PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rigoberto Martinez (ranked 25055 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdul Hakim Bafawuse (ranked 5214 p4p, 466 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.

Martinez
vs
Hakim Bafawuse

170 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

182 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rigoberto Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Hakim Bafawuse!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez tries to clinch but Bafawuse moves out of range.
Bafawuse misses with a head kick.
Bafawuse misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martinez tries to counter with a takedown but Bafawuse is quick to defend against it.
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Bafawuse.
Bafawuse throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Martinez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bafawuse paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Martinez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bafawuse to the ground. Martinez is now in Bafawuse's guard.
Martinez is standing up over Bafawuse. Bafawuse looks to escape but Martinez dives into side control.

Martinez wants to control but Bafawuse is keeping him busy.

Martinez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bafawuse knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bafawuse tries to bench press Martinez off him but Martinez keeps the position.
Bafawuse throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Martinez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bafawuse keeps working.
Bafawuse really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martinez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bafawuse throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Martinez slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Bafawuse.
Bafawuse keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bafawuse keeps trying to improve his position.
Martinez thowing shots but they're missing.
Martinez tries to control but Bafawuse wriggling away.
Martinez throwing strikes here but Bafawuse is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Martinez thowing shots but they're missing.
Bafawuse really wants to buck Martinez off and get back to his feet.
Bafawuse is in all sorts of trouble here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bafawuse can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Martinez tries to control but Bafawuse wriggling away.
Martinez blocks Bafawuse's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Martinez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Martinez manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bafawuse to take his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bafawuse wants to escape the position.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martinez misses with an elbow to the head.

Martinez is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Will Martinez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Martinez somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Bafawuse is in bad spot here.
Martinez trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but Martinez has full control of the position and if anything, Bafawuse has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Martinez controlling well, preventing Bafawuse from escaping the position.
Bafawuse trying to get back to his feet but Martinez is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez has the hooks in. Bafawuse is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Bafawuse is trying to stand back up.
Martinez trying to control.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but Martinez has full control of the position and if anything, Bafawuse has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Martinez has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Martinez is breathing heavily.

Bafawuse manages to escape to his feet.
Bafawuse tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rigoberto Martinez dominated that round.
That's time! Martinez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Martinez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Martinez moves in looking to clinch but Bafawuse pushes him off.
Rigoberto Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Martinez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bafawuse did well to prevent Martinez getting side control.
Bafawuse wants to stand back up but Martinez manages to pass into side control.
Bafawuse tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Bafawuse is trying to strike from the bottom but Martinez has passed into full mount.
Bafawuse is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bafawuse is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Martinez wants to control the pace but Bafawuse is squirming around nicely.
Bafawuse tries to buck Martinez off but Martinez takes his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez has the hooks in. Bafawuse is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Bafawuse is trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bafawuse avoids the strikes from Martinez.
You can see the frustration on Bafawuse's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but Martinez has full control of the position and if anything, Bafawuse has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Will Martinez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Bafawuse staying busy and making it hard for Martinez to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse is really stuck here.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Bafawuse is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Martinez looking for the RNC.
Bafawuse prevents Martinez from getting a body triangle.
Martinez misses with a punch to the head.
Bafawuse wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse is trying to stand back up.
Bafawuse is trying to break free.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Martinez landing with strikes.
Bafawuse rolls, trying to escape but Martinez keeps control of the position.
Rigoberto Martinez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Martinez tries to get the hooks in deep but Bafawuse pushed the leg off.
Bafawuse can't escape the position.
Bafawuse is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse tries to roll but Martinez sticks to his back.

Martinez looking for the choke from the back.
Bafawuse is in bad spot here.
Bafawuse covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Bafawuse is really stuck here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but Martinez has full control of the position and if anything, Bafawuse has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rigoberto Martinez dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Martinez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bafawuse's guard.
Martinez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bafawuse can do to turn this around?
Bafawuse throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bafawuse trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bafawuse looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Martinez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Bafawuse is looking to improve his position.
Bafawuse wants to stand back up but Martinez manages to pass into side control.
Bafawuse tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Bafawuse misses with a strike from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bafawuse is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Martinez blocks the strikes from Bafawuse.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez prevents Bafawuse from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is looking to take a break and control but Bafawuse is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bafawuse is looking for a sweep.

Bafawuse throws Martinez to one side and escapes!
A punch combination from Bafawuse misses.
Bafawuse throws a sloppy head kick
and Martinez counters with a left and a right that stings Bafawuse.
Bafawuse tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Martinez was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Bafawuse.

Martinez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bafawuse tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Martinez is in Bafawuse's guard.
Bafawuse trying to strike off his back.
Bafawuse wants to improve his position but instead Martinez has moved into half guard.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Bafawuse throws a strike from the bottom but Martinez passes into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse parries the strikes from Martinez easily there. Martinez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bafawuse to escape.
Martinez avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bafawuse.
The ground and pound from Martinez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bafawuse misses with an elbow from the bottom.

Martinez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Bafawuse misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bafawuse throws a series of punches but Martinez avoids them all with ease.
A counter left hand to the body from Martinez misses its target.
Bafawuse will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bafawuse.

Martinez gets a double leg takedown into Bafawuse's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bafawuse works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bafawuse trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bafawuse throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bafawuse is wriggling around but Martinez manages to pass to half guard.
Bafawuse misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bafawuse missing with punches from the bottom.
Bafawuse is staying active underneath Martinez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Martinez prevents Bafawuse from standing back up.
Bafawuse throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bafawuse tries to roll over but Martinez keeps him under control.
Bafawuse is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bafawuse wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Bafawuse is trying to get back to his feet but Martinez has full control of the position and if anything, Bafawuse has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Bafawuse tries to break free.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet.
Martinez keeps control of the position as Bafawuse tries to break free.

Bafawuse manages to stand up with Martinez still on his back. Eventually Martinez drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

Martinez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bafawuse wants to get back to his feet but Martinez passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Hakim Bafawuse comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Martinez 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

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