PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Shiba (ranked 6240 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Martinez (ranked 5018 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shiba
vs
Martinez

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ricardo Shiba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Angel Martinez!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martinez moves into the clinch successfully.
Martinez tries for a takedown. No joy.

Martinez jumps into guard, dragging Shiba to the mat.
Shiba won't allow Martinez to sweep him here.
Martinez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Shiba puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Martinez trying to control here.
Martinez is not content to let Shiba control the position.
Shiba is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Martinez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shiba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shiba tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shiba decides to return to a standing position.
Martinez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shiba avoids the head kick by Martinez.
Shiba tries to counter with a takedown but Martinez is quick to defend against it.

Shiba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Martinez!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shiba is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Martinez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Martinez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shiba wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shiba trying to control the action but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Shiba could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shiba working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Martinez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shiba wants to control but Martinez is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Martinez is looking for a sweep.
Martinez holds on to Shiba's head and controls the position momentarily.
You can see the frustration on Martinez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shiba moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Martinez tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shiba looks up at the clock and then as Martinez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shiba smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Martinez tries to buck Shiba off but Shiba is having none of it.
Martinez defending against the ground and pound.
Shiba in side control lands a decent elbow.
Martinez is looking for a sweep.
Martinez keeps trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shiba tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Martinez defends well and Shiba ends up having to push Martinez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
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 Ricardo Shiba will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Martinez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shiba slips a jab and a cross from Martinez.

Martinez pushes Shiba up against the cage in a clinch.
Martinez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shiba smiles and moves away.
Martinez dodges the punch combination from Shiba.
Shiba misses with a takedown attempt - Martinez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shiba tries to clinch up but Martinez circles away and keeps his distance.
Martinez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ricardo Shiba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Martinez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Martinez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiba sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Martinez prevents Shiba from standing back up.
Shiba is controlling Martinez's trapped leg to prevent Martinez from advancing to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martinez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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.

Shiba looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shiba actively working from the bottom here.

Martinez is working for a submission of some sort.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Martinez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Martinez slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shiba is defending against the submission attempts here by Martinez.
Martinez is trying to control. Shiba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Martinez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Martinez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shiba is just riding it out for now. Martinez eventually gives up the hold.
Martinez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Martinez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angel Martinez 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Martinez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shiba tries to clinch but Martinez moves out of range.
And Martinez tries to counter it with a takedown but Shiba pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Martinez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Martinez wants it to stay on the feet.

Shiba rushes Martinez and presses him up against the cage.

Shiba decides to pull guard.
Shiba working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shiba is working an open guard so Martinez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shiba sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Martinez somewhat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shiba stuffs the takedown.
Ricardo Shiba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Angel Martinez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shiba defends well and Martinez ends up having to push Shiba into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shiba paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Martinez rushes Shiba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shiba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Martinez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Martinez fails to pull guard.
A right handed body shot lands from Martinez.
Shiba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Martinez.
Martinez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Martinez.

Martinez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Shiba is trying to maintain the position but Martinez is very close to passing his half guard.

Shiba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martinez pulls his head out easily.
Martinez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiba tries to roll over but Martinez keeps him under control.
Shiba is trying to control but can't.
Martinez controlling the pace.
Let's hope that Martinez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Martinez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shiba is trying to defend but Martinez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Martinez tries to pass to full mount but Shiba defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Martinez working over Shiba with some ground and pound. Shiba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Martinez wants to free his trapped foot but Shiba is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Martinez decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Angel Martinez.
Well Martinez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

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