PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodriguez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fireman (Instrumental) kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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?

Martinez
vs
Rodriguez

178 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Revostar Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Santiago Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Martinez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martinez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Martinez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Martinez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodriguez trying to strike off his back.
Rodriguez controlling Martinez's posture.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but instead Rodriguez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Martinez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Martinez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodriguez is controlling him.
Martinez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rodriguez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Martinez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rodriguez trying to control from half guard but Martinez is working away.

Rodriguez stands up out of the half guard.

Martinez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rodriguez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rodriguez holds on and takes a little breather.
Martinez trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rodriguez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martinez wanted to stand there but Rodriguez had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez won't allow Rodriguez to get back to his feet.
Rodriguez is pulling down on Martinez's head. It's preventing any offense from Martinez, at least for the moment.
Rodriguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martinez is one step ahead there.
Martinez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rodriguez!
Rodriguez tries a head kick but it misses.
Rodriguez lands a head kick. Martinez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rodriguez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Martinez misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Rodriguez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Martinez to the mat! Martinez manages to get full guard.
Martinez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodriguez is controlling him.
Rodriguez 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.

Martinez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Martinez lands a nice uppercut.
Rodriguez has Martinez pressed against the cage.
Rodriguez receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Rodriguez pushes off an throws an elbow but Martinez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez misses with a punch on the inside.
Rodriguez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rodriguez gets underhooks to prevent Martinez's takedown attempt.
Rodriguez misses with a knee strike.
Rodriguez misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rodriguez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rodriguez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Martinez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.
Rodriguez tries to land a front kick but Martinez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Martinez shoots in for a double leg but Rodriguez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Martinez blocks a head kick by Rodriguez.
Martinez looks to land a combination but Rodriguez avoids it well.
Martinez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rodriguez.
Santiago Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez misses with a head kick.
Rodriguez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Rodriguez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Martinez fails to land with a series of punches.
Rodriguez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some wild striking there from Martinez.
Martinez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rodriguez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Martinez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
A clash of legs there as Martinez blocks the low kick.
Martinez throws a head kick but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Martinez doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez blocks a low kick nicely.
Martinez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez.
Martinez checks a low kick from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martinez's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez wants to slow Martinez down by chopping away at his legs.
Martinez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that Martinez semi-blocks.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez lands with a kick to the temple. Martinez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Martinez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rodriguez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Martinez. That did some damage!

Rodriguez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Martinez is looking to stand up but Rodriguez won't let him.

Martinez stands up from Rodriguez's guard - Martinez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Antonio Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez blocks the body kick.
Martinez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A leg kick checked by Martinez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Rodriguez as Martinez shoots in.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Martinez counters with a head kick.
Martinez shoots in and drives through. Rodriguez sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez misses with a body kick.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rodriguez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Martinez's head.
Rodriguez cracks Martinez with a right hand to the side of the head.
No luck for Martinez with that takedown attempt.
Rodriguez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Martinez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodriguez moves away.
Martinez moves away from the strike by Rodriguez.
Martinez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rodriguez pinned against the cage. Rodriguez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodriguez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rodriguez connects with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rodriguez throws a nice looking combination but Martinez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Martinez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodriguez throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.
Rodriguez avoids the head kick by Martinez.
Rodriguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Martinez looks to land a combination but Rodriguez avoids it well.
Martinez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a combination that misses
and Martinez counters with a left and a right that stings Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martinez.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rodriguez.

Martinez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Martinez showed some decent athleticism there.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is staying active underneath Martinez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Martinez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Martinez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Martinez closes the distance and clinches up with Rodriguez, looking for a takedown. Martinez pushes Rodriguez against the cage but Rodriguez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rodriguez lands a head kick!
Martinez dives in and grabs Rodriguez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rodriguez pushes down on Martinez's head and hops out.
Rodriguez keeps Martinez at a distance using the push kick.
Martinez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Martinez doesn't manage to clinch there - Rodriguez circles away.
Rodriguez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Martinez lands a two punch combo.
Rodriguez misses with a two punch combination.
Rodriguez throws a head kick but Martinez moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Martinez dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rodriguez throws a front kick that sends Martinez stumbling back into the cage.
Rodriguez throws a head kick but Martinez moves out of range.

Martinez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rodriguez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Martinez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Martinez looking to sit in guard and control but Rodriguez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Martinez wants to sweep but no luck.
Rodriguez trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Martinez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodriguez defends it easily.
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.
Rodriguez trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.

Martinez kicks Rodriguez off and gets to his feet.
Rodriguez leaves Martinez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Martinez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rodriguez looks for the body kick but Martinez saw that one coming.
Martinez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rodriguez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rodriguez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martinez slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodriguez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodriguez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martinez's sensitive parts.
Rodriguez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Martinez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rodriguez throws out a powerful jab.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rodriguez.
Martinez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rodriguez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Martinez's sensitive parts.
Martinez avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses

and Martinez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martinez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Martinez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
Rodriguez is looking to stand up but Martinez isn't so interested in that idea.
Martinez wants to stand and escape but instead Rodriguez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Rodriguez 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet but Rodriguez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rodriguez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Martinez holds on and takes a little breather.
Martinez looking for a sweep. Not yet Martinez, not yet.
Antonio Martinez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rodriguez stands up from Martinez's guard - Rodriguez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Martinez throws a body kick that misses.
A punch combination from Rodriguez misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Martinez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rodriguez is letting Martinez control him for a moment.
Rodriguez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Martinez asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
Martinez wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Martinez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Martinez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

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