PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Victor Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksej Aleksejev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Aleksej Aleksejev was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Martinez
vs
Aleksejev

185 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

194 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Resistance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksej Aleksejev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez looks for a takedown but Aleksejev sprawls well.

Aleksejev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Martinez's guard.
Aleksejev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Aleksejev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aleksejev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martinez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aleksejev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like Aleksejev might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aleksej Aleksejev was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Martinez leaves Aleksejev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Martinez tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aleksejev closes the distance and clinches.
Martinez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aleksejev gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Aleksejev decides to pull guard.
Martinez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aleksejev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martinez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aleksejev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Martinez manages to get himself to full guard.
Aleksejev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aleksejev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Martinez being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Aleksej Aleksejev wasn't active enough on the ground.
Aleksejev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Martinez tries to avoid it but Aleksejev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Martinez to the ground. Martinez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Aleksejev moves into the clinch.
Martinez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aleksejev prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aleksejev successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Aleksejev wriggles free and stands up.
No luck for Martinez with that takedown attempt.

Aleksejev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aleksejev wants to stand up but Martinez is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksej Aleksejev 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.

Aleksejev throws a front kick aimed at Martinez's knee but Martinez avoids it well.
Aleksejev shoots for a double leg takedown but Martinez sprawls well. He's pushed Aleksejev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aleksejev slaps away a takedown attempt from Martinez, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Aleksejev gets a takedown into half guard.
Aleksejev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Aleksejev throwing shots but Martinez is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksejev thows a huge punch but Martinez dodges it nicely.
Aleksejev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Martinez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aleksejev scores with a couple of nice shots.
Aleksejev tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Martinez.
Martinez won't allow Aleksejev to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aleksejev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Martinez defending well though.
Aleksejev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aleksej Aleksejev hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Aleksejev moves in looking to clinch but Martinez pushes him off.
Victor Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Aleksejev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aleksejev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Martinez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez goes for a takedown attempt but Aleksejev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Aleksejev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aleksejev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Martinez.
Aleksejev shoots in for a takedown but Martinez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Victor Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksej Aleksejev.
Aleksejev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Martinez looks for a takedown but Aleksejev sprawls well.

Aleksejev rushes Martinez and presses him up against the cage.
Aleksejev gets underhooks to prevent Martinez's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is looking for a takedown.
Martinez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aleksejev pulls his leg out and moves away.

Aleksejev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Aleksejev showed some decent athleticism there.
Aleksejev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksej Aleksejev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Aleksejev scores a takedown into full mount!
Aleksejev content just to control the position here.
Aleksej Aleksejev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aleksejev throws a wild left hand from mount and Martinez manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Martinez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aleksejev.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksejev is taking a breather. Martinez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Let's hope that Aleksejev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aleksej Aleksejev hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Aleksejev fails with a takedown attempt.

Aleksejev rushes Martinez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Martinez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martinez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aleksejev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aleksejev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Aleksejev wants to improve his position but instead Martinez has moved into half guard.
Aleksejev moves into full guard.
Aleksejev trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aleksejev has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Martinez has passed into side control.
Aleksejev is not content to let Martinez control the position.
Aleksej Aleksejev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Aleksejev can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aleksejev tries to improve position but can't.
Martinez throwing strikes but Aleksejev manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Martinez is looking for a sweep.
Victor Martinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee asks Aleksejev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Aleksejev prefers to stall for the moment though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksej Aleksejev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aleksejev 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksej Aleksejev!