PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Martins (ranked 4489 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alvarez Croce (ranked 5507 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Martins
vs
Croce

185 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Martins !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alvarez Croce !
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martins tries to sprawl but Croce drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Martins is looking to improve his position.
Croce content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Croce tries to pass the half guard into mount. Martins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Martins taking some punishment here, with Croce in his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Croce is working away from the top position though.
Nice strikes from Croce there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins wants to improve his position but Croce is controlling well.
Martins is breathing heavily.

Croce wants to work for an arm triangle but Martins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Croce looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Croce tries to pass the half guard into mount. Martins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Croce performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Martins misses with a takedown

and Croce counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Croce jumps guard and drags Martins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Croce holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croce wants to stand up but Martins is controlling him.
Martins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Croce is keeping the position for now.
Croce throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Croce is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Croce trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Croce pulls Martins in close to prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Croce lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Croce 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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.
It looks like Croce 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.
Croce postures up and lands a big shot to Martins 's brow.
Croce with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Martins seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Croce sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvarez Croce dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Martins thows a leg kick but Croce checks it

and Croce counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Croce stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Croce is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Martins trying to keep a closed guard but Croce is proving a slippery customer.
Croce forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Croce working the head and body with strikes.
Croce has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Croce moves into full mount! Martins won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Croce looking to secure an arm triangle but Martins defends it well.
Croce sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Croce landing shots from mount.
Croce looking to control and managing it successfully.
Croce is continuing to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martins tries to hold on but Croce postures up.
Martins is bucking up trying to escape but Croce cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Croce lands a nice shot to the head.
Croce controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Croce connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Martins is rocked!

Croce jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Martins manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Oh Martins is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Martins gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Croce takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Martins seems to have got his legs back now.
Martins is looking to get to half guard.
Croce controlling from mount.
Croce 's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croce unloading with bombs!
Croce in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Croce working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Croce forces the positional change into back control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Croce biding his time, controlling Martins .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvarez Croce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Croce looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Croce sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The adventures of Croce the control monster continue. Boring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martins won't allow Croce to pass to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Croce .
Croce is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Croce is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Martins sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Croce winds up and cracks Martins with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Croce uses his free foot to push down on Martins 's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Martins .
Croce landing strikes, looking to finish!
Croce with the ground and pound from mount.
Martins can't escape the position.
Croce lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croce controlling his opponent.
Martins in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Croce controlling from mount.
Martins is desperately trying to improve his position but Croce has a good base and remains in mount.
Croce controlling his opponent.
Croce loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Martins scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Croce land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Croce stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alvarez Croce !