PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Hess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Martyn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martyn comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Live For The Moment kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hess
vs
Martyn

190 cm
27
212 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

191 cm
28
205 lbs
13 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Hess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Martyn!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hess doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Martyn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hess misses with a takedown
and Martyn counters with a body kick that stops Hess in his tracks momentarily.
Hess shoots and misses

and Martyn holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Hess. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Martyn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hess fails with the takedown

and Martyn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Martyn.

Martyn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martyn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martyn thuds his shin into the meat of Hess's side.
Hess is breathing heavily.
Martyn tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Martyn prevents Hess from breaking the clinch.
Martyn is working for takedown but Hess is calmly controlling the position for now.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Martyn takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Martyn is trying to drag Hess to the mat but Hess just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martyn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Martyn darts in and clinches Hess up against the cage.
Martyn stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A frustrated look appears on Hess's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Martyn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Martyn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hess shoots and misses
and Martyn counters with a head kick.
Hess takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Martyn closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hess's guard.

Hess working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Martyn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Martyn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hess is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hess utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hess looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Martyn trying to control the position from guard on top but Hess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martyn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hess escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Martyn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hess is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Martyn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martyn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hess isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Martyn stacks Hess on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Martyn!

Martyn goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hess has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Martyn but great work by Hess.

Hess is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Martyn has escaped the position, nice work there.
Martyn tries to escape but Hess is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hess swings around for an armbar but Martyn sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hess's guard.

Hess looking for a guillotine here but Martyn defends easily.

Hess looking for subs off his back but Martyn has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Martyn dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Martyn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hess.
Martyn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Martyn as Hess shoots in.
Martyn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hess circles away quickly and effectively.
Hess fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Martyn avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Hess. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Martyn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hess can't break the clinch.
Hess tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Martyn avoids it.
Martyn lands a body punch.
Martyn controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess is pressed up against the cage. Martyn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hess down to the mat. Hess avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hess shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Martyn defends it nicely.

Martyn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hess tries to land knees in the clinch but Martyn avoids the damage to the body.
Martyn leaning against his opponent.
Martyn has Hess pressed against the cage, preventing Hess from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Martyn is trying to pull guard but Hess turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Martyn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Martyn scores with a nice right hand.
Martyn lands a head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hess with a lazy takedown attempt
and Martyn counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hess with a poor takedown
and Martyn counters with a big head kick but Hess shrugs it off.
Martyn throws a nice looking combination but Hess bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Martyn scores with a takedown into Hess's guard.

Hess looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Martyn passes into side control.
Martyn working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Thomas Martyn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Martyn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hess keeps working.
Hess is working to avoid the ground and pound but Martyn connects with a decent elbow.
Hess tries to buck Martyn off but Martyn is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martyn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hess has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hess tries to bench press Martyn off him but Martyn keeps the position.
Martyn lands a nice forearm strike.
Hess tries to bench press Martyn off him but Martyn keeps the position.
Hess manages to get back to half guard.
Hess tries to roll over but Martyn keeps him under control.
Martyn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hess looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hess looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hess looking for subs from the bottom but Martyn mounts him!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martyn tries to control but Hess wriggling away.
Martyn landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Martyn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Martyn throws a sloppy head kick and Hess moves out of range easily.
Hess shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Martyn counters with a body kick.

Hess looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hess tries to free his leg and advance position but Martyn is retaining full guard.
Martyn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Martyn is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Martyn lands a left hand.
Martyn manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Martyn drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hess pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martyn lands with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hess shoots for a takedown but Martyn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Martyn scores with a nice body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Martyn. Hess shrugs it off though.

Martyn takes the fight into the clinch.
Martyn goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hess prevents it.
Good body shot from Martyn.
Martyn working Hess over with knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martyn lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martyn lands a nice knee to the body.

Martyn turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Martyn manages to end up in side control.

Martyn tries for a kimura but Hess is defending well.
Hess is trying to improve his position.
Martyn working the ground and pound from side control.
Martyn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hess keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hess regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hess looking for submissions off his back.

Martyn is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Steve Hess has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Martyn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Hess actively working from the bottom here.

Hess looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hess looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martyn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hess is not content to let Martyn control the position.

Hess looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martyn lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Martyn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Martyn 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Martyn!