PBP Commentary

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

Shougo
vs
Martinez

171 cm
23
162 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

165 cm
24
165 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Murata Shougo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesus Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez takes a swing at Shougo's ribcage but misses.
Martinez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Martinez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shougo sprawls well initially but Martinez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Martinez wants to free his trapped foot but Shougo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shougo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Martinez.
Martinez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Martinez has gone for a leg lock! Shougo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Martinez's guard.
Martinez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Shougo from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shougo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martinez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Martinez has an active guard here but Shougo has managed to pass into half guard.
Shougo is trying to control the action in half guard but Martinez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Martinez tries to get to full guard but Shougo has control of the leg.
Shougo trying to pass the guard but Martinez defending well.
Martinez is looking for a sweep. Shougo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Shougo. No joy for Martinez on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Martinez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Martinez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shougo manages to avoid it.
Martinez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Martinez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shougo swivels and escapes.
Martinez shoots for a takedown but Shougo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Murata Shougo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesus Martinez.
A jab from Shougo misses.
Martinez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shougo as he avoids it easily.
Shougo misses with a straight right.
Martinez looks for a takedown but Shougo sprawls well.
Martinez looks gassed!
A telegraphed right hand from Shougo misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Martinez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Martinez misses with a wild body shot.
Shougo avoids the body shot from Martinez.
Shougo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Shougo misses.
Martinez shoots in but Shougo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Martinez moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shougo stuffs the takedown.
Martinez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shougo rather than just go for the knockout.
Martinez throws a body punch but Shougo moves out of range.
Martinez swings for the body but Shougo moves out of range.
Martinez fails to land with a series of punches.
Martinez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Martinez looks to score with a jab to the body but Shougo is just out of range.
Shougo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Martinez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Martinez misses with a body shot.
Shougo throws a big shot that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Shougo. No joy for Martinez on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shougo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Martinez throws a body punch but Shougo moves out of range.
Martinez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Martinez swinging wilding here.
Martinez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Martinez just misses with a punch to the body.
A big right from Shougo misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shougo avoids the body shot from Martinez.
A telegraphed right hand from Shougo misses the target.
Shougo avoids the body shot from Martinez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shougo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circling - Shougo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Martinez shoots in looking for a takedown. Shougo tries to sprawl out of it but Martinez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shougo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Martinez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shougo manages to avoid it.
Martinez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shougo.
Shougo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Shougo gets caught flat footed, as Martinez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shougo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez thows a big elbow that misses.
Martinez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Martinez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shougo's guard.

Martinez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
Martinez throws a strike but Shougo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Martinez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shougo wants to sweep but no luck.
Martinez looking to pass the guard.
Martinez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shougo is trying to keep Martinez in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez stopping the sweep attempt from Shougo.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Martinez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shougo throws the left hand but Martinez avoids the punch easily.

Shougo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Martinez advances position into side control!
Martinez throws a strike aimed at the side of Shougo's head but Shougo avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shougo is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.
Martinez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Shougo is avoiding damage well.
Shougo sneaks back into half guard.
Shougo is looking for a sweep. Martinez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Martinez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ground and pound from Martinez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez throws a strike but Shougo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Martinez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Martinez feints and as Shougo raises his hands in defense, Martinez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shougo wants to hit a switch here but Martinez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Shougo there!
Shougo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shougo regains half guard.
Martinez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shougo tries to roll over but Martinez keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez tries to pass to full mount but Shougo defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shougo wants to improve his position but Martinez is controlling well.
Martinez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Martinez thows a huge punch but Shougo dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Martinez staying out of range there.
Martinez takes a swing at Shougo's ribcage but misses.
Martinez thows a body shot but no joy.

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.
Martinez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shougo was well out of range. Poor timing from Martinez.
Martinez misses with a body shot.
Martinez slips a straight right by Shougo.
Martinez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shougo pinned against the cage. Shougo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martinez misses with a body shot.

Martinez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Martinez in side control, throwing shots but Shougo defends.
Shougo is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What's Shougo going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Shougo regains half guard, as Martinez was trying to land strikes.
Martinez trying to mount his opponent but Shougo defends it.
Shougo is trying to get back to full 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. Martinez connects with a nice short shot to Shougo's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shougo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Martinez lands with a punch from half guard.
Martinez working Shougo over with strikes.
Martinez tries to pass to full mount but Shougo defends it.
Shougo tries to get to full guard but Martinez has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shougo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Martinez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Martinez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shougo's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Martinez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Martinez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight for Jesus Martinez!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Jesus Martinez!
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Jesus Martinez!

Jesus Martinez wins by unanimous decision!