PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Colton Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tayo Bamba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bamba has chosen "Voices" as his entrance music. Tayo Bamba will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Martin
vs
Bamba

172 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

187 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Colton Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tayo Bamba!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bamba enables Martin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bamba manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Bamba 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.
Martin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Bamba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Martin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Martin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bamba has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Martin has managed to get both his arms back between Bamba's legs - danger averted.
Martin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bamba on the ground.

Bamba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Martin passes into half guard.

Bamba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Martin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bamba sees it coming and defends easily.
Bamba is pressing down on Martin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Bamba throws his legs up looking for a submission but Martin uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bamba is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Martin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bamba, who protects the arm well.
Bamba is looking to regain half guard here but Martin keeps moving and retains side control.
Bamba manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Bamba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bamba looks winded!
Bamba wants to free his trapped foot but Martin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Martin keeping full guard, as Bamba tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Bamba looking for subs off his back but Martin has passed one foot through into half guard.
Bamba wants to sweep but Martin has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bamba manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Bamba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Martin defends it well.
Martin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Martin tries to get to full guard but Bamba has control of the leg.

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

Bamba is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bamba is pressing down on Martin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Martin is holding on for now.

Bamba is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Martin still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Martin has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bamba throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Colton Martin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bamba with a lazy takedown attempt
and Martin counters with a two punch combo.
Bamba avoids the head kick by Martin.
Bamba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Martin.
Martin slaps away a takedown attempt from Bamba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Martin really is a fat lump.
Bamba tries for a takedown but Martin circles away easily

and Martin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Colton Martin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayo Bamba.
Martin prevents Bamba from improving his position.
Bamba is still trying to improve position.

Bamba actively working from the bottom here.

Bamba with the active half guard here but Martin passes nicely into side control.
Bamba looks to move to half guard but instead Martin has passed into mount! Damn!
Bamba is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bamba is working to get back to half guard.
Martin lands a big elbow.
Martin prevents Bamba from getting the reversal.

Martin looking for a guillotine from mount but Bamba is having none of it.
Bamba is trying to escape the mount.

Martin is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bamba can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Martin in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bamba is working to get back to half guard.
Martin scoring with strikes but Bamba is staying in there.
Martin scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bamba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Colton Martin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bamba to take his back!

Martin has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Bamba has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Bamba defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Martin looking for the choke from the back.
Bamba turns into Martin and is now in his guard.
Bamba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bamba has gone for a leg lock! Martin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bamba's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bamba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Martin passes into side control.
Bamba looking for a sweep but Martin has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Bamba is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Martin looking to secure an arm triangle but Bamba defends it well.
Bamba keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colton Martin dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Bamba checks a leg kick nicely.

Bamba fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Martin, pushing him back against the cage.
Martin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bamba can do to turn this around?

Martin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bamba shoots in for a takedown but Martin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Martin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Bamba avoids the head kick by Martin.
Bamba is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Martin dodges the punch combination from Bamba.
Tayo Bamba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bamba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bamba tries for a takedown but Martin circles away easily

and Martin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Colton Martin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tayo Bamba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Martin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Martin connects with a nice short shot to Bamba's temple.
Bamba tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Martin has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bamba working to try and regain half guard.
Bamba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bamba to take his back!
Bamba is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Bamba preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Martin.
Martin lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Bamba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bamba's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Bamba preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Martin.
Bamba wants to escape the position.
Bamba keeps trying to improve his position.

Bamba defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Bamba fending off the submission attempt from Martin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bamba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bamba gets back to half guard.

Martin moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Bamba.
Bamba is trying to work for a sweep but Martin has mounted him!
Bamba wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Bamba is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Bamba is defending well though. Martin let's go of the attempt for now.
Bamba turns into Martin and is now in his guard.

Bamba drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Martin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bamba has Martin in his guard.

Bamba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tayo Bamba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Colton Martin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bamba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Martin passes into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Colton Martin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Martin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Colton Martin!