PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Magnussen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magnussen's entrance music is Bloody Beetroots - Butter. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Martinez's choice of entrance music: Juicy. 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.

Magnussen
vs
Martinez

197 cm
27
209 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

196 cm
23
223 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gunnar Magnussen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafael Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez throws a lazy right hand but Magnussen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Magnussen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A head kick misses from Magnussen.
Martinez misses with a looping left.
Martinez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Magnussen manages to avoid it.
Martinez moves out of range of the leg kick from Magnussen.
Martinez throws a looping overhand right but Magnussen ducks down to avoid it.
Martinez lands a nice hook to Magnussen's body. Magnussen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Martinez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Magnussen.
Magnussen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Martinez takes one on the button.
Magnussen lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A clash of legs there as Martinez blocks the low kick.
Martinez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Magnussen.

Martinez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Magnussen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Martinez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnussen can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martinez trying to control the position but Magnussen is working away.
Check out the look on Martinez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Martinez is trying to get an arm triangle but Magnussen is defending well.
Martinez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martinez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Martinez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Martinez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Magnussen is not content to let Martinez control the position.

Martinez tries for a kimura but Magnussen is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Magnussen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Martinez swings around for an armbar but Magnussen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Martinez's guard.
Magnussen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Martinez's guard.

Martinez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Magnussen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Martinez, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Martinez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Magnussen loads up on a big right hand but Martinez slips the punch.
Magnussen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Martinez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Martinez blocks a head kick by Magnussen.
A telegraphed right hand from Martinez misses the target.
Martinez slips under a jab from Magnussen.
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!
Magnussen connects with a high kick.
Magnussen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martinez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Magnussen tries to clinch there but Martinez circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Martinez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Martinez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Magnussen slips a jab from Martinez.
Martinez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Magnussen.
A jab from Martinez misses.
Martinez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Magnussen.
Martinez blocks a head kick by Magnussen.
Martinez checks a low kick from Magnussen.
Magnussen swings for the body but Martinez moves out of range.
A punch combination from Martinez misses.
Rafael Martinez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Magnussen ducks under a wild hook from Martinez.
Martinez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Martinez moves away from the strike by Magnussen.
Martinez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Martinez throws out a loose jab but Magnussen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Magnussen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez misses with a straight left.
Magnussen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Magnussen misses with a head kick.
Martinez might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Martinez misses with a few strikes there.
Martinez throws a hook but Magnussen avoids it easily.
Martinez misses with a wild combination.
Magnussen moves away from the strike by Martinez.
Magnussen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Magnussen thows a body shot but no joy.
Magnussen throws the left hand but Martinez avoids the punch easily.
Magnussen connects with a nice looking jab.
Martinez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Magnussen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Martinez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a right and a left that Magnussen avoids nicely.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
Martinez blocks a head kick by Magnussen.
Martinez throws the left hand but Magnussen avoids the punch easily.
Martinez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Magnussen.
Magnussen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Martinez.
Martinez missing with a left hand there. Magnussen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice uppercut lands for Martinez. That snapped Magnussen's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Magnussen thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab lands there for Magnussen.
Magnussen moves out of range of the strikes.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Magnussen.
Nice shot lands for Martinez.
Magnussen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Martinez stuffs the takedown attempt from Magnussen. Magnussen gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magnussen misses with a kick to the body.
Magnussen misses with a head kick.

Martinez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Magnussen to the ground. Martinez is now in Magnussen's guard.
Martinez trying to control but Magnussen is working from the bottom.

Martinez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Magnussen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Martinez has Magnussen in his guard.
Magnussen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Martinez on the ground.
Magnussen stopping the sweep attempt from Martinez.
Martinez trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magnussen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Martinez misses with a hook. Magnussen ducked under it nicely.
Magnussen moves out of range of the strikes.
Magnussen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Magnussen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Magnussen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Martinez.

It looks like Rafael Martinez has been cut.
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!
Martinez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Martinez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Magnussen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horrible takedown by Martinez or perhaps it was just good defense by Magnussen which made him look bad.
Martinez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Magnussen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Martinez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rafael Martinez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Magnussen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martinez moves away.
Magnussen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Magnussen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Magnussen throws a head kick that misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Magnussen.
Martinez misses with a straight left.
A telegraphed right hand from Magnussen misses the target.
Martinez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Martinez jabs Magnussen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Martinez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Martinez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Magnussen was well out of range. Poor timing from Martinez.
Martinez thows a body shot but no joy.
Martinez misses with a looping left.
Martinez thows a body shot but no joy.
Martinez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A big right from Magnussen misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnussen doesn't manage to clinch there - Martinez circles away.
Martinez has a takedown stuffed.
Martinez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A jab lands there for Magnussen.
Martinez moves forwards but Magnussen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Martinez misses the target.
Magnussen misses with an uppercut. Martinez saw that one coming.
Magnussen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Martinez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Magnussen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martinez throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Magnussen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martinez looks to land a combination but Magnussen avoids it well.
Magnussen lands a body shot.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Magnussen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magnussen moves in looking to clinch but Martinez pushes him off.
Martinez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Magnussen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martinez throws a jab but it's blocked by Magnussen.
Magnussen tries a head kick but it misses.
Magnussen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Martinez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Magnussen's half guard.
Martinez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Martinez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Martinez throws some wild stikes that Magnussen manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magnussen holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Martinez tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Martinez punching from mount but Magnussen doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Martinez scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Martinez throwing strikes here but Magnussen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Martinez landing punches.
Rafael Martinez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Martinez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Martinez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martinez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Martinez with the ground and pound from mount.
Martinez looking to control but Magnussen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Martinez controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martinez looking to finish with strikes here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

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