PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ichi Takeshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Takeshi
vs
Martin

155 cm
26
138 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

168 cm
28
134 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ichi Takeshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Martin!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takeshi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Martin.
An inside leg kick from Takeshi misses.
Takeshi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Takeshi walks into a stiff left hand from Martin.
Takeshi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Takeshi tries to clinch but Martin is having none of it.
Takeshi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Takeshi misses with a looping right.
Martin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Martin throws a low kick but Takeshi moves out of range easily.
Martin keeps Takeshi at a distance using the push kick.
Martin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Takeshi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Takeshi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Martin.
Takeshi throws a low kick but Martin avoids it.
Takeshi tries to clinch but Martin moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Martin blocks the low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takeshi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Martin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Martin misses its intended target.
Takeshi has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Martin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takeshi moves away.
Martin avoids the body shot from Takeshi.
Takeshi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martin.
Takeshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Martin is just out of range.
Martin has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Steve Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takeshi ducks under a wild hook from Martin.
Martin throws a nice looking combination but Takeshi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takeshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No luck for Takeshi with that takedown attempt.
Takeshi scores with a shot to the body.
Takeshi tries to close the distance and clinch but Martin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Martin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takeshi moves away.
Takeshi tries to clinch but Martin moves out of range.
Martin punishes Takeshi's body with a nice straight punch.
Martin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Takeshi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin connects with a crisp jab.
Takeshi throws a leg kick that misses.
Takeshi tries to clinch but Martin is having none of it.
Takeshi throws a hook to the side of Martin's head but Martin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Martin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martin throws a hook to the side of Takeshi's head but Takeshi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Takeshi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Martin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Martin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Takeshi misses with a looping left.
Martin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takeshi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Martin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Takeshi back to the cage. Martin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Takeshi tried to score with a low kick but Martin checks it.
Martin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Takeshi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martin.
Jab by Martin.
Martin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takeshi circles away quickly and effectively.
Takeshi throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Martin to counter with a crisp jab.
Takeshi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Martin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Martin avoids a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Takeshi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Martin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martin throws a low kick but Takeshi moves out of range easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Martin.
Martin avoids the head kick by Takeshi.
Martin looks to throw the jab but Takeshi is out of range.
A good leg kick by Martin.
Takeshi throws a leg kick but Martin checks it.
Martin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Takeshi throws a body kick that misses.
Takeshi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Martin.
Takeshi connects with a single shot there.
Martin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takeshi.
Martin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takeshi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Takeshi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Takeshi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin being controlled here, momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takeshi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takeshi is working hard here to advance position.
Takeshi pushes down on Martin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Takeshi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Takeshi throwing shots but Martin is blocking nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Martin keeping hold of Takeshi's head, controlling as best he can.
Takeshi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steve Martin will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Takeshi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Martin thows a body shot but no joy.
Takeshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takeshi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Martin lands a nice looking body shot.
Takeshi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Takeshi slips a jab from Martin.
A leg kick checked by Martin.
Takeshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takeshi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Martin defends well and Takeshi ends up having to push Martin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Martin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Takeshis head.

Martin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takeshi is looking to wear down Martin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Takeshi throws a push kick but Martin slaps the foot to one side.
Takeshi misses with a head kick.
Takeshi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Martin.
Takeshi dodges the punch combination from Martin.
Martin lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takeshi tries to clinch up but Martin circles away and keeps his distance.
Takeshi throws a body punch but Martin moves out of range.
Martin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Takeshi.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Martin.
Martin's corner calls for a 1-2. Martin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
That kick from Martin tenderised Takeshi's leg. Takeshi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Martin misses with a wild combination.
A slow jab from Martin misses its intended target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Takeshi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Martin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Martin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Steve Martin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Martin thuds his right hand into Takeshi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Takeshi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Martin lunges at Takeshi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Takeshi's hand.
Takeshi closes the distance but Martin moves to the side
and Takeshi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi blocks a jab.
Donk. Martin catches Takeshi right on the button with a cross.
Takeshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Martin was well out of range. Poor timing from Takeshi.
Nice body punch from Martin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big right from Martin misses.
Takeshi looks for the body kick but Martin saw that one coming.
Takeshi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Martin sprawls well. Martin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Takeshi gets slowly back to his feet.
Takeshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Martin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Takeshi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ichi Takeshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takeshi tries to clinch but Martin moves out of range.
Steve Martin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick lands from Takeshi.
Takeshi throws a body punch but Martin moves out of range.
Martin circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Martin.

Takeshi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Takeshi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Takeshi postures up in Martin's guard and throws a big left but Martin blocks it.
Takeshi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Takeshi throws an elbow that misses. Martin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Takeshi's guard. Nice move by Martin!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martin throws a big elbow that misses.
Martin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Martin postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Takeshi is on top in guard.
Martin pulls Takeshi in close to prevent any damage.
Takeshi postures up in Martin's guard and throws a big left but Martin blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin keeping moving, preventing Takeshi from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takeshi connects with a couple of short punches.
Takeshi throws a big elbow that misses.
Takeshi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Takeshi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takeshi won't allow Martin to sweep him here.
Takeshi looking to sit in guard and control but Martin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Martin missing with a left hand there. Takeshi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Martin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Martin tries to bum rush Takeshi with a series of wild strikes but Takeshi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A slapping body kick lands there for Martin.
Martin swats away the attempt to clinch by Takeshi.
Takeshi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Martin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Martin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takeshi throws the left hand but Martin avoids the punch easily.
Takeshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Martin is just out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Takeshi.
Martin misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin tries to close the distance and clinch but Takeshi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Takeshi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Martin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Martin tries to land a leg kick but Takeshi saw it coming and moves away.
Takeshi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Martin.
Takeshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A swing and a miss from Martin.
Martin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takeshi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Martin as he avoids it easily.
Takeshi takes a swing at Martin's ribcage but misses.
Takeshi avoids the head kick by Martin.
Martin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takeshi moves away.
Martin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Martin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Takeshi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Martin throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takeshi has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ichi Takeshi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martin scores with a hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Takeshi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Martin throws a body punch but Takeshi moves out of range.
Takeshi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martin misses with the combination.
Martin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Takeshi momentarily.
Martin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Martin lands a leg kick that knocks Takeshi off balance momentarily.
Martin works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi thows a body shot but no joy.
Takeshi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Takeshi misses with a low kick.
Martin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Martin lands a jab-cross combination.
Steve Martin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Takeshi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Takeshi misses with a body shot.
Takeshi avoids the head kick by Martin.

Takeshi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Martin's half guard.
Martin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Martin is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takeshi wants to take a breather but Martin is having none of it.
Martin tries to get to full guard but Takeshi has control of the leg.
Takeshi looks to land a strike but Martin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takeshi stopping the sweep attempt from Martin.
Takeshi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ichi Takeshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takeshi manages to get himself to full guard.

Takeshi has his foot on Martin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Martin works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Martin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Martin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Martin!
A relieved looking Steve Martin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.