PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joachim Braga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Braga
vs
Martinez

203 cm
22
284 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
27
250 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joachim Braga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez tries to clinch up.
Martinez wants to clinch.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Braga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Braga dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Martinez. That did some damage!
Some bone on bone action there as Braga checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch but Braga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Braga swats away the attempt to clinch by Martinez.
Martinez tries to clinch
and Braga counters with a nice leg kick.

Martinez moves into range and clinches up with Braga.
Braga tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Martinez avoids it.
Martinez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Braga in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Martinez obliges.
Braga is breathing heavily.
Martinez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martinez throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Martinez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez misses with a knee to the head.
Braga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Braga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.

Braga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Braga misses with a low kick.
Braga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Braga motions for Martinez to come forward. Braga throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Diego Martinez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Braga swats away the attempt to clinch by Martinez.
Martinez doesn't manage to clinch there - Braga circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martinez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martinez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Braga swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Martinez moves to clinch but Braga breaks away
and Braga counters with an outside leg kick.
Martinez throws a series of punches but Braga avoids them all with ease.

Martinez clinches up against the cage.
Martinez lands with a left to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Braga.
Martinez misses with a knee to the head.
Braga missing with knees to the body.
Martinez trying to land knees to the body.

Braga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez doesn't manage to clinch there - Braga circles away.

Martinez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Martinez in particular looking to stall.
Braga trying to control here.
Braga wants to get back to full guard.
Martinez controlling the action here.
Martinez trying to pass the guard but Braga defending well.
Braga holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Diego Martinez wasn't active enough on the ground.

Martinez clinches with his opponent.
Braga working hard to break the clinch.
Braga tries to break the clinch but Martinez is controlling the position.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez avoiding damage as Braga throws knees to the body.
Martinez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Martinez connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Joachim Braga has been cut.
Martinez avoiding damage as Braga throws knees to the body.
Braga tries to break the clinch but Martinez is controlling the position.
Martinez misses with a knee to the head.
Braga is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.
Braga is trying to maintain a safe position but Martinez gets an underhook and turns Braga into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Martinez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joachim Braga'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 is looking to clinch but Braga is avoiding it.

Martinez has closed the distance and engaged Braga in a clinch.
Braga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martinez avoiding damage as Braga throws knees to the body.
Martinez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Diego Martinez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Martinez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martinez with a knee to the head.
Martinez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A right hand to the body from Martinez.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Martinez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Martinez lands a nice knee to the body.
Martinez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Braga lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martinez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Braga in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but Braga blocks with his arms.
Martinez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Braga blocks it with crossed arms.
Martinez lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martinez scores with a knee to the head.
Martinez scores with a knee to the head.

Braga is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez misses with a knee to the head.
Martinez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Braga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martinez scores with a knee to the head.
Oh Braga is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Martinez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Braga blocks it with crossed arms.
Martinez misses with a knee to the head.
Braga landing knees to the body.
Martinez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Braga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.
Braga is trying to push Martinez away but Martinez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Braga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Martinez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Braga tries a knee to the head but Martinez blocks it.
Martinez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Braga blocks it with crossed arms.
Martinez has Braga pressed against the cage, preventing Braga from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Martinez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Martinez avoiding damage as Braga throws knees to the body.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but Braga blocks with his arms.
A nice left hand lands by Martinez.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez looking to throw knees to the head but Braga is blocking nicely.
Martinez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Martinez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Braga seems to have got his legs back now.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Braga takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Braga tries a knee to the head but Martinez blocks it.
Martinez looking to throw knees to the head but Braga is blocking nicely.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Martinez obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Braga takes a knee right on the jaw!
Braga scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braga wants to break the clinch but can't.
Martinez connects with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Martinez.
Braga is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Martinez is defending well for now.
Braga wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Martinez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Braga with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Braga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Martinez lands a knee to the head.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.
Martinez managing to block the knees to the body from Braga.
Martinez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martinez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Braga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martinez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Martinez lands a good knee to the midsection. Braga won't want to take too many of those.
Martinez lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.
Martinez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Martinez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Martinez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martinez tries a knee to the head but Braga blocks it.
Martinez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Braga.
Martinez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Braga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martinez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Braga breaks the clinch.
Braga lands a head kick!
Martinez tries to clinch up
and Braga counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez connects with a jab.

Martinez rushes Braga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Martinez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Braga's face.
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!
Braga tries a knee to the head but Martinez blocks it.
Martinez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Martinez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Martinez looking to throw knees to the head but Braga is blocking nicely.

Braga breaks from the clinch.
Braga tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Martinez looks to clinch
and Braga counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Braga gets tackled into the cage by Martinez. Martinez maintains the clinch.
Braga is looking to break free of the clinch but Martinez has double underhooks.
Braga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Martinez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joachim Braga's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Martinez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Martinez.
Braga misses with a low kick.
Martinez tries to clinch up.
Braga circles away from the clinch attempt.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Braga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martinez tries to clinch but Braga moves out of range.
Braga throws a leg kick but Martinez checks it.
Martinez is looking to clinch but Braga is avoiding it.
Martinez throws a series of punches but Braga avoids them all with ease.
Martinez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez tries to clinch
and Braga makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez looks to clinch
and Braga counters with an inside leg kick.
Martinez doesn't manage to clinch there - Braga circles away.
Martinez tries to clinch up but Braga circles away and keeps his distance.
Martinez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Braga counters with a leg kick.
Martinez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Braga counters with an outside leg kick.

Martinez rushes Braga and presses him up against the cage.
Martinez trying to land knees to the body.
Braga landing knees to the body.
Martinez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Braga misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Martinez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Braga trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Braga dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Braga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Martinez missing with knees to the body.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.
Martinez tries a body shot but Braga blocks it.
Braga using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Braga looking to throw knees to the head but Martinez is blocking nicely.
Martinez misses with a knee strike.

Braga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Braga swats away the attempt to clinch by Martinez.
Martinez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to clinch up but Braga circles away and keeps his distance.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Braga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martinez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Braga manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Martinez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Braga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Martinez wants to clinch up but Braga keeps it at a distance.
Martinez tries to clinch up.
Braga keeps the fight on the outside.

Martinez moves into the clinch.
Martinez crunches a lovely knee into Braga's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braga misses with a knee strike.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Braga scores a nice knee to the body.
Braga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Braga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diego Martinez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Braga throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Martinez tries to clinch up
and Braga counters with a nice leg kick.
Diego Martinez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martinez fails with the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch but Braga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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 Joachim Braga.
Well Martinez 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Martinez!