PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Martens (ranked 3554 p4p, 1366 weight class) and Venali Paetmar (ranked 430 p4p, 186 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Martens might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The XX - Intro. Paetmar comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Powerwolf - Amen & Attack kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Martens
vs
Paetmar

183 cm
27
169
9 - 7 - 0

168 cm
30
153
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Martens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Venali Paetmar!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Martens takes a knee to the side of the body.
Paetmar creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Martens with a knee to the head.
Martens is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Paetmar is defending well.
We've been hearing reports that Martens has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Martens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paetmar leaning his opponent against the cage.
Paetmar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Martens blocks the elbow strike.
Paetmar gets underhooks to prevent Martens's takedown attempt.
Paetmar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Martens is keeping busy.

Paetmar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paetmar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paetmar scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Martens throws a head kick that Paetmar semi-blocks.
Paetmar misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paetmar avoids a kick to the body.
Martens keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Martens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Martens lands a leg kick that knocks Paetmar off balance momentarily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stalling in the clinch from Paetmar.

Paetmar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paetmar throws a nice looking combination but Martens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Paetmar throws a leg kick that misses.
Paetmar misses with a low kick as Martens jumps back.
Paetmar misses with a few strikes there.
Martens blocks the body kick.
Martens just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Paetmar! But no joy.
Paetmar throws a sloppy head kick and Martens moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paetmar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paetmar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martens misses with a low kick.

Martens closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paetmar wants to stall.
Martens with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martens is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Martens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paetmar swings wildly with an uppercut but Martens uses good head movement to avoid it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Martens - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Paetmar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Paetmar stalling in the clinch but Martens improves position.
Martens tries to score a body lock takedown but Paetmar shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Paetmar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Martenss head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens has Paetmar pressed against the cage, preventing Paetmar from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Martens with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Martens has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Paetmar is trying to keep an underhook but Martens manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Paetmar is not content to let Martens control the position.
Paetmar is trying to stand up here but Martens is controlling him well.
Paetmar wants to get back to full guard.
Paetmar wants to control but Martens is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martens is keen to just control but Paetmar is a slippery customer.
Paetmar keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Martens will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Martens scores with a couple of nice shots.
Martens passes to side control.
Martens working away.
Martens in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paetmar is looking for a sweep.
Paetmar regains half guard.
Martens lands strikes from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paetmar wants to improve his position but Martens is controlling well.
Paetmar holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Paetmar trying to control here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alex Martens will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Martens slips under a jab from Paetmar.

Martens darts in and clinches Paetmar up against the cage.
Paetmar looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Paetmar tries to break the clinch but Martens is controlling the position.
Paetmar struggles to land a body shot inside as Martens controls his hands.
Martens misses with a knee to the head.
Alex Martens has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Martens has Paetmar pressed against the cage.

Paetmar manages to break the clinch.

Martens closes the distance and clinches.
Paetmar scores with a nice hook to the head.

Martens gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Paetmar regains guard.
Paetmar looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paetmar scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paetmar throws a big shot that misses.
Martens fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martens throws a nice outside leg kick.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Paetmar in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Paetmar stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Martens.
Martens looks to land a body kick but Paetmar moved away.
Martens scores with a head kick.
Venali Paetmar seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Martens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paetmar, pushing him back against the cage.
Martens is trying to maintain a safe position but Paetmar gets an underhook and turns Martens into the cage.
Martens is working for takedown but Paetmar is calmly controlling the position for now.
Martens drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Paetmar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Martens goes for a takedown attempt but Paetmar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Martens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martens throws out a leg kick but Paetmar moves out of range and Martens only half commits.
Martens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Martens takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Martens moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martens blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Martens as Paetmar tries to tie him up.
Paetmar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paetmar looking to stall.
Come on Paetmar - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Martens tries for a takedown. No joy.
Martens scores with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Paetmar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paetmar dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Martens. That did some damage!
Paetmar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Martens on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Paetmar throws a series of punches but Martens avoids them all with ease.
Paetmar misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Paetmar misses with a wild combination.
Paetmar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Martens misses with an uppercut.
Paetmar throws a counter combo.
Paetmar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martens.
Martens tries to clinch up but Paetmar circles away and keeps his distance.
Alex Martens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Paetmar swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Martens lands a really nice looking cross but Paetmar seems unphased.
Martens keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Martens slips under a jab from Paetmar.
Alex Martens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martens displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Martens tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Paetmar counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Paetmar avoiding damage.
Martens throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Paetmar blocks it with crossed arms.
Martens is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Paetmar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Martens lands with a short shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Martens has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Paetmar clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Paetmar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Paetmar gets back to full guard.
Martens trying to control but Paetmar is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Martens will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Martens avoids a kick to the body.
Martens is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Paetmar misses with a head kick.
Paetmar swats away the attempt to clinch by Martens.
Paetmar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Martens drives through and clinches with Paetmar against the cage.

Paetmar breaks from the clinch.
Paetmar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Martens tries to counter by clinching up but Paetmar breaks away and moves out of range.
Paetmar throws a series of punches but Martens moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Martens on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Martens moves into the clinch.
Martens is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A knee to the head by Martens.
Martens dodges an elbow strike from Paetmar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paetmar is trying to break the clinch but Martens has him pressed against the cage.

Paetmar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Paetmar. Martens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Paetmar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martens is looking to clinch.
Paetmar motions for Martens to come forward. Paetmar throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Martens moves into range and clinches up with Paetmar.
Martens is looking to take this one to the mat.
A nice left hand lands by Paetmar.
Martens scores with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paetmar.
Martens looking to throw knees to the head but Paetmar is blocking nicely.
Martens is looking to take this one to the mat.
Paetmar trying to control the position but instead, Martens has worked for underhooks and has pushed Paetmar into the cage.
Paetmar is trying to break the clinch but Martens is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martens lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Martens blocks a body shot from Paetmar.
Paetmar stalls.

Paetmar breaks the clinch.
Martens ducks under a wild hook from Paetmar.
Paetmar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Paetmar tries to keep at a distance but Martens has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Paetmar tries a knee to the head but Martens blocks it.
Martens wants to stall.
Paetmar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Paetmar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paetmar has a couple of punches blocked by Martens.
Paetmar unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Martens misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens is trying to stall.

Paetmar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martens connects with an inside leg kick.
Paetmar connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Paetmar lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Martens pushes Paetmar up against the cage in a clinch.
Paetmar throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martens blocks it with crossed arms.

Martens gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Paetmar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paetmar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Martens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paetmar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paetmar is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Let's hope that Paetmar has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Alex Martens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paetmar controls Martens momentarily but Martens frees himself.
Martens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paetmar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Paetmar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martens's guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martens is trying to control the position but Paetmar postures up.
Paetmar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Paetmar tries to stand but Martens is controlling from the bottom.
Venali Paetmar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Martens has his feet on Paetmar's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Venali Paetmar.
I think Martens 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!