PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Poehler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Poehler
vs
Martinez

177 cm
24
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Milwaukee's Best 160 Recovery - $99

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Caleb Poehler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hugo Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez shoots in but Poehler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Poehler looks to land a combination but Martinez avoids it well.
Martinez moves out of range of the strikes.
Poehler throws a combination that misses

and Martinez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Martinez trying to control but Poehler is working from the bottom.
Martinez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Martinez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Martinez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poehler swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez trying to control but Poehler is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Martinez stays in close to Poehler's body and controls the position.

Hugo Martinez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Poehler wants to clinch but Martinez slips to the side

and Martinez counters with a single leg into guard. Poehler didn't expect that.
Martinez trying to control but Poehler is working from the bottom.
Martinez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Martinez won't allow Poehler to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poehler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Poehler keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Martinez is stalling in the full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hugo Martinez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Poehler looks to clinch

so Martinez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Martinez controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hugo Martinez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Martinez fails with the takedown
and Poehler counters with a one-two to the body.
Poehler throws a combination that misses

and Martinez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Martinez.
Martinez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Martinez pushes down on Poehler's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
It looks like Martinez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Martinez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Martinez shoots in looking for a takedown but Poehler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Martinez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Poehler swings for the body but Martinez moves out of range.
Poehler wants to clinch

and Martinez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Poehler's guard now.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Poehler keeps moving.
Martinez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Martinez trying to control but Poehler is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hugo Martinez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Martinez misses with a takedown
and Poehler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poehler throws a right hand that misses

and Martinez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Martinez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez trying to control but Poehler is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Hugo Martinez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Martinez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Poehler sprawls well initially but Martinez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Poehler pushes Martinez off looking to stand but Martinez dives back in and keeps control.
Well, if Martinez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Poehler has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Martinez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Martinez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

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 with a couple of short strikes.
Martinez content just to control the position here.

Martinez goes for an armbar but Poehler turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Poehler.
Hugo Martinez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martinez has a closed guard, preventing Poehler from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Martinez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Poehler tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Martinez counters with a takedown into side control.
Poehler is letting Martinez control him for a moment.
Let's hope that Martinez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Martinez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Martinez laying and praying for a moment but Poehler takes advantage and regains half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Martinez in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hugo Martinez.
No luck for Martinez with that takedown attempt.
Poehler wants to clinch but Martinez slips to the side

and Martinez counters with a shoot takedown. Poehler fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez trying to control but Poehler is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a big right hand that misses.
Martinez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Caleb Poehler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hugo Martinez.
Poehler tries to clinch but Martinez moves away

and Martinez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Martinez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Poehler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Martinez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Martinez content to control rather than advance.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hugo Martinez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Poehler misses with an uppercut

and Martinez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Martinez.
Martinez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hugo Martinez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poehler is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez trying to control but Poehler is working from the bottom.
Martinez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hugo Martinez.
Poehler throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Martinez counters with a single leg into guard. Poehler didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martinez is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Martinez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Martinez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Martinez!