PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Peter Barnkvist (ranked 1997 p4p, 236 weight class) and Otavio Martins (ranked 2355 p4p, 270 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barnkvist
vs
Martins

183 cm
26
184 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

182 cm
28
170 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Peter Barnkvist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Otavio Martins!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnkvist works the jab nicely.
Martins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barnkvist loads up on a big right hand but Martins slips the punch.
Martins takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Martins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barnkvist.
Martins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Barnkvist clinches up against the cage.

Barnkvist turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barnkvist manages to end up in side control.
Barnkvist misses with the ground and pound.
Barnkvist wants to control but Martins is keeping him busy.
Barnkvist working the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnkvist scores with punches from side control.
Barnkvist trying to control the action but Martins is working from the bottom.
Barnkvist in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martins pushes Barnkvist away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Barnkvist gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Martins sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing that Barnkvist has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Barnkvist passes to side control.
Martins dodges the ground and pound from Barnkvist.
Barnkvist misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The strikes coming from Barnkvist are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Martins is trying to escape the position but Barnkvist is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barnkvist throws a strike aimed at the side of Martins's head but Martins avoids it well.
Barnkvist trying to control the position but Martins is working away.
Barnkvist in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martins tries to bench press Barnkvist off him but Barnkvist keeps the position.
Barnkvist working the ground and pound but Martins is defending the strikes.
Martins takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Barnkvist in side control, throwing shots but Martins defends.
Martins wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Barnkvist landing a few strikes.
Barnkvist landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Martins avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Barnkvist.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barnkvist has control of an arm but Martins manages to advance to Barnkvist's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnkvist is really stuck here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barnkvist showing good submission defense here.
Martins is hanging on to Barnkvist's back as he tries to escape.
Martins tries to keep control of the position but Barnkvist is staying busy.
Barnkvist is trying to break free.
Well, with Martins on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Barnkvist is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Barnkvist is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Martins's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Barnkvist trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martins working for a choke but Barnkvist is defending well.
Martins has the hooks in. Barnkvist is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Martins is trying to stick to Barnkvist's back but Barnkvist is turning into Martins. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Martins's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barnkvist.
Our spies down at at Shark Tank MMA inform us that Martins has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Martins managing to control the position.
Barnkvist in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barnkvist throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Barnkvist dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barnkvist tries to close the distance and clinch but Martins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Martins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnkvist sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Martins thuds a left hand into Barnkvist's body.
Barnkvist throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Martins steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Barnkvist.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Barnkvist looking for a takedown.
Martins gets underhooks to prevent Barnkvist's takedown attempt.
Barnkvist blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Martins has a couple of punches blocked by Barnkvist.
Barnkvist is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Martins can do to turn this around?
Barnkvist wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Barnkvist. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Martins tries to throw a body punch but Barnkvist avoids it by throwing Martins back against the cage.
Martins working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Barnkvist gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Barnkvist trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barnkvist in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnkvist is fighting to break Martins's control of his arms but Martins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Barnkvist is looking to work some ground and pound but Martins has wrist control.
Barnkvist throwing strikes from guard but Martins blocks nicely.
Barnkvist prevents Martins from getting back to his feet.
Martins is wriggling around but Barnkvist manages to pass to half guard.
Barnkvist is looking to stall here but Martins recovers full guard.
Martins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Barnkvist tries to roll over but Martins keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnkvist on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barnkvist is pressing down on Martins's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barnkvist looking to hit a scissor sweep but Martins is one step ahead there.
Martins passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Barnkvist is trying to control Martins's posture but Martins avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnkvist is looking for a sweep.

Martins decides to stand back up. Martins steps back and let's Barnkvist get back to his feet.
Barnkvist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barnkvist stalks Martins and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Martins's face. Martins staggers backwards, shaken.
Barnkvist uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Martins.
A big right from Barnkvist misses.
Jab from Barnkvist.
The fighters circling - Barnkvist throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Martins keeps the fight on the outside.
Barnkvist slips under a jab from Martins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martins looks to land a combination. Barnkvist sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Peter Barnkvist has been cut.

Martins tries to sprawl but Barnkvist drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barnkvist.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnkvist wants to take a breather but Martins is having none of it.
Martins looks like he's trying to stand up.
Barnkvist not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Martins manages to get to full guard.
Martins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Martins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnkvist throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Otavio Martins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Peter Barnkvist's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnkvist gets a double leg takedown into Martins's guard.
Barnkvist postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barnkvist landing some decent shots from guard.
Barnkvist throws an elbow that misses. Martins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barnkvist's guard. Nice move by Martins!

Martins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barnkvist looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barnkvist is on top in guard.

Martins keeping moving, preventing Barnkvist from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnkvist is looking to work some ground and pound but Martins has wrist control.
Barnkvist has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Martins has his hands on Barnkvist's head, controlling the position.
Barnkvist throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnkvist is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Barnkvist throws a big right hand that misses.
Martins is trying to control the position but Barnkvist postures up.
Martins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Martins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barnkvist gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Martins trying to keep a closed guard but Barnkvist is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barnkvist postures up in Martins's guard and throws a big left but Martins blocks it.

Barnkvist got a little sloppy there for a moment and Martins has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barnkvist has managed to get both his arms back between Martins's legs - danger averted.
Martins controls Barnkvist momentarily but Barnkvist frees himself.
Barnkvist scoring with punches to the head and body.
Martins wants to stand but Barnkvist is controlling the position.
Barnkvist throws a big right hand that misses.
Barnkvist working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnkvist connects with a couple of short punches.
Barnkvist trying to control the position from guard on top but Martins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barnkvist with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barnkvist missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barnkvist working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barnkvist accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martins is trying to keep Barnkvist in close.

Martins pushes Barnkvist off and scrambles back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barnkvist.
Martins ducks under a wild hook from Barnkvist.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martins gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barnkvist to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Martins wants to get back to his feet but Barnkvist is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barnkvist trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Martins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Martins controls Barnkvist momentarily but Barnkvist frees himself.
Barnkvist is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barnkvist throwing strikes from guard but Martins blocks nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnkvist preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Barnkvist showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barnkvist has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 30:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Barnkvist!
After winning the bout, Peter Barnkvist thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.