PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RJ Martinez (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.

Devil
vs
Martinez

170 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Desmond Devil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, RJ Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Devil was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Martinez is defended easily by Devil.
Devil was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Devil drives through and clinches with Martinez against the cage.
Martinez wants a takedown but no success here.
Desmond Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Martinez.
Devil lands a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Devil is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Martinez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Devil is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Devil wants to break free but Martinez has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil gets underhooks to prevent Martinez's takedown attempt.
Martinez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Devil is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Devil gets underhooks to prevent Martinez's takedown attempt.
Devil slows down the pace here.
Martinez goes for a takedown attempt but Devil pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Devil scores with a jab to the body.
Devil seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Martinez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Devil is looking for a sweep. Martinez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Martinez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Devil wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Devil knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Martinez on the ground.
Martinez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Martinez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Martinez is looking for a kimura but Devil is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Martinez to get the leverage.
Martinez works his foot free and advances to mount.

Martinez looking for a guillotine from mount but Devil is having none of it.

Martinez is working for a guillotine from mount but Devil frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Devil wants to control but Martinez is having none of it.

Martinez has hold of Devil's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Devil manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Martinez avoids the attempt from Devil to control.

Martinez stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martinez.
Martinez with the counter takedown but Devil avoids it easily.
Devil lands a nice hook to Martinez's body. Martinez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Devil lands a head shot.
Devil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martinez.
Martinez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Devil defends it nicely.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch but Devil swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Devil connects with a looping right hand.
Devil smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Devil circles away easily
and Devil counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Desmond Devil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Devil jabs Martinez right on the nose. Martinez blinks but takes it well.

Martinez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Devil!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Martinez misses with a takedown attempt
and Devil counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Martinez fails with the takedown.
Devil throws a good cross that connects.
Martinez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Devil tries to avoid it but Martinez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Devil to the ground. Devil escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Desmond Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Martinez.

Devil has Martinez up against the cage in a clinch.
Devil is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Devil is trying to push Martinez away but Martinez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Devil is looking to break free of the clinch but Martinez has double underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez tries to pull guard but Devil holds him up against the cage and eventually Martinez drops back down to his feet.
Martinez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Devil's efforts to push away.
Devil is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Devil is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Martinez can do to turn this around?
A bit of stalling here from Devil.

That's two 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.
Devil makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Martinez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Devil fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Martinez misses with a wild body shot.
Devil is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Martinez shoots in for a double leg but Devil sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Martinez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Devil slaps away a takedown attempt from Martinez, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Martinez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Devil to the mat! Devil manages to get full guard.
Martinez is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martinez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Martinez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Devil counters with a nice body shot.
Devil connects with a body shot.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt
and Devil counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Devil getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
No joy there for Devil, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Martinez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Devil circles away easily
and Devil counters with a nice body shot.

Devil fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Martinez, pushing him back against the cage.
Martinez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Devil's efforts to push away.
Devil wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Martinez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Devil after a bit of a struggle.
Devil misses with a punch on the inside.
Martinez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Devil fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Devil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Martinez.
Martinez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Devil cracks Martinez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
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!
Devil fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Devil dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Martinez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Decent striking displayed by Devil there.
Martinez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Devil cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Devil scores with a hook to the body. Martinez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Devil stuffs the takedown.
Devil seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Desmond Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Martinez.
Devil misses with a wild combination.

Devil closes the distance and pushes Martinez back into the cage.
Devil tries a body shot but Martinez blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Devil misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Devil wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Devil trying to stall but Martinez improves his position.
Martinez is working for takedown but Devil is calmly controlling the position for now.
Martinez goes for a takedown attempt but Devil pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Devil misses with a few strikes there.
Martinez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Devil defends well and Martinez ends up having to push Devil into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Devil tries to close the distance and clinch up but Martinez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Martinez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Martinez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Devil is fending him off so far but Martinez persists. Nope, Devil circles away and we're back to standing.
Martinez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martinez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Devil!

Martinez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Devil is pushing Martinez's head away, looking to escape. Martinez manages to hold on to the position though.

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!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Devil is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Martinez is working to tighten his grip on Devil's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Devil has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Martinez is really squeezing tight and eventually Devil passes out! Martinez breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). RJ Martinez!
A victorious RJ Martinez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.