PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Javier Martinez (ranked 293 p4p, 2537 weight class) and Daniel Grigoryan (ranked 43 p4p, 297 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Martinez
vs
Grigoryan

188 cm
29
200
27 - 3 - 0

188 cm
47
209
28 - 5 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Martinez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 5 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Grigoryan!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grigoryan misses with a body kick.
Martinez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Grigoryan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grigoryan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice body kick there by Grigoryan.
Grigoryan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Martinez circles away quickly and effectively.
An attempted straight right counter from Martinez misses the target.
Martinez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grigoryan.
Grigoryan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Martinez circles away quickly and effectively.
Grigoryan misses with a kick to the body.
Martinez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grigoryan counters with a body kick.
Grigoryan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Martinez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Martinez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grigoryan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martinez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Grigoryan is avoiding damage well.
Grigoryan struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Martinez.
Grigoryan wants to control but Martinez postures up.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Martinez looking to control but instead Grigoryan has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Grigoryan taking some punishment here, with Martinez in his half guard.
Grigoryan wants to control but Martinez is keeping busy.
Ground and pound from Martinez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grigoryan's head.
Martinez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Grigoryan wants to control but Martinez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Martinez looks to land a strike but Grigoryan avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Grigoryan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Martinez throws a big elbow that misses.
Grigoryan pulls Martinez in close to his closed guard and prevents Martinez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Martinez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Martinez postures up in Grigoryan's guard and throws a big left but Grigoryan blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Grigoryan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Martinez moves out of range of the body kick.

Martinez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Grigoryan is controlling Martinez's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Grigoryan trying to control from the bottom.
Martinez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Grigoryan defending well though.
Martinez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Grigoryan manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigoryan is trying to control the position but Martinez postures up.
Martinez controlling from the top position.
Martinez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Martinez throws a big elbow that misses.
Martinez throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grigoryan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Martinez dominated that round.
That's time! Martinez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Martinez looks to score with a jab to the body but Grigoryan is just out of range.
Grigoryan moves forwards but Martinez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A combination from Martinez does no damage.
Grigoryan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Martinez looks to land a left hand but Grigoryan moved out of range nicely.
Despite the aggression on Grigoryan's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Martinez shoots in and gets a takedown into Grigoryan's guard.
Grigoryan seems keen to control Martinez's posture.
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grigoryan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Martinez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez is working Grigoryan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but Grigoryan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martinez throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigoryan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grigoryan has his hands on Martinez's head, controlling the position.
Martinez scoring with some ground and pound.
Martinez trying to control but Grigoryan is working from the bottom.
Grigoryan controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigoryan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grigoryan is trying to control the position but Martinez postures up.
Grigoryan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Martinez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grigoryan is adopting a defensive guard.
Martinez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Martinez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Martinez moves forwards but Grigoryan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Grigoryan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Martinez.
Daniel Grigoryan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Martinez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Grigoryan keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
Grigoryan is pulling down on Martinez's head to control his posture.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Grigoryan keeps moving.
Grigoryan is controlling Martinez's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but Grigoryan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martinez is really struggling to control Grigoryan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Martinez distracts Grigoryan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Grigoryan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Martinez is looking to work some ground and pound but Grigoryan has wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Martinez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grigoryan can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grigoryan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Martinez throws a combination. Grigoryan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Martinez dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Martinez misses.
Martinez throws a jab but it's blocked by Grigoryan.
It seemed like Grigoryan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Grigoryan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Martinez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Grigoryan!
Grigoryan is looking to regain half guard here but Martinez keeps moving and retains side control.
Grigoryan is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.
Grigoryan defending against the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Grigoryan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Grigoryan defending against the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Grigoryan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez tries to advance to mount but Grigoryan denies him.
Grigoryan tries to bench press Martinez off him but Martinez keeps the position.
Martinez in side control lands a decent elbow.
Martinez throwing strikes but Grigoryan manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Javier Martinez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Grigoryan decides to stand back up. Grigoryan steps back and let's Martinez get back to his feet.
Grigoryan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigoryan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Martinez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grigoryan.
Martinez cracks Grigoryan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Martinez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grigoryan.
Martinez attempts a counter takedown but Grigoryan avoids it well and moves away.
Martinez fails to land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Grigoryan.
Martinez moves out of range of the body kick from Grigoryan.
Martinez tries to counter by clinching up but Grigoryan breaks away and moves out of range.
Martinez walks into a jab.
Grigoryan throws a hook but Martinez avoids it easily.
Martinez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Grigoryan throws a combination that misses
and Martinez counters with a stiff right hand.
Martinez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Martinez defending well as Grigoryan loads up on a big left hand.
Grigoryan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Martinez moves out of range of the body kick.
Daniel Grigoryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez clobbers Grigoryan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Martinez moves out of range of the body kick from Grigoryan.
Grigoryan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Martinez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Martinez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grigoryan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Martinez trying to control but Grigoryan is working from the bottom.
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grigoryan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grigoryan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Grigoryan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez looking to sit in guard and control but Grigoryan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Grigoryan is fighting to break Martinez's control of his arms but Martinez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Grigoryan is standing up over Martinez. Martinez looks to escape but Grigoryan dives into side control.
Daniel Grigoryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Grigoryan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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 Javier Martinez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martinez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Javier Martinez!
Javier Martinez retains his heavyweight title!
A relieved looking Javier Martinez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.