PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nolan Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin comes to the cage accompanied by War - The Sick Puppies. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Martin
vs
Russo

180 cm
23
179 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

181 cm
24
183 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

5th Round

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nolan Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vinny Russo!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Russo tries to clinch there but Martin circles away.
Russo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Martin.
Russo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Russo lands a right hook to the body.
Russo misses with a body shot.
Russo slips under a jab.
Martin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Martin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Russo circles away quickly and effectively.

Russo moves into range and clinches up with Martin.
Russo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Russo is looking to break free of the clinch but Martin has double underhooks.
Russo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Martin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Russo takes one on the button.

It looks like Vinny Russo has been cut.
Martin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Martin throws a jab but it's blocked by Russo.
Russo misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin avoids the head kick by Russo.
Russo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Martin.
Martin checks a leg kick nicely.
Martin scores with a hook to the body. Russo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Martin misses with a body punch
and Russo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Martin scores with the left hand. Russo knows he should have avoided that one.
Russo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russo ducks under a wild hook from Martin.
Russo looks to land a left hand but Martin moved out of range nicely.
Martin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Russo checks it well.
Russo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Martin misses.
Martin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Martin throws a right hand that Russo ducks under and follows up with a left that Russo also avoids with ease.
Martin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Russo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Russo scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Russo blocks the leg kick.
Russo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Martin scores with a punch to the head.
Martin throws a shot from downtown. Russo moves away and avoids it.
A big left from Russo misses.
Russo thows a leg kick but Martin checks it
and Russo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Martin throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo slips a straight right by Martin.
Martin throws the left hand but Russo avoids the punch easily.
Martin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Russo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big right from Martin misses.
Martin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Russo.
Martin lands a jab to Russo's midsection.
Martin misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Martin. Martin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Martin scores with a hook.
Russo throws a hook to the side of Martin's head but Martin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo slips a jab from Martin.
Russo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Russo throws a shot from downtown. Martin moves away and avoids it.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick and Martin moves out of range easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Russo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Good work by Russo as he checks the leg kick.
Martin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Russo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Martin.
Russo throws a leg kick that misses.
Nolan Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Martin there.
Nice straight punches there by Martin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Martin.
Martin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A jab from Martin finds it's way through Russo's defenses.
Russo misses with a hook.
Russo throws a shot from downtown. Martin moves away and avoids it.

Martin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Russo quickly recovers to half guard.
Martin working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Russo's thigh. Russo counters though and makes it back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo has momentary wrist control but Martin slips an elbow through the middle.
Russo wants to sweep here but Martin controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nolan Martin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vinny Russo's cut.
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.

Russo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Martin pinned against the cage. Martin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martin with a jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Russo.
Martin is looking to reverse the position.
Martin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Martin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Martin controls Russo momentarily but Russo frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin has control of Russo's left arm, preventing Russo from doing any damage.
Russo stands and throws Martin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Russo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Martin struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Russo cracks Martin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Martin is looking for a sweep.
Russo working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Russo tries for a kimura but Martin is defending well.
Martin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Martin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russo wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Russo defending well though.
Martin slows the pace down in half guard.
Russo wants to improve his position but Martin is controlling well.
Martin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martin throwing shots but Russo is blocking nicely.
Martin is looking to take a break and control but Russo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Martin looks to land a strike but Russo avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Martin won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
Russo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Russo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo is trying to control the position but Martin postures up.
Martin cracks Russo with a solid left hand.
Martin throwing strikes from guard but Russo blocks nicely.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vinny Russo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Vinny Russo'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Martin misses with an uppercut. Russo saw that one coming.
Martin misses with a looping left.
Martin lands with a straight right. Russo didn't see that one coming.
Russo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Martin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Martin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Martin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Martin lands some shots froms side control.
Russo is looking for a sweep.
Russo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Martin connects with a decent elbow.
Russo is trying to improve his position.
Martin throws a strike aimed at the side of Russo's head but Russo avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo sneaks back into half guard.
Russo trying to control but Martin postures up.
Martin throws a strike but Russo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Russo has his foot on Martin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Martin works his way back into a safe position though.
Russo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Martin connects with a couple of short punches.
Martin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Martin wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Russo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Martin has picked Russo up and slammed him! Russo can't keep hold of the triangle and Martin manages to pass to side control!
Russo taking a bit of punishment here - Martin scoring with strikes.
Martin scores with punches from side control.
Martin working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nolan Martin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Russo wants to control but Martin postures up.
Martin lands some shots froms side control.
The referee asks Martin politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Martin prefers to stall for the moment though.
Russo is pushing Martin's head away, looking to escape. Martin manages to hold on to the position though.
Russo prevents Martin from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martin stands up and beckons Russo to his feet.
Martin lands a head shot.
Martin missing with a left hand there. Russo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Martin throws a right hand that Russo ducks under and follows up with a left that Russo also avoids with ease.
Martin throws a leg kick
and Russo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Martin throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.
Martin throws a jab when Russo was well out of range.
A big left from Martin misses.
Russo looks to score with a jab to the body but Martin is just out of range.
Martin lands a jab to Russo's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a lazy body kick
and Russo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Russo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Martin throws out a loose jab but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Russo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Martin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Russo wants to clinch.
Russo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Martin.
Martin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Russo's hands.
Martin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Russo walks into a left hand.
Russo defending well as Martin loads up on a big left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nolan Martin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Martin 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

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