PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Martins (ranked 2781 p4p, 3320 weight class) and Sage Rochester (ranked 230 p4p, 272 weight class). Martins kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Monte Tiene Garabato. Diogo Martins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Martins
vs
Rochester

175 cm
23
145
7 - 8 - 0

180 cm
23
152
5 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Fast

Conviction
Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Diogo Martins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sage Rochester!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martins throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rochester.
Rochester slips under a jab.
Martins moves forwards but Rochester connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Martins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rochester in his tracks.
Sage Rochester seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martins leaves Rochester with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Martins clinches up against the cage.
Martins looking to throw knees to the head but Rochester is blocking nicely.
Martins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Rochester successfully pulls guard.
Rochester controlling the position.
Martins wants to get up but he can't break Rochester's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rochester working for a triangle but Martins defends it easily.
Rochester bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martins's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rochester tries to free his leg and advance position but Martins is retaining full guard.
Rochester throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Martins keeping moving, preventing Rochester from controlling successfully.

Martins has his feet on Rochester's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rochester blocks a head kick by Martins.
Martins tries to close the distance and clinch but Rochester swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Martins instigates a clinch.
Martins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rochester has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rochester has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Rochester jumps guard and drags Martins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Martins wants to stand but Rochester has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rochester is working an open guard so Martins takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rochester shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martins wants to stand and escape but Rochester is having none of it.
Rochester trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rochester prevents Martins from getting back to his feet.
Rochester looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Martins tries to clinch but Rochester is having none of it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rochester scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Martins doesn't seem bothered though.
Martins takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rochester shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Martins as he avoids it easily.
Rochester thuds a left hand into Martins's body.
Rochester looks to throw the jab but Martins is out of range.

Martins moves into the clinch.
Martins tries to throw a body punch but Rochester avoids it by throwing Martins back against the cage.
Martins tries a knee to the head but Rochester blocks it.
Martins prevents a takedown attempt there.
Diogo Martins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sage Rochester.
Rochester misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martins misses with a knee strike.
Martins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rochester tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Martins just stands there and leans against the cage.
Martins tries to land a knee to the head but Rochester blocks with his arms.
Martins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice elbow from Martins.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martins throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rochester blocks it with crossed arms.
Rochester is trying to push Martins away but Martins has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Martins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Rochester pulls guard effortlessly.
Rochester has a closed guard, preventing Martins from standing up.
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 Diogo Martins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rochester cracks Martins with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Martins takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rochester tries to clinch up but Martins circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rochester fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Martins checks it well.
Nice uppercut there from Martins.
Martins lands with a hook. Rochester tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rochester shoots in but no luck this time.
Martins is looking to counter punch.
Martins tries to clinch there but Rochester circles away.
Martins scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rochester tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Martins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rochester is rocked!
Rochester walks straight into a right hand from Martins - that's dropped him! Martins jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Rochester from any more punishment! Rochester complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Diogo Martins!