PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Martins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Martins
vs
Knight

191 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Martins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zack Knight!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martins shoots for a takedown but Knight saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Martins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knight paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Martins closes the distance and clinches up with Knight, looking for a takedown. Martins pushes Knight against the cage but Knight circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Martins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Martins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Martins working the head with strikes.
Knight is trying to improve his position.
Knight is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Martins wants to control but Knight is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Knight gets full guard.
Martins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Knight working for a triangle but Martins defends it easily.
Martins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Martins has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Martins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Knight had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Martins is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Knight Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Martins's back instead.
Knight looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Martins right now.
Martins tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Knight with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Martins is wriggling around trying to escape.
Martins is working hard here to advance position.
Knight in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Martins bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Martins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Knight looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Martins from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to sweep here but Martins controlling him for the moment.
Martins stands and throws Knight's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Martins advances to full mount.
Martins tries to control but Knight wriggling away.

Martins is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Knight is surviving well by controlling Martins's body position as best he can.
Knight regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knight looking for submissions off his back.
Martins is looking to advance position but Knight won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Knight looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Martins is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Knight is looking for a sweep. Martins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Martins scores with a takedown into Knight's guard.
Martins looking to pass the guard.
Martins preventing the sweep.

Knight is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Knight throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Knight looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Martins stands up and waves to Knight to follow him.
Martins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Knight as he avoids it easily.
Martins shoots for a takedown but Knight saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Martins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Knight but Knight pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Martins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Knight gets a takedown into half guard.

Martins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to advance to full mount but Martins doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Knight drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Knight jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Martins trying to control the position.
Knight works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Knight is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Martins has managed to free his arm - good work.
Martins wants to control but Knight is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight trying to pass the guard but Martins defending well.
Martins trying to hold on to Knight's head to control him but Knight postures up.
Knight wants to pass the guard but Martins is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Martins tries for a takedown but Knight circles away easily

and Knight counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Martins!

Knight has hold of Martins's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Martins manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Martins is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Knight working for a submission but Martins is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martins is trying to reverse the position but instead Knight has taken his back - oops!
Martins tries to escape the position.

Knight working for a choke but Martins is defending well.
Martins is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Martins manages to reverse the position and now he's in Knight's guard. Nice work there by Martins.
Martins tries to free his leg and advance position but Knight is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Knight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Knight darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Martins trying to hold on to Knight's head to control him but Knight postures up.
Martins flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Martins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Knight is thwarting Martins's attempts to control the position.
Martins tries to get to full guard but Knight has control of the leg.
Martins wants to control but Knight is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Knight is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Martins is surviving well by controlling Knight's body position as best he can.
Martins tries to hold on but Knight pushes him away.
Martins is trying desperately to improve position.

Knight working for a submission but Martins is keeping him at bay.
Martins really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Martins tries to hold on but Knight postures up.

That's two 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.
Martins is in all sorts of trouble here.
Martins in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Martins regains half guard.

Knight is looking for a kimura but Martins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Knight to get the leverage.
Martins tries to roll over but Knight keeps him under control.
Zack Knight has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martins missing with punches from the bottom.
Martins is looking for a sweep. Knight is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Knight is looking for a kimura but Martins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Knight to get the leverage.

Knight seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martins actively working from the bottom here.
Knight is thwarting Martins's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Knight bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Martins is looking to regain half guard here but Knight keeps moving and retains side control.

Knight tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Martins tries to bench press Knight off him but Knight keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martins manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Knight regains full guard. Nicely done.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Martins from controlling successfully.
Knight is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martins slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Martins fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Knight is looking for a sweep.
Knight looking for a sweep but Martins has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Knight is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Knight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knight has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Knight!