PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Richardo (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.

Martinez
vs
Richardo

170 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricky Richardo!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richardo doesn't manage to clinch there - Martinez circles away.

Martinez scores with a takedown into Richardo's guard.
Richardo has Martinez pulled in close to control his posture.
Martinez trying to control but Richardo is working from the bottom.
Martinez throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Martinez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but Richardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richardo has Martinez pulled in close to control his posture.
Martinez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Martinez passes Richardo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez is tying to control. Richardo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Martinez trying to pass the guard but Richardo defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martinez is nestled in close to Richardo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Martinez postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Richardo to stand up.
Martinez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Richardo.
Martinez shoots in and drives through. Richardo sprawls well.
Martinez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richardo stuffs the takedown.

Richardo scores with a takedown into Martinez's guard.
Martinez wants to stand up but Richardo is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardo passes Martinez's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Richardo slows the pace down in half guard.
Martinez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Martinez missing with punches from the bottom.
Martinez is looking to improve his position.
Richardo trying to pass the guard but Martinez defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Martinez is trying to control but can't.
Richardo prevents Martinez from standing back up.
Richardo stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Richardo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Martinez counters with a thumping low kick.
Richardo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Martinez.
Martinez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
Richardo closes the distance and clinches up with Martinez, looking for a takedown. Richardo pushes Martinez against the cage but Martinez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Martinez has his takedown stuffed

and Richardo counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Richardo scoring with punches from side control.
Martinez tries to buck Richardo off but Richardo is having none of it.
Richardo controls the position.
Richardo is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Martinez is trying to get back to half guard.
Richardo is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Richardo 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.

Richardo shoots and misses
and Martinez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Richardo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Martinez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Martinez.
Martinez looking for a takedown.

Martinez breaks the clinch.

Richardo gets the takedown into side control.

Richardo stands up and beckons Martinez to his feet.
Martinez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Richardo pinned against the cage. Richardo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martinez with a poor takedown

and Richardo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martinez trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richardo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Martinez pulls Richardo in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richardo gets to his feet. Martinez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Richardo tries to keep at a distance but Martinez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Richardo wants a takedown.
Martinez is working for takedown but Richardo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Richardo wants a takedown but no success here.
Martinez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Richardo wants to stall.
Martinez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardo prevents Martinez from breaking the clinch.
Martinez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Richardo pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Richardo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Richardo trying to control the position here.
Richardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Richardo, not yet.

Richardo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Martinez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Richardo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Martinez preventing the sweep.

Martinez gets to his feet. Richardo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Martinez fails with the takedown.
Richardo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Martinez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Martinez rushes Richardo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Richardo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Martinez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Richardo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Richardo is pressed up against the cage. Martinez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Richardo down to the mat. Richardo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Martinez with a poor takedown

and Richardo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Richardo working Martinez over with strikes.
Martinez is trying to stand back up but Richardo is controlling him
Richardo is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Richardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Richardo gets caught flat footed, as Martinez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Martinez stands and steps away. Richardo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Richardo slips a jab and a cross from Martinez.
Martinez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Richardo.
Richardo darts in trying to clinch

and Martinez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Martinez.
Richardo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Martinez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Martinez wants to get back to striking at distance but Richardo won't allow it.
Martinez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Richardo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richardo prevents the takedown attempt.

Richardo drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez tries to free his leg and advance position but Richardo is retaining full guard.
Martinez stopping the sweep attempt from Richardo.
Richardo looking to control.
Richardo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Martinez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Martinez forces his way into half guard.
Martinez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Richardo controls his leg.

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.
Richardo is staying active underneath Martinez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Martinez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Richardo gets the takedown into side control.
Richardo has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Martinez tries to lock up and control but Richardo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Richardo dominating with strikes here.
Richardo trying to control but Martinez is having none of it.
Martinez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Martinez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Richardo looking to control but Martinez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Martinez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Martinez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richardo on the ground.

Richardo gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Martinez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Richardo throws a head kick but Martinez moves out of range.
Martinez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Richardo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Martinez tries to avoid it but Richardo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Martinez to the ground. Martinez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Richardo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Martinez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richardo keeps control of Martinez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Richardo misses with a knee to the head.
Jose Martinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martinez has Richardo pushed against the cage.
Martinez looking for a takedown.
Richardo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.
Richardo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Martinez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Richardo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Martinez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Richardo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Martinez just stands there and leans against the cage.

Martinez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Martinez throwing shots but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Martinez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Richardo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Richardo!