PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Art Vandelay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martinez comes to the cage accompanied by Juicy. Vandelay has chosen Street Fighting Man by The Rolling Stones as his entrance music. 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
Vandelay

196 cm
22
223 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
205 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafael Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Art Vandelay!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Russell Pearce and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vandelay connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Rafael Martinez has been cut.
Martinez jabs Vandelay right on the nose. Vandelay blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Art Vandelay has been cut.
Nice uppercut lands for Vandelay. That snapped Martinez's head back.
Martinez throws a hook but Vandelay avoids it easily.
Martinez throws a shot to the body.
Martinez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vandelay takes one to the side of the head.
Nice jab there from Martinez.
Vandelay throws a series of punches but Martinez avoids them all with ease.
Martinez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jab from Vandelay.
Martinez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vandelay was well out of range. Poor timing from Martinez.
Vandelay throws a hook but Martinez avoids it easily.

Martinez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vandelay is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Martinez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vandelay has escaped the position, nice work there.
Martinez lands some shots froms side control.
Vandelay gets back to half guard.
Vandelay is not content to let Martinez control the position.
Vandelay gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez stands and throws Vandelay's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Martinez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vandelay has escaped the position, nice work there.
Vandelay manages to work his way to half guard, despite Martinez's best efforts.
Vandelay tries to roll over but Martinez keeps him under control.
Martinez trying to control the action but Vandelay is working from the bottom.

Martinez is trying to work for a kimura but Vandelay is defending well.

Vandelay is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martinez pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vandelay tries to get to full guard but Martinez has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wants to free his trapped foot but Vandelay is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Martinez is working hard here to advance position.
Vandelay throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Vandelay wants to improve his position but Martinez is controlling well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Vandelay is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martinez pulls his head out easily.
Vandelay keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vandelay won't allow Martinez to pass to mount.
Vandelay is pressing down on Martinez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Martinez throwing strikes but missing.

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.
Martinez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Martinez won't allow Vandelay to sweep him here.

Vandelay working for a triangle but Martinez defends it easily.
Martinez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vandelay looking for a sweep but Martinez has passed into full mount! Oh no!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vandelay is looking to improve his position but Martinez isn't that keen on the idea.
Martinez lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Martinez dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Martinez looks to throw the jab but Vandelay is out of range.
Rafael Martinez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martinez looks to land a left hand but Vandelay moved out of range nicely.

Martinez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Vandelay is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martinez pulls his head out easily.
Martinez moves into full mount! Vandelay won't be happy about that!
Martinez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Vandelay keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Martinez blocks Vandelay's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Martinez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandelay tries to reverse the position but Martinez maintains control.
Martinez landing punches.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Martinez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Martinez has hold of Vandelay's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Vandelay manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vandelay is squirming around, avoiding Martinez's attempts to control the action.
Vandelay is looking to improve his position but Martinez isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vandelay flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Martinez cracks Vandelay with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That has opened up Art Vandelay's cut even more.
Vandelay can't escape the position.
Vandelay flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Martinez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Martinez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

The cut above Art Vandelay's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Art Vandelay's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Rafael Martinez!