PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Martynov (ranked 2095 p4p, 273 weight class) and Tom Ofenloch (ranked 2042 p4p, 268 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Martynov
vs
Ofenloch

195 cm
20
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergei Martynov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tom Ofenloch!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ofenloch clinches up with Martynov and pushes him back against the cage.
Ofenloch using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ofenloch connects with a knee to the head.
Ofenloch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Martynov.
Martynov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Martynov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ofenloch smiles and moves away.

Ofenloch closes the distance and clinches.
Martynov tries to pull guard but Ofenloch won't allow it.

Martynov decides to pull guard.
Ofenloch sitting in guard here, content to control.

Ofenloch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Martynov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ofenloch has managed to get both his arms back between Martynov's legs - danger averted.
Ofenloch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Martynov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Martynov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ofenloch is aware though and is defending well.

Martynov is looking for a triangle but Ofenloch pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ofenloch controls from within his opponent's guard.

Martynov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ofenloch defends well.
Ofenloch controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Martynov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ofenloch defends it easily.

Martynov looking for a guillotine here but Ofenloch defends easily.

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.
Ofenloch controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ofenloch pushing down on Martynov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Martynov wants to control but Ofenloch is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ofenloch works his way into side control.
Martynov is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ofenloch trying to control the action but Martynov is working from the bottom.
Martynov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ofenloch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Martynov seems a little lost for a moment, as Ofenloch dominates the positioning.
Martynov is looking for a sweep.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Martynov manages to get back to half guard.

Martynov looking for submissions off his back.
Ofenloch is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ofenloch moves nicely into side control.
Martynov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Martynov is being controlled here.
Ofenloch tries to move to mount but Martynov blocks the move with his legs.
Martynov is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martynov struggling a bit here.
Martynov gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Ofenloch dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ofenloch throws a push kick but Martynov slaps the foot to one side.
Martynov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Ofenloch has Martynov up against the cage in a clinch.
Ofenloch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martynov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ofenloch smiles and moves away.
Ofenloch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Martynov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ofenloch moves into the clinch.
Ofenloch misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Martynov.
Martynov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ofenloch backwards.
Knees to the body from Ofenloch.
Martynov working aggressively here.
Martynov working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ofenloch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ofenloch obliges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ofenloch blocking some punches.
Ofenloch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martynov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Martynov avoids it.
Martynov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Martynov tries to pull guard but Ofenloch holds him up against the cage and eventually Martynov drops back down to his feet.
Ofenloch lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ofenloch lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ofenloch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ofenloch connects with a knee to the head.
Tom Ofenloch seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ofenloch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Martynov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Martynov misses with a hook from the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ofenloch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martynov blocks it with crossed arms.
Ofenloch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ofenloch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Martynov working aggressively here.
Ofenloch trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Ofenloch.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martynov tries to work over Ofenloch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ofenloch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martynov blocks it with crossed arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Martynov.
Martynov lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martynov misses with a body punch.
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!

Martynov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ofenloch uses from the top position.
Sergei Martynov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ofenloch is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Martynov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ofenloch defends well.

Martynov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ofenloch sitting in guard here, content to control.

Martynov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ofenloch sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martynov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Martynov working a defensive guard here.
Ofenloch slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ofenloch slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Martynov struggling a bit here.
Ofenloch controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ofenloch trying to control the action but Martynov is working from the bottom.
Ofenloch moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Martynov can't do much from the bottom here.
Martynov being controlled for a moment.
Martynov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Ofenloch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ofenloch gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Martynov.
Ofenloch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martynov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Martynov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ofenloch's elbow.
Ofenloch takes a shot to the head.
Martynov taking a breather.
Martynov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ofenloch to keep the fight standing.
Ofenloch creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Martynov's defenses.
Martynov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ofenloch creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Martynov's defenses.
Ofenloch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ofenloch scores with a knee to the head.
Martynov throws a head punch that misses.
Martynov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ofenloch to keep the fight standing.
Martynov jumps guard but Ofenloch stands there with Martynov around his waist. Martynov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Martynov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martynov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Martynov avoids it.
Ofenloch creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Martynov's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martynov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ofenloch walks away with a smile on his face. Martynov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ofenloch keeps the fight on the outside.
Martynov keeps the fight on the outside.
Ofenloch tries to clinch up.
Martynov tries to clinch but Ofenloch is having none of it.
Martynov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ofenloch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ofenloch throws a head kick but Martynov moves out of range.
Martynov misses with an uppercut.
Martynov misses with a right hand
and Ofenloch counters with a head kick. That will keep Martynov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Ofenloch takes the fight into the clinch.
Ofenloch pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ofenloch obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ofenloch unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ofenloch lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martynov is trying to pull guard but Ofenloch turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ofenloch crunches a lovely knee into Martynov's ribcage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ofenloch lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ofenloch putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Martynov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ofenloch scores a nice knee to the body.
Ofenloch landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ofenloch lands an elbow inside.
Martynov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nice elbow from Ofenloch.
Martynov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Martynov being controlled against the cage.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Martynov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ofenloch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ofenloch crunches a lovely knee into Martynov's ribcage.
Martynov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ofenloch lands an elbow inside that Martynov shrugs off.
Ofenloch utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ofenloch lands a knee to the head.
Ofenloch lands an elbow just above Martynov 's eye.
Ofenloch crunches a lovely knee into Martynov's ribcage.
Ofenloch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martynov has a couple of punches blocked by Ofenloch.
Ofenloch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Martynov blocks it with crossed arms.
Martynov takes an elbow to the temple.
Martynov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ofenloch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martynov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ofenloch misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Martynov.
Martynov tries to work over Ofenloch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ofenloch crunches a lovely knee into Martynov's ribcage.
Martynov dodges an elbow strike from Ofenloch.
Martynov tries to pull guard but Ofenloch forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ofenloch trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martynov throws a punch but it's blocked by Ofenloch.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ofenloch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martynov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ofenloch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the head but Martynov blocks with his arms.
Ofenloch content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Martynov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Martynov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martynov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Martynov throws a punch but it's blocked by Ofenloch.
Martynov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Martynov misses with a punch on the inside.
Martynov throws a punch but it's blocked by Ofenloch.
Ofenloch misses with a knee strike.
Martynov can't find room to land a body shot as Ofenloch controls the action.
Martynov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Martynov.

Martynov jumps guard and drags Ofenloch to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Ofenloch really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ofenloch tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Martynov is able to avoid easily.
Martynov scores with a one two! Ofenloch had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ofenloch tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Martynov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Ofenloch darts in and clinches Martynov up against the cage.
Martynov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Martynov has a couple of punches blocked by Ofenloch.
Ofenloch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ofenloch crunches a lovely knee into Martynov's ribcage.
Martynov has a couple of punches blocked by Ofenloch.
Ofenloch misses with a knee to the head.
Ofenloch tries a knee to the head but Martynov blocks it.
Ofenloch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Martynov swings wildly with an uppercut but Ofenloch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Martynov is trying to pull guard but Ofenloch has him pressed against the cage.
Martynov is trying to pull guard but Ofenloch has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Martynov.
Martynov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ofenloch just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Martynov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martynov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Martynov digs a right hand underneath Ofenloch's ribcage. Ofenloch let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ofenloch lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Martynov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ofenloch holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ofenloch lands a damaging elbow.
Martynov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ofenloch just stands there and leans against the cage.
Martynov tries to pull guard but Ofenloch holds him up against the cage and eventually Martynov drops back down to his feet.
Ofenloch prevents a body shot from Martynov.
Martynov managing to block the knees to the body from Ofenloch.
Ofenloch misses with a knee strike.
Martynov scores with a shot to the side of Ofenloch's head.
Ofenloch tries to land a knee to the head but Martynov blocks with his arms.
Ofenloch is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Ofenloch landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Martynov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ofenloch.
Ofenloch tries a knee to the head but Martynov blocks it.
Ofenloch looking to throw knees to the head but Martynov is blocking nicely.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Martynov tries to throw a body punch but Ofenloch avoids it by throwing Martynov back against the cage.
Martynov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ofenlochs head.
Martynov misses with the head strike.
Ofenloch blocks a body shot from Martynov.
Martynov is trying to stall.
Ofenloch missing with knees to the body.
Martynov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Martynov lands with a left to the head.

Martynov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ofenloch uses from the top position.
Ofenloch stays in close to Martynov's body and controls the position.

Martynov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ofenloch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Martynov trying to control the position.
Ofenloch is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ofenloch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martynov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Martynov looking for a triangle here. Ofenloch is fighting it but it looks tight! Martynov pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Ofenloch is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Sergei Martynov!
Sergei Martynov is the new middleweight champion!
Our winner, Sergei Martynov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.