PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between DJ Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Garza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martinez comes to the cage accompanied by Burn. The crowd seem to be enjoying Garza's choice of entrance music: Run This Town. DJ Martinez looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Martinez
vs
Garza

175 cm
21
152 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

179 cm
27
155 lbs
1 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, DJ Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rico Garza!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez misses with a double jab.
Garza throws a leg kick which misses Martinez's front leg but catches the back leg as Martinez tries to avoid it.
A punch combination from Garza misses.
Some wild striking there from Garza.
Garza throws a leg kick but Martinez moved away.
Martinez slips a jab and a cross from Garza.
Martinez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Rico Garza has been cut.

Martinez gets a clinch.
Garza is looking to break free of the clinch but Martinez has double underhooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garza is trying to push Martinez away but Martinez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Garza blocking some punches.

Garza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rico Garza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martinez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Garza does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Garza misses with a wild combination.
Martinez tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Garza is looking to chop away at Martinez's legs.
Garza cracks the inside of Martinez's front leg.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Garza attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garza finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Martinez throws a hook but Garza blocks it.
Rico Garza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Martinez checks a leg kick.
Garza's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Garza duly obliges.
Garza slips a jab and a cross from Martinez.
Martinez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Garza moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Garza.
Garza fails to land with a series of punches.
Martinez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A left and a right from Garza both land. Nice combination.

Martinez is rocked!

It looks like DJ Martinez has been cut.
Garza throws a right hand that Martinez ducks under and follows up with a left that Martinez also avoids with ease.
Garza throws a series of punches but Martinez avoids them all with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Garza. Those never looked like landing.
Martinez fails to land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martinez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Garza.
Garza lands a leg kick that knocks Martinez off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Garza.

Martinez shoots in and bounces Garza off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Martinez wants to stand but Garza has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Garza uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Garza.

Martinez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Martinez is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Garza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Martinez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Garza breaks from the clinch.

Martinez clinches up with Garza and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garza manages to break the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Garza!
A slapping leg kick lands for Garza.
Garza fails to land with a series of punches.

Martinez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Martinez misses with the head strike.

Garza breaks the clinch.
Martinez looks to score with a jab to the body but Garza is just out of range.
Garza misses with a jab, cross combination.

Martinez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Martinez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martinez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Martinez.
Garza lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Martinez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Garza quickly recovers to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martinez prevents Garza from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garza pushes Martinez off and gets back to his feet.
Martinez connects with a single shot there.
A right-left combo lands from Garza.
Garza walks into a straight right hand from Martinez.
Garza throws a nice outside leg kick.

Martinez takes the fight into the clinch.

Garza breaks the clinch.
Martinez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Garza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Martinez works over Garza's head and body with a nice combination.

Martinez gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez trying to control the position but Garza is working away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Martinez tries for a kimura but Garza is defending well.
Martinez tries to stand but Garza is controlling his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that DJ Martinez will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Garza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Garza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Garza dodges the punch combination from Martinez.
Martinez lands a jab-cross combination.
Garza throws a series of punches but Martinez avoids them all with ease.

Martinez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Garza to the ground. Martinez is now in Garza's guard.
Martinez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Garza pushes Martinez off and gets back to his feet.
Garza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martinez.
Garza lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
An inside leg kick lands from Garza.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garza fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Martinez.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Garza works over Martinez's head and body with a nice combination.
Rico Garza seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garza lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A combination from Martinez does no damage.
Garza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Martinez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martinez lands in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Martinez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Garza is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Martinez breaks from the clinch.
Martinez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Martinez.
Martinez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Garza connects with a leg kick. Martinez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Garza lands a leg kick that knocks Martinez off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garza throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martinez fails to land with a series of punches.
Garza misses with a wild combination.
DJ Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Garza.
Garza throws a right hand that Martinez ducks under and follows up with a left that Martinez also avoids with ease.

Martinez moves into the clinch.

Martinez manages to break the clinch.
Garza throws a nice outside leg kick.
Garza misses with a leg kick.

Martinez moves into the clinch successfully.

Garza breaks from the clinch.

Martinez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Garza is trying to defend but Martinez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Garza manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez moves into the clinch.

Martinez pulls guard effortlessly.
Martinez 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.

Garza stands up and waves to Martinez to follow him.
Garza misses with a double jab.

Martinez moves into the clinch.

Garza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Garza throws a nice inside leg kick.
Garza lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Martinez fails to land with a series of punches.
An inside leg kick lands from Garza.
Garza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Garza walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Martinez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a hook but Garza avoids it easily.
Martinez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Martinez feints and as Garza raises his hands in defense, Martinez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Martinez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Garza enables Martinez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Garza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Martinez lands a couple of digs.
Martinez tries to stand but Garza is controlling from the bottom.

Garza kicks Martinez off and gets to his feet.
Garza attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Garza throws a nice outside leg kick.
Garza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martinez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Garza. Garza obviously looking to wear him down.
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 DJ Martinez will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Martinez.
Martinez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Martinez moves into the clinch.

Martinez jumps into guard, dragging Garza to the mat.

Martinez is working an open guard so Garza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Garza. Those never looked like landing.
Garza tries a low kick but Martinez avoids it.
Martinez slips a jab and a cross from Garza.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Garza breaks the clinch.

Garza gets tackled into the cage by Martinez. Martinez maintains the clinch.

Garza manages to break the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Martinez checks a leg kick.
A combination from Martinez does no damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garza moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Garza breaks from the clinch.
Martinez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Garza can pounce on him.
A right-left combo lands from Garza.
Garza moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Garza is looking to slow Martinez down with leg kicks.
Martinez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Garza misses with a wild combination.
Martinez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Garza can pounce on him.

Martinez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Martinez wants to stand up but Garza is controlling the position.

Garza manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Garza manages to break the clinch.

Martinez clinches up with Garza and pushes him back against the cage.

Garza manages to break the clinch.
Garza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Martinez has Garza up against the cage in a clinch.

Garza manages to break the clinch.

Martinez closes the distance and pushes Garza back into the cage.

Garza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Garza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Martinez scores with a one two! Garza had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Garza enables Martinez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Garza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Garza manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Martinez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza stalks Martinez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Martinez's face. Martinez staggers backwards, shaken.
Garza tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Martinez slips a jab and a cross from Garza.

Martinez closes the distance and clinches.

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

Martinez clinches up with Garza and pushes him back against the cage.

Garza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garza lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Garza walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Martinez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Garza misses with a leg kick.
Garza throws a right hand that Martinez ducks under and follows up with a left that Martinez also avoids with ease.
Martinez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Martinez misses.
Martinez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Martinez has managed to clinch.
DJ Martinez has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Garza breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Martinez tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Garza swinging wildly here.

Martinez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martinez lands in his opponent's guard.
Martinez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Garza wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Martinez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martinez wants to stand up but Garza has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Rico Garza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Garza actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to DJ Martinez.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DJ Martinez!
DJ Martinez decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.