PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitsuyo Kano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tito Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitsuyo Kano has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kano
vs
Martinez

200 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

187 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mitsuyo Kano!
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, Tito Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kano throws a one two combo.

It looks like Tito Martinez has been cut.

Martinez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Martinez working the ground and pound.
Martinez trying to control the action but Kano is working from the bottom.
Martinez scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kano to see if he's OK.
Kano tries to escape but Martinez is in control.

Martinez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martinez moves away.
Martinez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kano drops Martinez with a left right combo! Kano follows him down to the ground into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kano is trying to ground and pound but Martinez uses the momentary lack of control by Kano to regain half guard.

Kano gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kano as he avoids it easily.
Kano ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Martinez looks gassed!
Kano catches Martinez napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Martinez to the canvas!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martinez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kano wants to stand but Martinez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Martinez trying to control the position.
Martinez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kano wants to stand but Martinez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kano is looking to work some ground and pound but Martinez has wrist control.
Kano trying to control the position from guard on top but Martinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Martinez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kano circles away.
Mitsuyo Kano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tito Martinez.
Kano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kano getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
No joy there for Kano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kano misses with a double jab.
Kano misses with a double jab.
Martinez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Martinez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kano!
Kano's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Kano duly obliges.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch but Kano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kano getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kano is looking to wear down Martinez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Martinez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Martinez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Martinez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kano moves out of range of the body kick from Martinez.
Martinez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kano swats away the attempt to clinch by Martinez.
Kano checks a low kick from Martinez.
Kano digs a good hook to Martinez's body.
Martinez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kano keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mitsuyo Kano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Martinez doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martinez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Martinez advances to half guard.

Martinez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martinez looks for a takedown but Kano sprawls well.
Kano shoots for a double leg takedown but Martinez sprawls well. He's pushed Kano's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Martinez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kano tries to land knees in the clinch but Martinez avoids the damage to the body.
Martinez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Martinez is trying to break free.
Kano is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice elbow from Kano.
Kano throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kano trying to land knees to the body.

Martinez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Kano clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
What can Kano do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Kano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tito Martinez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Kano.
Kano scores with a one two! Martinez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kano stalks Martinez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Martinez's face. Martinez staggers backwards, shaken.
Kano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kano swinging wilding here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martinez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mitsuyo Kano is winning the standup battle so far.

Martinez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Martinez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mitsuyo Kano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kano throws a big shot that misses.

Martinez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Martinez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kano has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kano on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez cracks Kano with a big elbow.
Martinez trying to control the action but Kano is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kano is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Martinez asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Martinez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Martinez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kano.

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.

Kano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Martinez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kano keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
Kano will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kano is looking to stand up but Martinez isn't so interested in that idea.
Martinez chips away with some ground and pound.
Martinez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martinez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kano throws a right hand that Martinez ducks under and follows up with a left that Martinez also avoids with ease.
Kano misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mitsuyo Kano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martinez avoids the body shot from Kano.

Martinez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kano!
Martinez with the ground and pound from mount.
Kano is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Martinez landing strikes from the mount and Kano is in trouble!
Kano flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Martinez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kano throwing hammer fists to the chest of Martinez. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kano swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kano swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kano is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Tito Martinez has got the better of the ground game so far.
A nice elbow there by Martinez.
Kano is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Kano is working to get back to half guard.
Martinez avoids the attempt from Kano to control.
Martinez punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Martinez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tito Martinez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Martinez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kano throws a right hand that Martinez ducks under and follows up with a left that Martinez also avoids with ease.
Kano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Martinez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kano's waist but Kano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martinez off to one side.
Martinez shoots in looking for a takedown. Kano tries to sprawl out of it but Martinez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Martinez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kano lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Martinez backs up against the cage.
Kano misses with a two punch combination.
Kano tries to bum rush Martinez with a series of wild strikes but Martinez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Martinez drives through with a takedown into guard.

Martinez stands up from Kano's guard - Martinez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Martinez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez wants to control but Kano is keeping him busy.
Kano is trying to stand.
Martinez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Martinez is thwarting Kano's attempts to control the position.
Kano is trying to stand back up but Martinez is controlling him
Martinez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kano trying to control here.
Martinez wants to control but Kano is keeping him busy.
Martinez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Martinez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kano is looking to get back to his feet here but Martinez is keeping cool and he's managed to take Kano's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez keeps control of the position easily here as Kano tries to buck him off.
Martinez is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Martinez gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Martinez gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Martinez apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt - Kano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mitsuyo Kano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tito Martinez.
Kano throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martinez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Martinez doesn't seem bothered though.
Martinez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Martinez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano jabs Martinez right on the nose. Martinez blinks but takes it well.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Martinez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kano stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kano digs a good hook to Martinez's body.

Martinez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kano can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martinez controls the pace.
Martinez stops Kano from standing up.
Kano working a defensive guard here.
Kano wants to stand and escape but Martinez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martinez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Martinez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kano is fending him off so far but Martinez persists. Nope, Kano circles away and we're back to standing.
Martinez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kano swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Martinez counters with a shoot takedown. Kano fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kano will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Martinez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Martinez wants to control from the top but Kano keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kano wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Martinez manages to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tito Martinez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Martinez 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tito Martinez!