PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Martinez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Back Up. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Martinez
vs
Barnes

190 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes tries to clinch

and Martinez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barnes's guard now.
Martinez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Martinez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Martinez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Barnes, up you get!
Barnes closes the distance looking to clinch

and Martinez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martinez slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martinez stands up from half guard.
Martinez blocks a head kick by Barnes.
Mike Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Barnes forces Martinez back against the cage and clinches.

Martinez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barnes throws a head kick that Martinez semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Barnes.
Martinez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Martinez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
Barnes has hold of Martinez's hands but Martinez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Martinez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Martinez decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to clinch up
and Martinez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Barnes is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barnes darts in trying to clinch

and Martinez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Martinez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Martinez counters by clinching up.
Barnes trying to land knees to the body.
Martinez can't break the clinch.
Barnes tries a knee to the head but Martinez blocks it.
Barnes is looking to control Martinez's arms but Martinez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barnes has his back to the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martinez avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
Martinez avoiding damage as Barnes throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Martinez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barnes wants to clinch

and Martinez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barnes's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Martinez is controlling him.

Martinez stands up from Barnes's guard - Martinez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Barnes throws a looping overhand right but Martinez ducks down to avoid it.
Barnes looks to throw a body kick

and Martinez counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Martinez's defenses.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Martinez avoids it.
Barnes tries to stall but Martinez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Barnes tries to land a knee to the head but Martinez blocks with his arms.
Martinez tries to break the clinch but Barnes is controlling the position.

Martinez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barnes moves to clinch but Martinez breaks away

and Martinez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Martinez.
Martinez controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Martinez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Martinez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Barnes tries to clinch up.
Barnes is looking to clinch but Martinez is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to clinch

and Martinez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Martinez connects with a nice short shot to Barnes's temple.
Martinez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Martinez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Martinez just wasn't active enough.
Barnes tries to clinch but Martinez moves away
and Martinez counters with a head kick. That will keep Barnes thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Martinez swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barnes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barnes throws a head kick that Martinez semi-blocks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnes closes the distance but Martinez moves to the side

and Martinez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Martinez dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Barnes throws a combination that misses
and Martinez counters with a big head kick but Barnes shrugs it off.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick
and Martinez counters with a head kick.

Barnes is rocked!
Barnes throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Martinez has managed to clinch.
Barnes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Martinez is keeping busy.
Martinez takes an elbow to the forehead.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Martinez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Martinez misses.
Mike Barnes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Martinez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mike Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martinez swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.
A head kick misses from Martinez.
Barnes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barnes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Martinez at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a head kick that misses
and Barnes counters with a three punch combo that has Martinez backing up. Martinez nods at Barnes to acknowledge the strikes.
Barnes thows a body kick. Martinez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Martinez circles away.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Martinez pushes him off.
Barnes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Martinez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mike Barnes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Barnes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martinez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Martinez circles away.
Martinez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jab from Barnes.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Martinez circles away.
Barnes closes the distance looking to clinch

and Martinez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Martinez is trying to control the action in half guard but Barnes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez drops an elbow to the side of Barnes's head.
Martinez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barnes defending well though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martinez not doing much here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Martinez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Barnes!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Martinez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martinez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Martinez!
Mike Martinez decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.