PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tran kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Blockbuster Night Part 1. The key to victory for Andrew Tran has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tran
vs
Martin

205 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

191 cm
19
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Martin!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Martin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tran does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Martin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Tran is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tran is working hard here to advance position.
Tran in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Martin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Martin unloading with bombs!

Martin has control of Tran's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tran regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin lands a heavy elbow.
Martin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Martin has hold of Tran's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tran manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Tran is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Tran takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Martin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin avoids the attempt from Tran to control.
Martin prevents Tran from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Martin.

Martin has control of Tran's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tran regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Martin punishing his opponent with strikes.
Martin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Martin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tran hang on?
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Martin working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin punishing his opponent with strikes.
Martin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Martin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tran can't escape the position.
Tran is in a horrible position here. Martin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin tries to control but Tran wriggling away.
Tran is trying desperately to improve position.
Martin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tran slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Martin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tran is looking to control Martin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tran avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Martin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A thudding body kick lands there by Tran!

Martin gets a double leg takedown into Tran's guard.

Tran is looking for a triangle but Martin pushes his legs off easily.
Tran looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martin is one step ahead there.
Tran really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Martin trying to control but Tran is working from the bottom.
Tran will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martin distracts Tran with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Martin trying to control but Tran is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tran's head.
Martin wants to control from the top but Tran keeps moving.
Martin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tran can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martin controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Martin checks a leg kick nicely.

Martin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tran napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Martin working the head and body with strikes.
Tran is looking for a sweep.

Martin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Martin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Martin wants to control for a moment but Tran uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran wants to get back to his feet.
Tran avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Martin.
Martin controlling the pace.
Tran is trying to maintain the position but Martin is very close to passing his half guard.
Tran tries to get to full guard but Martin has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Martin.
Tran wants to control but Martin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Martin trying to control from Tran's half guard. Tran has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Tran wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Martin manages to pass to side control.
Martin prevents Tran from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Martin works his way into side control.

Martin decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Tran shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Martin as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tran looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tran tries to close the distance and clinch up but Martin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Martin pushes Tran up against the cage in a clinch.
Martin lands a shot to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Martin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tran regains guard.
Martin advances to half guard.
Martin trying to control the action but Tran is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Martin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tran throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Tran tries to score a power double leg takedown but Martin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tran somewhat.

Martin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tran did well to prevent Martin getting side control.
Martin is nestled in close to Tran, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martin slips a nice elbow through Tran's hands, connecting with Tran's forehead.
Tran is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Martin scores with a couple of nice shots.

Martin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tran is just riding it out for now. Martin eventually gives up the hold.
Martin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin passes to side control.
Tran is looking to regain half guard here but Martin keeps moving and retains side control.
Tran is looking to get back to his feet here but Martin is keeping cool and he's managed to take Tran's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Martin is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tran is trying to remain composed but Martin is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tran tries to roll but Martin sticks to his back.

Martin looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Tran taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Darren Martin!
Our winner, Darren Martin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Andrew Tran spoke after the fight, saying 'Well It Wasn't My Best Fight, But I Will Train Hard To Get Back In The Game And Win My Next Fight.'.