PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Javier Martinez (ranked 5936 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yousri Hlali (ranked 25395 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Yousri Hlali was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Martinez
vs
Hlali

175 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Javier Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yousri Hlali!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hlali has Martinez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Martinez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hlali controlling the action here for a moment.
Martinez wants a takedown.

Hlali manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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.
Martinez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hlali's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hlali wants to get back to his feet but Martinez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hlali can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martinez controls the pace.
Hlali is trying to keep Martinez in close.
Martinez stays in close to Hlali's body and controls the position.

Hlali throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hlali looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Martinez advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hlali is defending against the submission attempts here by Martinez.

Hlali actively working from the bottom here.
Hlali trying to control here.
Hlali is doing well to control the position and prevent Martinez from advancing to side control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hlali misses with a takedown attempt - Martinez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Martinez appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Martinez throws a sloppy head kick and Hlali moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Martinez is defended easily by Hlali.
Hlali shoots in for a takedown but Martinez shows good takedown defense.
Javier Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yousri Hlali.
Hlali leaves Martinez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hlali is defended easily by Martinez.
It looked like Martinez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hlali tries to close the distance and clinch but Martinez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martinez shoots in for a double leg but Hlali sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hlali wants to clinch up but Martinez keeps it at a distance.
Martinez lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Martinez lands a two punch combo.
Martinez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hlali.
Martinez throws a combination. Hlali tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Hlali is rocked!

Martinez clinches up against the cage.
Hlali is still on wobbly legs! Can Martinez finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hlali prevents the takedown attempt.
Hlali keeps control of Martinez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Martinez jumps guard and drags Hlali to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hlali seems to have recovered his senses.
Hlali's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hlali's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hlali passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Martinez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hlali clinches.
Hlali tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hlali's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hlali instigates a clinch.
Hlali throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Martinezs head.

Hlali ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hlali no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hlali working a defensive guard here.
Martinez forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez misses with a head shot. Hlali uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hlali avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Martinez controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hlali has his foot on Martinez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Martinez works his way back into a safe position though.
Hlali not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Martinez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Martinez is looking to advance position but Hlali has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hlali tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Martinez is trying desperately to improve position.

Hlali is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Martinez is surviving well by controlling Hlali's body position as best he can.
Martinez wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hlali is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Martinez has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Hlali throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Martinez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Yousri Hlali has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hlali is riding his opponent, not letting Martinez buck him off.
Martinez trying to control but not successfully.
Martinez is in bad spot here.

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 rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hlali wants to take a breather but Martinez is having none of it.

Hlali is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Martinez trying to control but Hlali postures up.
Martinez is pressing down on Hlali's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hlali wanted to stand there but Martinez had control of the position.
Martinez keeping moving, preventing Hlali from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yousri Hlali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Martinez tries to land a front kick but Hlali steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Hlali looking to score a takedown here. Martinez is defending well but Hlali drives through and ends up in Martinez's guard.

Martinez has an active guard here but Hlali has managed to pass into half guard.
Hlali drops an elbow to the side of Martinez's head.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet.
Hlali controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hlali missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hlali is stalling here. Martinez is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hlali seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Martinez has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hlali is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Martinez off and has taken his back!
Martinez is keeping busy.
Martinez tries to roll but Hlali sticks to his back.
Martinez wants to control his opponent's hands but Hlali gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hlali is looking for a rear naked choke here but Martinez reverses the position brilliantly into Hlali's guard!
Hlali utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Martinez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Martinez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hlali is retaining full guard.
Martinez is stalling in the full guard.
Hlali bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Martinez's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hlali not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Martinez is trying to keep Hlali in close.
Martinez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hlali slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hlali trying to control but Martinez is working from the bottom.

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.
Martinez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hlali shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Martinez sprawls well. Martinez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hlali gets slowly back to his feet.
Martinez has his takedown stuffed
and Hlali counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hlali fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Martinez avoids it really well and circles away.
Martinez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hlali manages to circle out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yousri Hlali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hlali 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yousri Hlali!