PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Doms (ranked 1797 p4p, 2889 weight class) and Alex Martens (ranked 215 p4p, 320 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Martens's choice of entrance music: The XX - Intro. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Alex Martens enters the cage!

Doms
vs
Martens

180 cm
23
167
9 - 6 - 0

183 cm
22
166
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Core Combat

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frankie Doms!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Martens!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martens throws a sloppy head kick and Doms moves out of range easily.
Martens moves out of range as Doms throws a body kick.
Martens was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Martens misses with a looping left.
Doms is looking to counter with a body kick.
We've been informed that Martens has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Alex Martens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martens motions for Doms to come forward. Martens throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Doms attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Martens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Doms throws a counter high kick but Martens was just alert enough to avoid it.
Martens takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Doms misses with a head kick.
Martens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Doms goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Martens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Doms jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Doms looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Doms moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMartens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Doms tries to keep at a distance but Martens has taken the fight into the clinch.
Martens connects with a nasty looking knee right to Doms's face.
Doms takes a knee right on the jaw!
Doms tries to stall but Martens uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Martens landing knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doms breaks from the clinch.
Doms throws a head kick that misses.
Martens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Doms thinks about countering with a body kick.
Doms throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Doms on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Martens. Martens obviously looking to wear him down.
Martens throws a leg kick that misses.
Martens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Doms moves away.
Doms is looking to chop away at Martens's legs.
Martens lands with a thumping leg kick.
Doms tries to land a front kick but Martens steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Martens avoids the head kick by Doms.
Doms is looking to score with low kicks.
Martens unleashes a big counter combination but Doms bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Martens throws a leg kick
and Doms counters with a low kick, right behind Martens 's knee.
Martens turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Martens moves out of range of the body kick.
Doms throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doms throws a body kick that misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Martens. That's going to slow Doms down.
Doms misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Doms checks a low kick from Martens.
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!
Martens misses with a wild body shot.
Doms misses with a body kick.
Doms throws a lazy body kick
and Doms takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A low kick from Martens misses
and Doms counters with a nice leg kick.
Doms moves out of range of the leg kick from Martens.
Doms is looking to counter with a body kick.
Martens throws a leg kick
and Doms counters with a low kick, right behind Martens 's knee.
Doms throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Martens.
Doms keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Martens.
It appears Doms was looking to counter with a kick there.
Doms ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martens moves away.
Martens is looking for the big counter here.
Martens throws a jab but it's blocked by Doms.
Martens misses with a leg kick.
Martens pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Doms throws a body kick that misses.
Martens lands a leg kick that knocks Doms off balance momentarily.
Doms throws the kick towards the body but Martens avoids it.
Doms throws a half hearted mid kick.
Doms misses with a kick to the body.
Doms looks for the body kick but Martens saw that one coming.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Doms - that will leave a mark!
Doms throws a half hearted mid kick.
Doms misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Doms feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Martens throws a wild body kick that Doms sees coming a mile off.
Doms slips under a jab from Martens.
Martens takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Martens closes the distance but Doms moves to the side
and Doms counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martens checks a leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Doms.
Doms takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Doms throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Doms throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Doms lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Martens throws a head kick but Doms moves out of range.
Martens fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Doms on the side of the head.
Doms avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Martens scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Martens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Martens gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Doms breaks from the clinch.
Doms looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Doms pushes Martens away with a front kick.
Doms takes one to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Martens will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Martens takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Martens lands a jab to the nose.
Doms connects with an inside leg kick.
Martens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Martens attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Decent striking displayed by Martens there.
Martens throws a leg kick
and Doms counters with a body kick that stops Martens in his tracks momentarily.
Doms tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Doms misses with a leg kick.
Martens tries a low kick but Doms avoids it.
Doms tries to land a leg kick but Martens saw it coming and moves away.
Martens is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Martens.
Doms throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Doms pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick misses from Doms.
Doms takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
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!
An inside leg kick from Doms misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martens misses with a body kick.
Doms quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Martens looks to throw the jab but Doms is out of range.
Doms lands a leg kick that knocks Martens off balance momentarily.
Martens misses with the combination.
Doms lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martens's sensitive parts.
Martens misses with a leg kick
and Doms counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Doms moves out of range of the leg kick from Martens.
Martens throws a leg kick but Doms sees it coming and moves out of range.
Doms feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Martens instigates a clinch.

Doms pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martens misses with a straight left.
Doms is looking to counter with head kicks.
Doms throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Doms attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Doms throws a sloppy head kick and Martens moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doms stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Martens.
Martens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martens throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Doms swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Martens throws a head kick but Doms moves out of range.
Doms throws the kick towards the body but Martens avoids it.
Doms scores with a nice right hand.
Martens is looking to land body kicks.
Doms checks a leg kick.
Doms fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Martens.
Martens connects with a crisp jab.
Martens moves out of range of the body kick from Doms.
Doms blocks the body kick.
Doms pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Doms tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Martens has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Doms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doms throws a sloppy head kick and Martens moves out of range easily.
Martens throws a quick inside leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Martens.
Doms half committed to a counter leg kick.

Martens instigates a clinch.

Doms breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Frankie Doms is winning the standup battle so far.
Martens tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Martens swings widly with a right hand
and Doms counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Martens misses with a few strikes there.
Martens just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDoms.
Martens misses with a left hand
and Doms counters with a nice kick to the body.
Doms swats away the attempt to clinch by Martens.
Doms checks a low kick from Martens.
Martens throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Doms.
Martens throws a low kick, looking for Doms's leg but Doms calmly moves out of range.
Martens checks the leg kick nicely there.
Martens appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doms blocks a low kick nicely.
Martens's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Martens motions for Doms to come forward. Martens throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Martens lands with a kick to the ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martens throws a front kick aimed at Doms's knee but Doms avoids it well.
Doms misses with a head kick.
Doms circles away from the clinch attempt.
Martens lands a nice looking body kick.
Martens throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Doms blocks a head kick by Martens.
Doms turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Doms tries a low kick but Martens avoids it.
Doms takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Doms throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Martens counters with a straight right hand.
Doms pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Martens will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Martens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Doms tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Martens avoids the head kick by Doms.
Martens rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Doms counters with a thumping low kick.
Martens tries to work over Doms's front leg with a kick but Doms checks it.
Martens keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Doms is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Martens cracks Doms with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Doms. Martens shrugs it off though.
Doms gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Doms throws the kick towards the body but Martens avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martens lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Doms misses with a low kick as Martens jumps back.
Martens wants to clinch up but Doms keeps it at a distance.
Martens throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Doms misses with a low kick as Martens jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Martens moves out of range of the body kick from Doms.
Doms avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martens misses with a leg kick.
It appears Doms was looking to counter with a kick there.
Martens tries to clinch up but Doms circles away and keeps his distance.
A clash of legs there as Doms blocks the low kick.
Doms misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Doms.
Doms feints and then cracks Martens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Martens down.
That kick from Doms tenderised Martens's leg. Martens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Doms is looking to land body kicks.
Doms misses with a kick to the body.
An inside leg kick from Doms misses.
Martens blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doms stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Martens.
Martens misses with a series of wild punches.
A cross from Martens lands.
Doms fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Martens has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Martens throws a looping overhand right but Doms ducks down to avoid it.
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!
Doms throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A low kick lands for Martens.
That kick from Doms tenderised Martens's leg. Martens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Martens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Doms manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And Doms counters with a quick kick to the body but Martens blocks it.
Doms avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Doms fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Martens is out of range.
Martens lands a jab-cross combination.
Martens throws a hook but Doms blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doms throws the kick towards the body but Martens avoids it.
Martens checks the leg kick.
Martens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Martens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Doms blocks a head kick by Martens.
Martens lands a jab to the head.
Martens throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Doms - that will leave a mark!
Doms misses with a body shot
and Martens counters with a head kick. That will keep Doms thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Doms moves out of range as Martens strikes.
Doms thinks about countering with a body kick.
Martens avoids the head kick by Doms.
Martens thinks about the counter body kick.
Doms goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Doms tries to land a front kick but Martens steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Frankie Doms has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martens throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Martens thumps Doms with a low kick.
Martens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Doms. Doms obviously looking to wear him down.
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!
Doms stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Martens.
Doms misses with an attempted mid kick.
Martens's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Martens duly obliges.
Martens finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Doms looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Doms misses with a body kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Doms crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Martens - the referee stops the clock and Doms gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Martens. Doms manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Doms misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martens was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Martens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martens throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Doms blocks it with crossed arms.
Martens with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Doms pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Martens.
Martens takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Martens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Martens 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Martens!
Alex Martens seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.