PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robben Van Gal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Martinez
vs
Van Gal

172 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robben Van Gal!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Gal swivels and escapes.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Van Gal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Gal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Martinez to counter with a crisp jab.
Nick Martinez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Martinez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Martinez is keen to just control but Van Gal is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Gal moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Gal wants to sweep but no luck.

Van Gal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Van Gal keeps moving.
Van Gal keeping full guard, as Martinez tries to pass.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Van Gal keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez stopping the sweep attempt from Van Gal.

Van Gal had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Martinez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Van Gal Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Martinez's back instead.
Martinez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Van Gal is trying to work for a kimura but Martinez is defending well.
Martinez is pressing down on Van Gal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Van Gal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martinez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Gal is pushing down on Martinez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Martinez is fighting to maintain full guard but Van Gal has managed to sneak the leg through.
Van Gal passes to full mount!
Van Gal looks gassed!
Van Gal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Martinez is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Martinez tries to lock up and control but Van Gal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Martinez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Van Gal jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Martinez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Martinez gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Gal is pressing down on Martinez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martinez is holding on for now.
Martinez is looking for a sweep. Van Gal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Van Gal tries to pass to full mount but Martinez defends it.

Van Gal is working for a submission of some sort.
Van Gal trying to mount his opponent but Martinez defends it.

That's four 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.
Martinez is staying active underneath Van Gal, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Martinez moves into range and clinches up with Van Gal.
Van Gal fails to pull guard.
Martinez wants to stall.
Van Gal fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nick Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robben Van Gal.
The referee calls for Martinez to work.
Van Gal tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Martinez smiles and moves away.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Van Gal circles away easily

and Van Gal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Van Gal passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robben Van Gal dominated that round.
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.

Van Gal decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martinez tries to kick Van Gal off but Van Gal keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Martinez is defending against the submission attempts here by Van Gal.
Martinez gets full guard.
Martinez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Gal is one step ahead there.

Martinez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Van Gal is breathing heavily.
Van Gal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Gal shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Martinez with that takedown attempt.
Martinez shoots in for a double leg but Van Gal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Martinez.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt

and Van Gal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez is trying is best to control the position here.

Martinez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Martinez won't allow Van Gal to pass to mount.

Van Gal seems to be looking for submissions.
Van Gal looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Martinez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Van Gal drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Martinez dives on top into guard.
Martinez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Martinez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Van Gal escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Martinez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Van Gal looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Martinez has picked Van Gal up and slammed him! Van Gal can't keep hold of the triangle and Martinez manages to pass to side control!
Van Gal manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Robben Van Gal has got the better of the ground game so far.

Van Gal looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is trying to stand.
Martinez is staying active underneath Van Gal, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Van Gal should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Van Gal is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Van Gal is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Van Gal is pressing down on Martinez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martinez is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Van Gal is trying to work for a kimura but Martinez is defending well.

Van Gal in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Martinez tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Van Gal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Robben Van Gal!