PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Silva
vs
Martinez

187 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

168 cm
31
145 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Speedy Supps + Laundry

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva has his takedown stuffed

and Martinez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
You can see the frustration on Silva's face as Martinez controls the position.
Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Martinez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Martinez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Martinez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Martinez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Martinez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Martinez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Silva is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Martinez wants to stand but Silva has his arm trapped.
Silva is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Martinez has control of the leg.

Martinez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Silva is just riding it out for now. Martinez eventually gives up the hold.
Silva tries to get to full guard but Martinez has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is keen to just control but Silva is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Martinez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Martinez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Martinez showed some decent athleticism there.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.

Martinez seems to be working for a kimura but Silva defends the submission attempt.

Martinez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Silva has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez wants to pass to mount but Silva is defending the position.
Martinez throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Martinez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.

Martinez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martinez pulls his head out easily.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez is trying to control the action in half guard but Silva is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Martinez throwing shots but Silva is blocking nicely.
Silva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Martinez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Martinez is working for a kimura but Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
Martinez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Martinez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Martinez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Martinez is working for an americana but Silva has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Martinez was thinking about the submission.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Martinez defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
Martinez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez stands and throws Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Silva manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Silva is working for a kimura but Martinez is defending it quite comfortably.

Silva is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Martinez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Silva.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking for a kimura here.

Silva is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Martinez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Silva.

Martinez makes his way to full guard, as Silva worked for a kimura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Martinez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Martinez has escaped and now he's on top!

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

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 Anderson Silva.
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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

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