PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jupiter James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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
James

175 cm
20
260 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jupiter James!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez is trying to control but can't.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
James controlling the action here.

James decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Martinez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
James is looking to clinch.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

James clinches.

James jumps into guard, dragging Martinez to the mat.
Martinez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Martinez wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Martinez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martinez preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Martinez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Martinez trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Martinez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martinez keeps the fight on the outside.
James wants to clinch.
Martinez shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Martinez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Horrible takedown by Martinez or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
Martinez wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Jupiter James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James wants to clinch but Martinez slips to the side
and Martinez makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martinez shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
James has a takedown stuffed.
Martinez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

James moves into the clinch.
James lands a knee to the body.
James is trying to maintain a safe position but Martinez gets an underhook and turns James into the cage.
James can't break the clinch.
Martinez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Martinez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Martinez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
James tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Martinez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Martinez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. James gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Martinez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martinez avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
Martinez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looking for a takedown.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Martinez tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Martinez drops back down to his feet.

Martinez drags the fight down to the ground.
Martinez wants to sweep but no luck.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Martinez is trying to control the position but James postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James gets to his feet - Martinez follows without any prompting.
Martinez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Martinez clinches with his opponent.
James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

James clinches up with Martinez and pushes him back against the cage.
James tries for a takedown. No joy.
James leaning against his opponent.
James is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Martinez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from James.

James has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Martinez uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to stand but James is controlling from the bottom.
James has Martinez pulled in close to control his posture.
Martinez wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Martinez stands up and waves to James to follow him.
Martinez is looking to land body kicks.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Martinez.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Martinez keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martinez is staying tight to James's torso, preventing him from escaping.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jupiter James dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Martinez misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lucas Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martinez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A head kick by James misses
and Martinez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
James throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Martinez fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez fails to land the takedown.
James wants to clinch but Martinez slips to the side

and Martinez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Martinez prevents James from getting back to his feet.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
James is breathing heavily.
Martinez wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James works his foot free and advances to mount.
James throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Martinez because James loaded up on that one.
James controlling the position easily from mount.

James is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Martinez is surviving well by controlling James's body position as best he can.
James controlling from mount.
Martinez tries to reverse the position but James maintains control.

That's two 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.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
James throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Martinez because James loaded up on that one.
James controlling his opponent.
James throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
James looking to control but Martinez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Martinez is trying to escape the mount.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Martinez tries to lock up and control but James gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controlling the position easily from mount.
Martinez blocking the ground and pound.
Martinez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as James tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
James thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
James thowing shots but they're missing.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Martinez is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
James working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Martinez is working to get back to half guard.
Martinez is squirming around, avoiding James's attempts to control the action.
Martinez is working to get back to half guard.
Martinez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as James tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Martinez is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lucas Martinez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Martinez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
Martinez looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Martinez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James throws and elbow that misses. Martinez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in James's guard. Nice move by Martinez!
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Martinez tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Martinez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Martinez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

James uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Martinez tries to clinch there but James circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James has his takedown stuffed
and Martinez counters with an outside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

James darts in and clinches Martinez up against the cage.

James breaks from the clinch.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.

Martinez rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James jumps guard but Martinez stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lucas Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jupiter James.

James jumps guard and drags Martinez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
James controls Martinez momentarily but Martinez frees himself.
James manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martinez manages to get himself to full guard.
James seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Martinez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez can't keep his opponent in guard - James advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Martinez pushes James off looking to stand but James dives back in and keeps control.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Martinez's head.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet.
James is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Martinez trying to control here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James shoots and misses
and Martinez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
James throws a front kick that sends Martinez stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez fails with the takedown.
James closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Martinez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.

James pushes Martinez up against the cage in a clinch.
Martinez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James lands an elbow inside that Martinez shrugs off.
James avoiding damage as Martinez throws knees to the body.
Martinez fails to pull guard.
Martinez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but James is keeping busy.
James drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martinez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but James is keeping busy.
Martinez can't get the takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Martinez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but James is having none of it.
James seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martinez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Martinez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Martinez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
James moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Martinez!
James with shots to the head and body - Martinez looks very uncomfortable down there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jupiter James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jupiter James!