PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martinez comes to the cage accompanied by Iced Earth - A Question of Heaven. Sami Salama is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Martinez
vs
Salama

178 cm
29
165 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

180 cm
30
165 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot lands for Martinez.
Martinez cracks a nice hook into Salama's ribs.
Martinez blocks a head kick by Salama.
No joy there for Martinez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice defenses there by Martinez.
Salama throws a head kick that Martinez semi-blocks.

It looks like Richard Martinez has been cut.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Martinez scores with a leg kick.
Salama lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martinez's sensitive parts.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martinez moves out of range of the leg kick from Salama.

Salama closes the distance and clinches.
Salama blocks a body shot from Martinez.
Salama lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Martinez backwards.
Salama creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama misses with the head strike.
A nice left hand lands by Martinez.
Martinez has a couple of punches blocked by Salama.

Martinez breaks the clinch.
Martinez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Martinez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Martinez.
Salama avoids the body shot from Martinez.
Martinez lands with a slapping head kick.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama throws an off balance right hand
and Martinez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Martinez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salama moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Salama misses with a wild body shot.
Sami Salama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salama pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Martinez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martinez looks to land a combination. Salama sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Salama throws the kick towards the body but Martinez avoids it.
Salama slips under a jab.
Salama throws a lazy uppercut
and Martinez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Martinez digs a good body shot into Salama's ribs.
Salama wants to clinch.
Salama lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martinez's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Salama did well to prevent Martinez getting side control.
Salama wants to sweep but Martinez has passed to side control!
Salama is looking to regain half guard here but Martinez keeps moving and retains side control.
Martinez is looking to take a break and control but Salama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Salama is pushing Martinez's head away, looking to escape. Martinez manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama tries to bench press Martinez off him but Martinez keeps the position.

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

Martinez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Salama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Martinez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Martinez working for a triangle but Salama defends it easily.
Salama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Martinez is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Martinez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Martinez's cut.
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.

Martinez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Martinez moves out of range of the strikes.
Salama takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Martinez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Martinez misses with the combination.
Salama tries to land a front kick but Martinez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Salama moves out of range of the strikes.
Richard Martinez is winning the standup battle so far.
Salama ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martinez moves away.
Martinez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama throws a sloppy body shot
and Martinez counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick by Salama misses
and Martinez counters with a straight right hand.
Martinez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salama pivots, looking for a leg kick but Martinez is out of range and Salama settles back down.
A leg kick checked by Salama.
Martinez lands a body shot.
Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama connects with a looping right hand.
Salama takes a kick to the side of the head.
Salama takes a swing at Martinez's ribcage but misses.
Salama throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salama bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martinez keeps the fight on the outside.
Martinez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Salama throws a leg kick but Martinez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Martinez lands with a right hand.
Martinez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Martinez throws a shot to the body.
Salama takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Martinez walks into a left hand.
Salama with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Salama defending well as Martinez loads up on a big left hand.
Salama connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Martinez is looking to wear down Salama with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Salama.
Salama throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Martinez to counter with a crisp jab.
Martinez connects with an inside leg kick.
Martinez lands with a shot to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Martinez.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Martinez.
Salama explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martinez scores with a kick to the body.
Salama takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Martinez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Martinez lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez slips under a jab.
Salama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Martinez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Salama misses with a few strikes there.
Martinez lands a nice hook to Salama's body. Salama takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Martinez misses with a straight left.
Martinez thows a body shot but no joy.
Martinez scoring well with a low kick there.

Salama clinches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Salama lands an uppercut.

Martinez breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Richard Martinez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Richard Martinez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Salama avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martinez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salama moves away.
Martinez connects with a looping right hand.
Martinez blocks a leg kick.
Martinez misses with a wild body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Salama.
Salama avoids the body shot from Martinez.
Salama tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Salama takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Martinez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Salama.
A head kick by Salama misses
and Martinez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Martinez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Martinez with a nice cross.
Martinez thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Salama if he has to take too many more of those.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Salama.
Salama uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Martinez has time to react.
Martinez tries to bum rush Salama with a series of wild strikes but Salama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Martinez throws a lazy head kick
and Salama counters with a head kick. That will keep Martinez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Salama takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martinez blocks a head kick by Salama.
A right-left combo lands from Martinez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Martinez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salama misses with a low kick.
Martinez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Salama wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Martinez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Salama misses the target.
Salama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Martinez.
Salama tries a head kick but it misses.
Martinez misses with a body shot.

Salama gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Martinez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sami Salama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richard Martinez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama pulls Martinez in close to prevent any damage.
Martinez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Salama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Salama working a defensive guard but Martinez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Salama is letting Martinez control him for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Martinez tries for a kimura but Salama is defending well.
Salama tries to strike but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Martinez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martinez, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Martinez!
Richard Martinez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.