PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Rio (ranked 2947 p4p, 310 weight class) and Frank Martin (ranked 5589 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rio
vs
Martin

180 cm
25
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joseph Rio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Martin!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martin closes the distance and clinches.
Rio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Martin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Martin seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martin is looking to stall here but Rio recovers full guard.
Rio is controlling Martin's posture.

Rio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Martin is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rio keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.
Rio keeping full guard, as Martin tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin won't allow Rio to sweep him here.
Martin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Martin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rio is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rio wants to sweep but no luck.

Rio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Martin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rio swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Martin is looking to advance position but Rio has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Rio avoids the attempt from Martin to control.
Rio tries to control but Martin wriggling away.
Martin tries to reverse the position but Rio maintains control.
Rio with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Martin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Martin wants to improve his position but Rio is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rio has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rio wants to take Martin's back but he can't do it this time.
Rio looking to control but Martin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Martin working to try and regain half guard.
Rio fails to advance to Martin's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin tries to control Rio's body but Rio pushes him off. Martin squirms to his side and now Rio has his back!
Rio avoiding Martin 's attempts to control his hands.
Rio trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Martin just trying to survive but Rio is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Martin tries to break free.

Martin showing good submission defense here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rio not allowing Martin to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Rio dominated that 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.

Rio pushes Martin up against the cage in a clinch.

Martin works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rio looking to control.
Martin wants to pass the guard but Rio is keeping the position.
Martin trying to move into half guard but instead Rio has managed to sweep!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Martin is on top in guard.

Martin tries to free his leg and advance position but Rio is retaining full guard.
Martin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martin trying to control but Rio is working from the bottom.
Martin looking to pass the guard.
Martin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin wants to control from the top but Rio keeps moving.
Martin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rio trying to keep a closed guard but Martin is proving a slippery customer.
Martin wants to control from the top but Rio keeps moving.
Rio keeping full guard, as Martin tries to pass.
Martin trying to control but Rio is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Martin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rio keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.
Martin tries to free his leg and advance position but Rio is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Frank Martin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Martin drives through and clinches with Rio against the cage.

Rio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Martin uses from the top position.
Martin wants to control from the top but Rio keeps moving.
Rio trying to keep a closed guard but Martin is proving a slippery customer.
Martin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rio swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Martin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rio is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Martin.
Martin advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rio is squirming around, avoiding Martin's attempts to control the action.

Martin is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rio has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rio!
Martin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martin wants to hit a switch here but Rio passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Martin there!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rio tries to control but Martin wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Martin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Martin dives in and scores a takedown into Rio's guard.
Martin looking to pass the guard.
Martin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rio is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Rio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio advances to mount.

Martin tries to improve his position but Rio has taken his back! Rio has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Martin tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Rio pushes Martin away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joseph Rio!