PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Martinez (ranked 5079 p4p, 0 weight class) and Izzedin El Derabani (ranked 4174 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Izzedin El Derabani was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Martinez
vs
El Derabani

177 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xavier Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Izzedin El Derabani!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Derabani moves out of range as Martinez throws a body kick.
El Derabani let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
El Derabani gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Martinez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
El Derabani misses with a head kick.
El Derabani shoots in for a double leg but Martinez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Martinez gets tackled into the cage by El Derabani. El Derabani maintains the clinch.
El Derabani fails to pull guard.
Xavier Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Izzedin El Derabani.
Martinez prevents a takedown attempt there.
El Derabani can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Derabani managing to block the knees to the body from Martinez.
El Derabani leaning his opponent against the cage.
Martinez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Derabani is trying to pull guard but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.
Martinez is trying to pull guard but El Derabani has him pressed against the cage.

El Derabani escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martinez shoots in looking for a takedown but El Derabani manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Martinez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Martinez shoots and misses
and El Derabani counters with a series of strikes. Martinez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Martinez throws a wild body kick that El Derabani sees coming a mile off.

Martinez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martinez lands a right hand that snaps the head of El Derabani backwards.
Martinez is trying to stall.
El Derabani jumps guard but Martinez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Martinez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
El Derabani is trying to pull guard but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.

El Derabani breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a head kick that misses
and El Derabani counters with a nice uppercut.
Martinez throws a sloppy head kick and El Derabani moves out of range easily.
Martinez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. El Derabani manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Martinez moves in looking to clinch but El Derabani pushes him off.
El Derabani swats away the attempt to clinch by Martinez.
Martinez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from El Derabani.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
El Derabani shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Martinez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown but El Derabani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Derabani shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Martinez as he avoids it easily.
Martinez throws a leg kick but El Derabani moved away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Martinez or perhaps it was just good defense by El Derabani, which made it look bad.
Martinez fails with an attempt to clinch.
El Derabani misses with a takedown
and Martinez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
El Derabani is trying hard to land a takedown here. Martinez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Martinez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but El Derabani avoids it really well and circles away.
Martinez is breathing heavily.

Martinez has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Derabani tries to land knees in the clinch but Martinez avoids the damage to the body.

El Derabani successfully pulls guard.
Martinez wants to control from the top but El Derabani keeps moving.
Martinez looking to pass the guard.
Martinez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Martinez trying to control but El Derabani is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez throws a big elbow that misses.
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 Xavier Martinez will probably get the nod.
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.

El Derabani defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Martinez.
El Derabani leaves Martinez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
El Derabani tries to clinch up but Martinez circles away and keeps his distance.
Xavier Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martinez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Martinez with that takedown attempt.
El Derabani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
El Derabani shoots in for a takedown but Martinez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Derabani blocks a low kick nicely.
Martinez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from El Derabani.
El Derabani tries to score a power double leg takedown but Martinez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten El Derabani somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez looks to land a body kick but El Derabani moved away.
Martinez throws a head kick but El Derabani moves out of range.
El Derabani is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Martinez has taken the fight to the clinch.

El Derabani breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Martinez. No joy for El Derabani on that attempt.
Martinez throws a big counter combination but El Derabani scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

El Derabani has managed to clinch.
Martinez is working for takedown but El Derabani is calmly controlling the position for now.
El Derabani wants to take the fight to the mat but Martinez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

El Derabani jumps into guard, dragging Martinez to the mat.
El Derabani 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.
El Derabani wants to control but Martinez passes easily into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Martinez stalling.
El Derabani flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Martinez stalling.
Martinez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
El Derabani wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

El Derabani is defending against the submission attempts here by Martinez.
El Derabani wants to control but Martinez is keeping busy.
Martinez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Martinez tries to stand but can't do so whilst El Derabani controls his leg.

That's four 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 is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Martinez throws a push kick but El Derabani slaps the foot to one side.
Martinez shoots and misses
and El Derabani counters with a three punch combo that has Martinez backing up. Martinez nods at El Derabani to acknowledge the strikes.
El Derabani throws a push kick but Martinez slaps the foot to one side.
El Derabani wants to clinch up but Martinez keeps it at a distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
El Derabani is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martinez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Martinez shoots for a takedown but El Derabani saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Izzedin El Derabani will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Martinez tries to clinch there but El Derabani circles away.

El Derabani closes the distance and pushes Martinez back into the cage.
Martinez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. El Derabani just stands there and leans against the cage.

El Derabani breaks from the clinch.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch but El Derabani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Martinez takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Martinez has managed to clinch.
Martinez tries to pull guard but El Derabani won't allow it.

El Derabani escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by El Derabani as Martinez tries to tie him up.
El Derabani is trying to pull guard but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Derabani is pressed up against the cage. Martinez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag El Derabani down to the mat. El Derabani avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El Derabani darts in looking for a takedown but Martinez gets double underhooks and turns El Derabani into the cage.
El Derabani shoots in looking for a takedown. Martinez tries to sprawl out of it but El Derabani 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.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch but El Derabani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And El Derabani tries to counter it with a takedown but Martinez pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Martinez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
El Derabani fails with a takedown attempt.
Martinez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No luck for Martinez with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Derabani has a takedown stuffed.
Martinez shoots in for a double leg but El Derabani sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
El Derabani keeps the fight on the outside.
Martinez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Martinez wants it to stay on the feet.
Martinez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but El Derabani manages to circle out of the way.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up but El Derabani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
El Derabani dives in for a single leg takedown but Martinez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Martinez tries to counter by clinching up but El Derabani breaks away and moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from El Derabani is defended easily by Martinez.
El Derabani shoots in looking for a takedown. Martinez tries to sprawl out of it but El Derabani 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to clinch but El Derabani is having none of it.

El Derabani tries to keep at a distance but Martinez has taken the fight into the clinch.

El Derabani breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Martinez scores with a three punch combo!
El Derabani tries to close the distance and clinch up but Martinez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Martinez tries to clinch up but El Derabani circles away and keeps his distance.
El Derabani looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Martinez is fending him off so far but El Derabani persists. Nope, Martinez circles away and we're back to standing.
El Derabani misses with a double jab
and El Derabani takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
El Derabani shoots in for a takedown but Martinez shows good takedown defense.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown but El Derabani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
El Derabani tries to counter with a clinch but Martinez shakes him off and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Martinez. No joy for El Derabani on that attempt.
Martinez shoots for a takedown but El Derabani saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Martinez.
El Derabani throws a big counter head kick but Martinez avoids it with no problem.
Martinez fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick misses from Martinez.

Martinez clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Martinez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Martinez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:28

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