PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Martens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Granger
vs
Martens

158 cm
23
135 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
136 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raymond Granger!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Martens!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Granger throws a head kick but Martens moves out of range.
Martens throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Raymond Granger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Martens drives through with a takedown into guard.
Martens is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Martens trying to stand up but can't free himself from Granger's guard.
Granger looking to control.
Martens is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martens wants to pass the guard but Granger is keeping the position.
Granger keeping moving, preventing Martens from controlling successfully.
Granger can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martens controls the pace.
Martens trying to control but Granger is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Granger is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Martens's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Martens duly obliges.
Granger lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Granger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Martens throws a head kick that misses.
Granger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martens misses with a series of wild punches.
Granger takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Granger tries to clinch up.
Martens throws a series of strikes that have Granger backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger misses with a takedown

and Martens counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Martens has hold of one of Granger's legs. Granger is fighting the takedown attempt but Martens gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Martens sitting in guard here, content to control.
Granger has control of Martens's left arm, preventing Martens from doing any damage.
Martens working some strikes from top position.

Granger is looking for a triangle here but Martens uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martens working away.
Granger tries to buck Martens off but Martens is having none of it.
Martens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Granger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Martens trying to control the action but Granger is working from the bottom.
Granger manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Martens dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Martens throws out a powerful jab.
Martens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Granger manages to avoid it.
Martens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Granger misses with a head kick.
Granger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Martens counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Martens.
Granger wants a takedown.
Granger wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Martens has him pressed against the cage.

Martens works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Martens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Martens stands and steps away. Granger gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Martens moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Martens throws a sloppy head kick and Granger moves out of range easily.
Martens connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Granger shoots and misses

and Martens counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymond Granger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martens decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Martens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Granger is looking to control Martens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Granger avoid being mounted?
Martens trying to control the action but Granger is working from the bottom.
Martens wants to pass to mount but Granger is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martens trying to control from half guard but Granger is working away.
Martens tries to stand and escape but Granger is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Granger actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens tries to pass to full mount but Granger defends it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Granger tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Martens decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Granger's guard.

Granger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Martens stands and steps away. Granger gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Martens is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martens throws a sloppy head kick and Granger moves out of range easily.
Martens misses with a series of wild punches.
Martens looks to land a combination but Granger avoids it well.
Martens wants to clinch up but Granger keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Martens does no damage.
Granger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Granger's waist but Granger gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martens off to one side.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Martens, as that shot connected.
A lazy body kick from Martens
and Granger counters with a solid body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Granger shoots and misses

and Martens counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Martens.
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!

Granger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martens can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Martens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Martens stuffs the takedown.
Martens throws a one two combo.
Martens misses with a head kick.
Martens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Granger's waist but Granger gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martens off to one side.
Granger wants to clinch but Martens slips to the side
and Martens counters with a head kick. That will keep Granger thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Granger wants to clinch
and Martens counters with a thumping low kick.
Granger looks to clinch

and Martens counters by moving into the clinch.
Granger tries a knee to the head but Martens blocks it.
Martens wants to break the clinch but can't.
Martens is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Granger tries to stall but Martens uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Martens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martens walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Granger checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger with a poor takedown

and Martens counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Granger is looking to control Martens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Granger avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martens is looking to take a break and control but Granger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Martens is working for a kimura here but Granger manages to reverse the position and he's now in Martens's guard.
Granger wants to control from the top but Martens keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martens is trying to control the position but Granger postures up.

Granger drops back, looking for a kneebar! Martens looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Martens looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Martens!
Granger manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens is looking to improve his position.
Martens is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Justin Martens has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.

Granger wants to work for an arm triangle but Martens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Granger is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Martens defends it well.

Granger is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Martens is just riding it out for now. Granger eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Martens throws a head kick that misses
and Granger counters with a head kick. That will keep Martens thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Granger tries for a takedown but Martens circles away easily

and Martens counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Martens thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martens is looking to pass Granger's guard but actually Granger recovers to full guard.
Martens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Granger is proving hard to escape from.
Granger is trying to control the position but Martens postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger keeping moving, preventing Martens from controlling successfully.
Martens sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Granger's guard.
Martens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Granger tries to get to full guard but Martens has control of the leg.

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.

Martens wants to work for an arm triangle but Granger is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Martens is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Martens thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Granger with a lazy takedown attempt

and Martens counters by moving into the clinch.

Martens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Granger misses with an attempted mid kick.
Granger moves out of range of the body kick.
No joy there for Martens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Raymond Granger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger wants to clinch but Martens slips to the side

and Martens decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Granger's guard.

Martens drops back looking for a leg! Granger is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Granger manages to kick Martens off! Martens jumps back into Granger's guard.
Martens wants to control from the top but Granger keeps moving.
Granger is trying to control the position but Martens postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger wants to control but Martens passes easily into half guard.
Martens trying to control from half guard but Granger is working away.

Granger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Martens dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Martens blocks a head kick by Granger.
Granger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Martens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Granger sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Martens lands a nice looking kick to the body. Granger takes a step back to recover.
Martens throws a right and a left that both miss.

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

Martens seems to be looking for submissions.
Granger is refusing to be controlled, as Martens sits in half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger is looking to control Martens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Granger avoid being mounted?
Martens is looking to advance position but Granger won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Martens passes to full mount!

Martens goes for an armbar but Granger turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Granger.
Martens wants to stand but Granger is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens tries to strike from the bottom.
Martens wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Raymond Granger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Granger advances to half guard.
Justin Martens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Martens trying to control but Granger postures up.
Martens gets back to full guard.
Granger wants to control from the top but Martens keeps moving.
Martens wants to control but Granger passes easily into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Martens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Martens 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 45:50
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 45:50
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Martens!
Justin Martens is the new bantamweight champion!