PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fabiano Martins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Lima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Martins
vs
Lima

180 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
18
189 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabiano Martins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Lima!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martins gets a takedown into half guard.
Lima is looking for a sweep. Martins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Martins wants to stand up but Lima is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lima makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lima.
Martins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lima wants to sweep but no luck.
Lima lands an upkick as Martins stands over him.
Lima seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Lima has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Martins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lima is trying to control the position but Martins postures up.
Martins won't allow Lima to sweep him here.
Martins is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Martins is looking to work some ground and pound but Lima has wrist control.
Martins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martins drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lima looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lima looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lima!
Martins wants to control but Lima postures up.
Martins is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Martins is trying to improve his position.
Martins keeps Lima under control for a moment.
Lima is looking to take a break and control but Martins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Lima wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Martins, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lima gets to mount! Martins was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Martins tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lima trying to control but Martins is having none of it.
Martins is working to get back to half guard.
Lima scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lima trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martins tries to reverse the position but Lima maintains control.
Martins tries to buck Lima off but Lima takes his back!
Martins is keeping busy.
Lima loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Martins hold on?
Martins trying to get back to his feet but Lima is in full control for now.
Lima is hanging on to Martins's back as he tries to escape.

Martins defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Lima's arms.
Lima looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lima controlling well, preventing Martins from escaping the position.
Will Lima go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paulo Lima will probably get the nod.
That's time! Martins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lima shoots in for a takedown but Martins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Martins closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lima quickly recovers to half guard.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.

Martins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lima is just riding it out for now. Martins eventually gives up the hold.

Lima is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martins pulls his head out easily.
Lima is breathing heavily.
Lima is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Martins scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lima on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
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. Martins connects with a nice short shot to Lima's temple.

Lima actively working from the bottom here.
Martins working Lima over with strikes.

Martins stands up and beckons Lima to join him on the feet.
A right-left combo lands from Martins.
Fabiano Martins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Martins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Martins landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Lima is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martins working the head and body with strikes.
Lima is still in real trouble! Can Martins finish him?
Martins wants to free his trapped foot but Lima is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lima seems to have recovered his senses.

Martins stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Lima to get to his feet.

Martins dives in and scores a takedown into Lima's guard.
Martins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lima is proving hard to escape from.

Martins stands and steps away. Lima gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Martins moves into the clinch.

Martins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lima tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Martins smiles and moves away.
Martins shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Lima eats them both and turns towards Martins to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Martins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lima slips a jab and a cross from Martins.
Lima closes this distance looking for a takedown but Martins circles away.
Fabiano Martins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Lima.
Martins cracks Lima with an open hand slap.

Martins scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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!
Lima is looking for a sweep.
Martins landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martins is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lima has escaped the position, nice work there.
Martins cracks Lima with a big right hand but Lima just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lima can't do much from the bottom here.
Lima takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Martins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lima is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fabiano Martins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lima gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabiano Martins dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Martins closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lima to the mat! Lima manages to get full guard.
Lima trying to keep a closed guard but Martins is proving a slippery customer.

Martins decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lima, up you get!
Lima gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Martins counters with a nice uppercut.

Martins fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lima to the ground. Martins is now in Lima's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lima is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Martins is aware though and is defending well.
Martins works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lima tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Martins has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Lima tries to lock up and control but Martins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lima takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins breaks from Lima's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Lima tries to reverse the position but Martins maintains control.

Martins is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Lima to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Lima shrugs it off.
Lima really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Martins avoids the attempt from Lima to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lima tries to control Martins's body but Martins pushes him off. Lima squirms to his side and now Martins has his back!
Martins is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Lima up.
Martins is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Martins scores with strikes from the back.

Martins working for a choke but Lima is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lima trying to control the position but Martins manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martins is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Lima defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Martins looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Martins slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Martins scores with punches to the body.
Can Lima hold on?! Martins is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lima showing good submission defense here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Martins is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Lima has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Lima is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Martins gets his way!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lima manages to reverse the position and now he's in Martins's guard. Nice work there by Lima.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabiano Martins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Martins 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabiano Martins!