PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Mars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Mars

169 cm
22
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Martin James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bruno Mars!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James shoots in and gets a takedown into Mars's guard.

Mars has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
James preventing the sweep.

Mars looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James with a nice head shot there.
James sitting in guard here, content to control.
James scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mars looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James throwing strikes but missing.
James being controlled here momentarily.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Mars.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Mars looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mars is keeping the position for now.
James stands up over Mars, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mars manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
James tries to hold on but Mars pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
James tries to lock up and control but Mars gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Mars working for a submission but James is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mars is looking for a kimura here.
Mars looks gassed!
The fighters are battling for position here. James manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mars preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mars accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is pulling down on Mars's head. It's preventing any offense from Mars, at least for the moment.
Mars postures up.
James can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mars controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mars trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but James manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
James passes Mars's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mars is staying active underneath James, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
James is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mars on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
James working the head and body with strikes.
Mars is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
James working over Mars with some ground and pound. Mars looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James is looking to take a break and control but Mars is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

James is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
James wants to control but Mars is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mars as he avoids it easily.
Mars tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but James swivels and escapes.
James fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mars avoids it really well and circles away.
Mars misses with a takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mars trying to control from the bottom.

Mars looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mars manages to get to full guard.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mars is keeping the position for now.
Mars controls James momentarily but James frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mars is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mars keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James advances position into side control!
Mars is looking for a sweep.
Mars is breathing heavily.
James scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mars to see if he's OK.
James lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James lands a decent elbow from side control.
Check out the look on James's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Mars is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
James working the head with strikes.
Mars is still in real trouble! Can James finish him?
James scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Mars is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and James can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Martin James!