Higati gets double underhooks and turns Martinez into the cage.

Martinez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Higati's half guard.
Martinez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Higati actively working from the bottom here.
Martinez is looking to take a break and control but Higati is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higati moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Higati is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Martinez is aware though and is defending well.
Martinez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martinez trying to control but Higati is working from the bottom.
Martinez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Martinez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Higati wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higati manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martinez manages to get himself to full guard.

Higati wants to stand but Martinez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Higati trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martinez looking to control.
Higati controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Higati lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Higati not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higati advances position into side control!
Higati is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Higati wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Martinez, who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuro Higati showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Higati 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Nuro Higati!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Nuro Higati!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Nuro Higati!

Nuro Higati wins by unanimous decision!