PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Iam (ranked 22229 p4p, 454 weight class) and Mikhail Martynov (ranked 3383 p4p, 301 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Iam
vs
Martynov

155 cm
23
230 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Iam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Martynov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Iam drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Iam working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Iam throws a big right hand that misses.
Iam has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Iam throwing strikes from guard but Martynov blocks nicely.
Iam throws a big elbow that misses.
Iam postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Iam is looking to work some ground and pound but Martynov has wrist control.
Iam is looking to work some ground and pound but Martynov has wrist control.
Iam might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Martynov is looking to stand up but Iam isn't so interested in that idea.
Iam trying to control the position from guard on top but Martynov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iam would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Iam landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martynov is looking to stand up but Iam isn't so interested in that idea.
Martynov keeping moving, preventing Iam from controlling successfully.

Iam stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Martynov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Iam is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Martynov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Iam uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Martynov.
An attempted straight right counter from Iam misses the target.
Iam takes a swing at Martynov's ribcage but misses.
Martynov throws out a loose jab but Iam uses good head movement to avoid it.
Martynov throws a jab when Iam was well out of range.
Martynov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Martynov scores with a sloppy right hand. Iam should have avoided that one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Iam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Iam, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Martynov. Those never looked like landing.
Martynov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Iam was well out of range. Poor timing from Martynov.
Martynov throws a good cross that connects.
Martynov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Iam blocks a jab.
Iam shoots in for a takedown but Martynov shows good takedown defense.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Iam takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Iam ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Martynov ducks under a wild hook from Iam.
Martynov lands an overhand right.
Martynov looks to score with a jab to the body but Iam is just out of range.
Matt Iam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Iam works the jab nicely.
Martynov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Iam.
Martynov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martynov slips under a jab from Iam.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iam will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martynov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Martynov's corner calls for a 1-2. Martynov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A jab from Martynov misses.
Martynov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Iam throws a shot from downtown. Martynov moves away and avoids it.
Iam walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Martynov doesn't manage to clinch there - Iam circles away.
A swing and a miss from Iam.
Iam pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Martynov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Martynov throws a body shot but no joy.
Iam fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Iam misses with a straight right.
Martynov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Iam was well out of range. Poor timing from Martynov.
Sloppy strikes from Iam. Those never looked like landing.
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 lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iam lands a jab to the nose.
Martynov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Martynov circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Iam to the canvas! Iam doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Martynov keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikhail Martynov!
Mikhail Martynov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.