PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Malakei Martin (ranked 1718 p4p, 194 weight class) and Jeff Ogus (ranked 2359 p4p, 259 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.

Martin
vs
Ogus

180 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 2

168 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 2, fighting out of The Island, Malakei Martin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jeff Ogus!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin connects with a high kick.
Martin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Martin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ogus has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Martin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ogus counters with a series of strikes. Martin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ogus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ogus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick by Martin misses
and Martin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Martin throws a body kick that misses
and Ogus counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice defenses there by Ogus.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Martin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ogus! But no joy.
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ogus blocks a head kick by Martin.
Ogus swinging wildly here.
Martin is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ogus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Martin misses with a head kick.
Martin connects with a crisp jab.
Martin throws out a leg kick but Ogus moves out of range and Martin only half commits.
Ogus misses with a wild combination.
Martin throws a head kick but Ogus moves out of range.

Ogus has closed the distance and engaged Martin in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Ogus.
Ogus lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ogus lands a body punch.
Ogus pushes Martin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ogus avoiding damage as Martin throws knees to the body.

Ogus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martin throws a low kick but Ogus avoids it.
Ogus throws a counter combo.

Ogus darts in and clinches Martin up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ogus lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Martin is breathing heavily.
Ogus prevents a takedown attempt there.

Martin successfully pulls guard.

Martin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ogus defends well.
Ogus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ogus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Martin keeping moving, preventing Ogus from controlling successfully.
Martin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ogus's guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ogus can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ogus working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ogus 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.
Martin wants to control from the top but Ogus keeps moving.

Martin drops back looking for a leg! Ogus is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ogus manages to kick Martin off! Martin jumps back into Ogus's guard.
Ogus throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Martin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ogus wants to hit a switch here but Martin passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ogus there!

Martin is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ogus to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ogus shrugs it off.

Martin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ogus is looking to improve his position but Martin isn't that keen on the idea.

Ogus wants to get back to his feet but in bucking up he's left an arm hanging out! Martin has locked onto it and has pulled off a slick armbar! Ogus taps furiously! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Malakei Martin!
Malakei Martin retains his lightweight title!
A relieved looking Malakei Martin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.