PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Javier Martinez (ranked 140 p4p, 2070 weight class) and Dan Averescu (ranked 17 p4p, 238 weight class). Averescu has chosen Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle as his entrance music. Javier Martinez had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Martinez
vs
Averescu

188 cm
34
200
37 - 3 - 0

185 cm
41
192
25 - 34 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

30th Century Beer Store
NARCOS

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 34 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Averescu!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Averescu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Martinez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Averescu sprawls well initially but Martinez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Martinez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Martinez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Averescu is trying to maintain the position but Martinez is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averescu wants to improve his position but Martinez is controlling well.
Martinez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Martinez controlling the action here.
Martinez throwing shots but Averescu is blocking nicely.
Averescu trying to control here.
Martinez stops Averescu from getting back to his feet.
Martinez is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two 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.
Averescu is looking to control Martinez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Averescu avoid being mounted?
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Averescu tries to kick Martinez off but Martinez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Martinez drives through with a takedown into Averescu's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Averescu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Martinez is controlling him.
Averescu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martinez controls the pace.
Martinez throwing strikes from guard but Averescu blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Averescu is adopting a defensive guard.
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Averescu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Martinez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Martinez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've been informed that Averescu has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Martinez landing with the ground and pound.
Martinez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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 lands a couple of elbows.
Martinez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Martinez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Averescu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martinez controls the pace.

Averescu has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Martinez has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Martinez lands an elbow inside that Averescu shrugs off.

Martinez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Averescu tries to kick Martinez off in order to stand up. Martinez Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Martinez dominated that round.
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.

Martinez scores with a hook.

Martinez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Martinez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice elbow from Martinez.

It looks like Dan Averescu has been cut.
Martinez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Martinez slowing the pace effectively.
Martinez content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Martinez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Averescu can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez has clasped his hands together around Averescu's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Martinez 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.
Averescu is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.
Averescu is trying to buck Martinez off.
Martinez working away.
Martinez controlling from side mount.
Martinez looks up at the clock and then as Averescu takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Martinez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Averescu is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Averescu some visible discomfort.
Martinez wants to control but Averescu is keeping him busy.
Averescu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Martinez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Averescu struggling a bit here.
Martinez working the ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Averescu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Javier Martinez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Martinez is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Martinez grinds an elbow into Averescu's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Averescu taking a bit of punishment here - Martinez scoring with strikes.
Martinez working away.
Martinez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Martinez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Averescu is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.
Martinez lands a few punches from side control.
Averescu wants to get back to his feet but Martinez drags him back down.
Averescu is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.
Averescu is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Martinez lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Averescu down.
Martinez scoring with punches and elbows.
Martinez lands a decent elbow from side control.
Martinez controlling from side mount.
Martinez trying to control the action but Averescu is working from the bottom.
Averescu can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Martinez cracks Averescu with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Martinez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dan Averescu's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Martinez rushes Averescu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Martinez has Averescu pressed against the cage.

Martinez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Martinez distracts Averescu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Martinez prevents Averescu from getting back to his feet.
Martinez is working Averescu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Martinez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averescu controls Martinez momentarily but Martinez frees himself.
Martinez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Averescu working a defensive guard here.
Martinez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Averescu takes one on the chin but seems OK.

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.
Averescu walks into a straight right hand from Martinez.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Martinez, as that shot connected.
Averescu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Averescu throws out a counter right but Martinez avoids it with no problem.
Martinez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Averescu keeps the fight on the outside.

Martinez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Martinez throws an elbow but misses.
Martinez lands an elbow that stopped Averescu in his tracks for a moment.
Averescu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Martinez stalls.
Martinez just leaning against Averescu, taking a breather.
Averescu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Martinez crunches a lovely knee into Averescu's ribcage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Martinez lands an elbow inside that Averescu shrugs off.
Martinez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Martinez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Averescu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Martinez throws an elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Averescu blocks an elbow strike from Martinez.
Averescu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Martinez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Martinez throws an elbow that misses.
Martinez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Averescu up against the cage.
Dan Averescu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martinez throws an elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Averescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Martinez throws an elbow that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Averescu taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier Martinez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Martinez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26

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