PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Hess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Martinez will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hess
vs
Martinez

152 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
26
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benjamin Hess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Columbo Gatti and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hess closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Martinez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hess lands an elbow that stopped Martinez in his tracks for a moment.
Martinez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hess stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Martinez gets control of Hess's arms and successfully pulls guard. Martinez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Martinez has his foot on Hess's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hess works his way back into a safe position though.
Martinez trying to control the position.
Hess really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hess throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martinez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez wants to improve his position but instead Hess has moved into half guard.
Martinez tries to get to full guard but Hess has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hess scores with a couple of nice shots.
Martinez wants to control but Hess is keeping busy.
Hess prevents Martinez from improving his position.
Martinez throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hess controlling the action here.
Hess's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Martinez trying to control here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez shoots in and gets a takedown into Hess's guard.
Martinez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hess seems keen to control Martinez's posture.
Hess has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hess tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Hess keeps moving.
Hess managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hess works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hess looking for a sweep. Not yet Hess, not yet.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Hess keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hess keeping full guard, as Martinez tries to pass.
Hess might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hess has his hands on Martinez's head, controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice body punch from Martinez.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Martinez drives through with a takedown into Hess's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Martinez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hess forces Martinez back against the cage and clinches.
Hess tries to land knees in the clinch but Martinez avoids the damage to the body.

Martinez jumps guard and drags Hess to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Martinez being controlled here, momentarily.
Hess won't allow Martinez to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hess's guard.

Martinez preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hess is on top in guard.

Hess scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Robert Martinez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez is looking for a triangle here but Hess uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Martinez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hess wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hess throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hess creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Martinez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hess is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is looking to reverse the position.
Hess taking a breather here.
Martinez is trying to work for a sweep but Hess has mounted him!
Martinez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hess controlling from the full mount.
Martinez wants to control but Hess is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hess controlling the position easily from mount.
Martinez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee warns Martinez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hess pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hess controlling from the full mount.
Martinez wants to hold on but Hess pushes him away.
Martinez can't escape the position.
Hess takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Martinez is trying desperately to improve position.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Martinez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Hess dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hess pushes Martinez up against the cage in a clinch.
Hess lands a shot to the body.

Martinez pulls guard successfully.
Hess knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Martinez on the ground.
Hess controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Martinez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hess is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hess is one step ahead there.
Hess showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess landing some decent shots from guard.

Hess postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Martinez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hess, into his guard.

Martinez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hess is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Martinez wants to pass the guard but Hess is keeping the position.
Hess manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martinez manages to get himself to full guard.

Martinez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hess is now in half guard.
Hess working over Martinez with some ground and pound. Martinez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Martinez gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hess stays in close to Martinez's body and controls the position.
Martinez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hess scoring with some ground and pound.
Hess looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Martinez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hess manages to get himself to full guard.

Hess wants to sweep here but Martinez controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hess keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
Hess wants to hit a switch here but Martinez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hess there!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Martinez.
I think Martinez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Robert Martinez!