PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hercules Belvedere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Belvedere's choice of entrance music: Lupe Fiasco - Superstar. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Santiago Martin had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Martin
vs
Belvedere

166 cm
20
175 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
180 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Santiago Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hercules Belvedere!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Belvedere, pushing him back against the cage.
Martin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Martin pulls guard successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Belvedere looking to pass the guard.
Martin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Martin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Belvedere trying to control but Martin is working from the bottom.

Martin has his foot on Belvedere's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Belvedere works his way back into a safe position though.

Martin working for a triangle but Belvedere defends it easily.
Martin pulls Belvedere in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin looking for a sweep. Not yet Martin, not yet.
Belvedere wants to control from the top but Martin keeps moving.
Martin 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.
Martin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Belvedere drops back looking for a leg! Martin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Martin manages to kick Belvedere off! Belvedere jumps back into Martin's guard.

Martin has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Belvedere off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Belvedere looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Belvedere throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Martin looking to score a takedown here. Belvedere is defending well but Martin drives through and ends up in Belvedere's guard.
Martin throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belvedere bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martin's guard.
Martin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Belvedere on the ground.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Martin keeping moving, preventing Belvedere from controlling successfully.

Martin wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belvedere is looking to clinch.

Belvedere forces Martin back against the cage and clinches.
Martin is trying to break the clinch but Belvedere has him pressed against the cage.
Martin is looking to control Belvedere's arms but Belvedere gets an underhook and turns him. Now Martin has his back to the cage.
Martin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Belvedere slowing the pace effectively.
Martin slows down the pace here.

Martin manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belvedere shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Martin pinned against the cage. Martin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Martin has Belvedere up against the cage in a clinch.
Belvedere misses with the head strike.
Martin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Belvedere.
Martin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Belvedere up against the cage.
Martin crunches a lovely knee into Belvedere's ribcage.

Martin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Martin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Martin showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martin misses with a head shot. Belvedere uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belvedere wants to improve his position but instead Martin has moved into half guard.

Belvedere is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martin pulls his head out easily.
Belvedere is staying active underneath Martin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Martin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Belvedere wants to control but Martin is keeping busy.
Belvedere moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Belvedere is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Belvedere has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Martin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Good leg kick by Martin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Martin misses the shot to the body.
Santiago Martin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belvedere throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Martin forces Belvedere back against the cage and clinches.

Belvedere decides to pull guard.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Belvedere is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Martin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Belvedere dives on top into guard.
Martin is trying to control the position but Belvedere postures up.

Martin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Belvedere slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Martin keeping full guard, as Belvedere tries to pass.

Martin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Belvedere defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belvedere throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Belvedere passes Martin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Martin kicks Belvedere off and gets back to his feet.
Belvedere connects with a looping right hand.
Martin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Belvedere connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Belvedere shoots for a double leg takedown but Martin sprawls well. He's pushed Belvedere's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Belvedere.

Martin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Belvedere sprawls well initially but Martin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Martin is looking to advance position but Belvedere won't allow it.

Martin seems to be working for a kimura but Belvedere defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Martin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Belvedere defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belvedere makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Belvedere.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belvedere is on top in guard.
Belvedere forces his way into half guard.
Belvedere wants to control but Martin is keeping him busy.

Belvedere moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Martin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Belvedere works his way into side control.

Belvedere wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Martin, who protects the arm well.

Belvedere tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Belvedere tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Martin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin is pressing down on Belvedere's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Martin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Martin is looking for a triangle here but Belvedere uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belvedere controls the position from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Belvedere gets to mount! Martin was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belvedere trying to control but Martin is having none of it.

Belvedere wants to finish this one by submission but Martin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Belvedere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hercules Belvedere showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Belvedere throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martin.

Belvedere decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martin tries to roll over but Belvedere keeps him under control.

Belvedere has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Martin defend it? Belvedere steps over the head and cranks it - Martin is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Belvedere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Hercules Belvedere!