PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leland Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emily Play (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emily Play has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Martinez
vs
Play

211 cm
21
140 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

160 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leland Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emily Play!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Play throws a nice looking combination but Martinez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Martinez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Play did well to prevent Martinez getting side control.

Martinez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Play sees it coming and defends easily.
Martinez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Play's head.
Play is trying to stand up here but Martinez is controlling him well.

Martinez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Play doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Martinez.
Play trying to hold on to Martinez's head to control him but Martinez postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Play is trying to stand.
Play controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Martinez seems to be looking for submissions.
Play is looking to get back to is feet but Martinez passes into side control.
Play is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Martinez is controlling him well.

Martinez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Play knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Play is looking for a sweep.
Play really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martinez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Play defending against the ground and pound.

Martinez tries for a kimura but Play is defending well.
Martinez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Play wants to control but Martinez postures up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Play is looking for a sweep.
Play is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Martinez is controlling him well.

Martinez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Play 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 postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Martinez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Play knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Martinez is trying to get an arm triangle but Play is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martinez cracks Play with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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 working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Play is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Martinez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Martinez dominated that round.
That's time! Martinez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Play misses with a takedown attempt

and Martinez moves into the clinch.
Martinez lands an elbow that stopped Play in his tracks for a moment.
Play drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Martinez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short left from Play.
Martinez leaning against his opponent.

Play's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Play fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leland Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emily Play.
Play throws a nice looking combination but Martinez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Emily Play seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt - Play sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Play looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
The fight stays on the outside here - Play looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Play looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Martinez is fending him off so far but Play persists. Nope, Martinez circles away and we're back to standing.
Martinez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Play.
Play is breathing heavily.
No luck for Martinez with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Play or perhaps it was just good defense by Martinez, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Play circles away.
Play dives in for a single leg takedown but Martinez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Martinez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Play manages to circle out of the way.
Play has a takedown stuffed.
Play stuffs the takedown.

Martinez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Play is looking to control Martinez's arms but Martinez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Play has his back to the cage.
Play is trying to break the clinch but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.
Martinez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Play prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez lands an elbow just above Play 's eye.

Play breaks from the clinch.
Play misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Play closes this distance looking for a takedown but Martinez circles away.

Martinez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Martinez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Play is defending against the submission attempts here by Martinez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Play wants to get back to his feet.

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

Martinez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Play doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Martinez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Martinez dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Martinez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Play.
Play shoots in looking for a takedown. Martinez tries to sprawl out of it but Play keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Martinez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Martinez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Martinez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Leland Martinez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Martinez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Martinez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Play tries to buck Martinez off but Martinez is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Martinez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Play has escaped the position, nice work there.

Martinez is trying to get an arm triangle but Play is defending well.

Martinez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Play, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Play is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Martinez throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Play wants to get back to his feet but Martinez drags him back down.
Play is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Martinez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Play sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Play tries to buck Martinez off but Martinez is having none of it.

Martinez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Martinez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Play tries to bench press Martinez off him but Martinez keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leland Martinez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martinez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

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