PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Martin (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!

Rio
vs
Martin

185 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

189 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dave Rio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ken Martin!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin tries for a takedown but Rio circles away easily

and Rio counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Martin's guard now.
Rio is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A lull in the action here as Rio stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Martin throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Martin is looking for a sweep.
Rio wants to control but Martin is keeping him busy.
Martin being controlled for a moment.

Dave Rio has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Martin scores with a takedown into Rio's guard.
Martin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Martin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rio has Martin pulled in close to control his posture.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dave Rio.

Martin scores with a takedown into Rio's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin advances position into side control!
Rio is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Martin off and has taken his back!
Martin tries to break free.
Martin is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rio.
Martin tries to roll but Rio sticks to his back.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rio really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Martin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rio controlling well, preventing Martin from escaping the position.
Martin is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

We're going to have a standup here because Dave Rio wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Martin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rio as he jumps to the side.
Martin looks winded!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martin tries for a takedown but Rio sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Rio dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Martin fails with the takedown
and Rio counters with a nice body shot.

Martin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rio is trying to control Martin's posture but Martin avoids it.
Martin tries to advance to mount but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Dave Rio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Martin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rio avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Martin.
Rio gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio controlling the position for now.
Rio trying to control from the bottom.
Rio has his hands clasped together around Martin's back. He's all about the action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Rio wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Martin fails with a takedown attempt.
Martin is breathing heavily.
Martin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rio cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dave Rio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ken Martin.
Martin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rio pinned against the cage. Rio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ken Martin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martin misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rio counters with a left to the body.
Martin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rio counters with a stiff right hand.
Martin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rio counters with a straight right hand.
Martin misses with a takedown attempt
and Rio cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martin with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Rio counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin tries for a takedown but Rio circles away easily
and Rio counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Martin shoots in looking for a takedown. Rio tries to sprawl out of it but Martin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Martin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Martin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Martin tries for a takedown but Rio circles away easily
enabling Rio to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ken Martin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Martin misses with a takedown
and Rio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Martin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Martin with a poor takedown
letting Rio counter with a right hand.
Dave Rio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ken Martin.
Martin misses with a takedown attempt
and Rio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Martin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Martin has his takedown stuffed
and Rio counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin with a poor takedown
and Rio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Martin with a poor takedown
and Rio cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martin fails with the takedown
and Rio counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Martin thinking.
Rio leaves Martin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rio counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rio stuffs the takedown attempt from Martin. Martin gets slowly back to his feet.
Martin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin shoots and misses
and Rio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Martin fails with the takedown
and Rio counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Martin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rio counters with a nice body shot.
Rio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Martin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin has his takedown stuffed
and Rio counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Martin.
Martin misses with a takedown attempt
and Rio counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Martin tries for a takedown but Rio circles away easily
and Rio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

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 Dave Rio.
I think Rio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dave Rio!
A less than humble Dave Rio misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.