PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcos Martini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sufjan Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevens comes into a darkened arena with his song building. They Are Zombies kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Martini
vs
Stevens

175 cm
24
157 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

176 cm
28
156 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcos Martini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sufjan Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martini avoids the head kick by Stevens.
Stevens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Martini.
Martini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Martini gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Martini tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short right from Martini on the inside.
Martini lands a knee to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Martini will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Stevens up against the cage.
Martini missing with knees to the body.
Martini has Stevens pushed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Martini lands an uppercut.
Stevens throws an elbow that misses.
A short body shot lands from Martini as the two fighters clinch.
Stevens takes a knee right on the jaw!
Stevens wants to break free but Martini has control.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Martini takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Martini misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to stall.
Martini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stevens is defending well for now.
Stevens tries to circle away but Martini has him pinned against the cage.
Stevens stalling in the clinch.
Stevens takes an elbow to the temple.
Martini lands a body punch in the clinch.
Stevens looking for a takedown.
Stevens looks gassed!
Martini lands a damaging elbow.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Martini holds him up against the cage and eventually Stevens drops back down to his feet.
Martini crunches a lovely knee into Stevens's ribcage.
Come on Martini - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Martini creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Martini connects with a knee to the head.
Martini stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Martini using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Martini lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Martini unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Martini creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stevens's defenses.
Stevens is trying to stall.
Martini has Stevens pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martini lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
A short body shot lands from Martini as the two fighters clinch.
A short body shot lands from Martini as the two fighters clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Martini scores a nice knee to the body.
Martini lands a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Martini.
Nice elbow from Martini.
Martini with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stevens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Martini has him pressed against the cage.
Martini using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Martini lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Martini looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Stevens leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Martini makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Martini avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Martini lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Martini.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Martini.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Martini with a knee to the head.
Martini lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Martini lands a nice elbow.
Martini tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Martini throws an elbow but misses.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Marcos Martini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevens misses with a head kick.
Stevens feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Martini's calf.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Martini misses with a hook
and Stevens counters with a body kick that stops Martini in his tracks momentarily.
Martini blocks a head kick by Stevens.
Stevens tries a head kick but it misses.
Martini wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
A jab lands there for Martini.
Stevens misses with a takedown

and Martini counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Marcos Martini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sufjan Stevens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martini lands a shot to the body.
Martini connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stevens's face.
Martini stalling.
Martini prevents Stevens from breaking the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Martini.
Stevens misses with a knee strike.
Stevens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stevens takes a knee to the side of the body.
Martini landing knees to the head.
A short uppercut from Martini.
Stevens taking a breather.
Stevens takes an elbow to the forehead.
Martini lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martini lands a hook to the side of the head.
Martini lands a body shot.
Martini throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stevenss head.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Martini is controlling him.
Martini trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Martini dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martini throws a body punch but Stevens moves out of range.
Martini lands a nice looking body shot.
Martini moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Martini tries to clinch there but Stevens circles away.
Good work by Martini as he checks the leg kick.
Martini wants to clinch but Stevens slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Martini rushes Stevens and presses him up against the cage.
Martini lands a shoulder strike.
Martini blocks the elbow strike.
Martini comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martini is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Martini.
Martini creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Stevens's defenses.
Nice elbow from Martini.
Stevens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right hand to the body from Martini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martini comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stevens takes a knee right on the jaw!
Martini lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stevens tries to break free but Martini pushes him back against the cage.
Martini lands a knee to the head.
Stevens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Martini lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Martini scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Martini obliges.
Stevens drops down looking for an ankle pick but Martini pulls his leg out and moves away.
Martini scores with a jab to the body.
Martini lands with a nice combination. Stevens backs away looking to recover.
Martini avoids a kick to the body.
Martini lands a body shot.
Martini tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Martini closes the distance and pushes Stevens back into the cage.
Stevens is trying to push Martini away but Martini has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Marcos Martini has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Stevens breaks from the clinch.
Martini is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martini pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Martini closes the distance looking to clinch
and Stevens counters with a thumping low kick.
Martini fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stevens looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Good work by Martini as he checks the leg kick.

Martini takes the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Martini takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Martini throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martini pressing his opponent against the cage.
Martini looking to throw knees to the head but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Martini is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Stevens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Martini missing with knees to the body.
Martini throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stevens blocks it with crossed arms.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Stevens throws a leg kick but Martini sees it coming and moves out of range.
A big left from Martini misses.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marcos Martini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Martini slips a straight right by Stevens.
Martini scores with a leg kick.
Stevens throws a leg kick but Martini sees it coming and moves out of range.
A head kick by Stevens misses
and Martini counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Martini rushes Stevens and presses him up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Martini.
Martini scores a nice knee to the body.
Martini lands an elbow that stopped Stevens in his tracks for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Martini obliges.
Martini connects with a knee to the head.
Martini lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike.
Martini stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Martini stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Stevens taking a breather.
Stevens scores a nice knee to the body.
Martini tries a knee to the head but Stevens blocks it.
Stevens lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Martini keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stevens's efforts to push away.
Martini stalling in the clinch.
Stevens is looking to break free of the clinch but Martini has double underhooks.
Stevens is trying to maintain a safe position but Martini gets an underhook and turns Stevens into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Martini dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Martini with a jab.
Stevens throws a leg kick but Martini moved away.
Stevens tried to score with a low kick but Martini checks it.
Martini fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick

and Martini holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Martini tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martini effectively controlling the action here.
Martini utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Martini tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevens avoids the damage to the body.
Martini missing with knees to the body.
Stevens tries to circle away but Martini has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Martini tries a knee to the head but Stevens blocks it.
Stevens fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Martini has Stevens pressed against the cage.
Stevens blocks a body shot from Martini.
Stevens prevents a body shot from Martini.
A right hook to the body lands for Martini.
Martini tries to throw a body punch but Stevens avoids it by throwing Martini back against the cage.
Martini managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Stevens looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Martini.
Stevens tries to score a body lock takedown but Martini shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Martini unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Martini lands a hook that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
Martini's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses
and Martini counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stevens thinking.
Sufjan Stevens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens throws a head kick but Martini moves out of range.
Sufjan Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Martini is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A good leg kick by Martini.
Martini tries to clinch but Stevens is having none of it.
Stevens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Martini tries a low kick but Stevens avoids it.
Stevens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A shot to the liver by Martini. Beautiful body shot.
Jab, jab by Martini - just one landing.
Martini dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stevens. That did some damage!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Martini, right into the meat.
Stevens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Martini. Stevens does a little dance to reset his feet.
Martini tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martini is looking to wear down Stevens with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Martini stalks Stevens and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stevens's face. Stevens staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Martini moves out of range easily.
Martini moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.
Martini wants to clinch

and Stevens counters with a shoot takedown. Martini fights it but they end up in guard.
Martini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stevens manages to get himself to full guard.
Martini trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stevens manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martini manages to get himself to full guard.
Stevens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Martini wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.

Martini working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stevens doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stevens manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens won't allow Martini to get back to his feet.
Stevens lands a couple of digs.
Martini wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.
Martini is working hard here to advance position.
Stevens is in close to Martini's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stevens postures up.
Martini keeping moving, preventing Stevens from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Stevens throwing strikes from guard but Martini blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcos Martini.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martini, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Marcos Martini!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Marcos Martini!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Marcos Martini!

Marcos Martini wins by unanimous decision!