PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Justin Martens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Groves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Groves's choice of entrance music: ready 4 war. Justin Martens has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Martens
vs
Groves

176 cm
21
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Martens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donnie Groves!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Groves wants to clinch.
Groves moves out of range of the body kick.
Groves shoots in looking for a takedown. Martens tries to sprawl out of it but Groves keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Martens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Martens doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Groves counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Martens is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Martens throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Groves tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Martens misses with a jab to the body

so Groves counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Martens pulls Groves in close to his closed guard and prevents Groves from doing any damage or advancing position.
Groves is looking to work some ground and pound but Martens has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groves is looking to work some ground and pound but Martens has wrist control.
Groves thows a big elbow that misses.
Groves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Groves postures up.
Groves tries to stand but Martens is controlling from the bottom.
Groves stands up out of Martens's guard for a moment - Martens manages to land a nice upkick.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Groves.
Martens moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Groves looks gassed!
Martens misses with a series of wild punches.
Groves shoots for a double leg takedown but Martens sprawls well. He's pushed Groves's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A head kick from Martens lands but Groves takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Martens showed some decent athleticism there.

Martens escapes and gets back to his feet.
Martens throws a sloppy head kick and Groves moves out of range easily.
Groves chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Martens can pounce on him.
Martens lands a head kick!
A combination from Martens does no damage.

Groves gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Groves seems to be working for a kimura but Martens defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martens kicks Groves off and gets back to his feet.
Martens shoots in and drives through. Groves sprawls well.
Justin Martens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Groves throws a hook but Martens blocks it.
Martens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martens swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Groves tries to clinch up but Martens circles away and keeps his distance.
Martens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Groves.
Groves feints and then cracks Martens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Martens down.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Groves.
Justin Martens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Groves.
Martens blocks a head kick by Groves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groves looks for a takedown but Martens sprawls well.

Groves closes the distance and clinches.
Groves is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Martens pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Groves can't break the clinch.
Martens prevents a takedown attempt there.

Martens works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Martens passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Groves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Groves pushes Martens off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Groves doesn't manage to clinch there - Martens circles away.
Martens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Groves throws a head kick but Martens moves out of range.
Groves dodges the punch combination from Martens.

Martens feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Groves is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Martens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Groves is proving hard to escape from.
Groves wants to sweep here but Martens controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Martens stands and steps away. Groves gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Martens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Martens trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.
Groves wants to get back to his feet but Martens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Martens is pushing down on Groves's leg trying to pass to half guard. Groves is fighting to maintain full guard but Martens has managed to sneak the leg through.
Groves lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Groves tries to roll over but Martens keeps him under control.
Martens wants to control but Groves is keeping him busy.
Groves blocking the ground and pound attempt from Martens.
Martens prevents Groves from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martens is pressing down on Groves's thigh, looking to free his foot. Groves is holding on for now.
Martens performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Groves is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Martens with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Martens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Groves's waist but Groves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martens off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens looks to land a combination. Groves sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Martens misses with a head kick.
Martens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Groves manages to avoid it.
Martens has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Groves.

Martens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Groves's guard.
Martens is looking to work some ground and pound but Groves has wrist control.
Groves trying to keep a closed guard but Martens is proving a slippery customer.
Groves punching to the body, from the bottom.
Martens wants to stand and escape but instead Groves has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Groves throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Groves scoring with some ground and pound.
Groves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groves tries to free his leg and advance position but Martens is retaining full guard.
Martens wants to sweep but no luck.
Martens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martens is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Groves is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Martens has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Groves off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Martens misses with a few strikes there.
Martens tries to bum rush Groves with a series of wild strikes but Groves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Martens scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Martens scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Martens has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Martens dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Groves misses with a head kick.

Martens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Martens is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Groves has escaped the position, nice work there.
Groves is looking to reverse the position.
Groves is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Martens trying to control the action but Groves is working from the bottom.
Martens scores with a couple of short elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Groves manages to work his way to half guard, despite Martens's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groves taking some punishment here, with Martens in his half guard.
Groves tries to roll over but Martens keeps him under control.

Martens wants to work for an arm triangle but Groves is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Groves moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Martens wants to control from the top but Groves keeps moving.

Martens stands and steps away. Groves gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Groves misses with a head kick.
Martens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Groves pinned against the cage. Groves gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Groves throws a sloppy head kick and Martens moves out of range easily.

Martens feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Martens controlling from the top position.
Groves is striking from the bottom but Martens uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Martens is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens wants to control but Groves is keeping him busy.
Groves flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Donnie Groves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Groves is trying to stand up here but Martens is controlling him well.
Martens frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Martens landing strikes from the mount.
Groves is trying desperately to improve position.
Martens with a couple of short strikes.
Groves bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Groves accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martens is looking to stand up but Groves isn't so interested in that idea.

Martens pushes Groves off and scrambles back to his feet.
A head kick from Martens lands but Groves takes it in his stride.
Martens lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Martens fails to land with a series of punches.
Martens throws a head kick but Groves moves out of range.

Groves gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Groves stops a takedown attempt from Martens.

Martens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Martens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martens, 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Martens!