PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Martinez (ranked 7181 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Edwards (ranked 6066 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel Martinez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Martinez
vs
Edwards

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Manuel Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ethan Edwards!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martinez misses with a combination

and Edwards decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Martinez's guard.
Edwards stops Martinez from standing up.
Edwards passes into half guard.
Edwards stops Martinez from getting back to his feet.
Edwards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Edwards really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Martinez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Edwards winds up and cracks Martinez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Edwards escapes and gets back to his feet.

Edwards drives through with a takedown into guard.

Martinez manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
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!
Edwards jumps guard but Martinez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards is trying to pull guard but Martinez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Edwards jumps guard but Martinez stands there with Edwards around his waist. Edwards gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manuel Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Edwards.
Edwards 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.
Edwards jumps guard but Martinez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Edwards looking for a takedown.
Martinez wants to get back to striking at distance but Edwards won't allow it.
Edwards blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Edwards is trying to pull guard but Martinez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Edwards wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Martinez missing with knees to the body.

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.

Edwards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
That kick from Martinez tenderised Edwards's leg. Edwards is trying to keep his angry face on.

Martinez tries to sprawl but Edwards drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Edwards trying to control from half guard but Martinez is working away.
Martinez taking some punishment here, with Edwards in his half guard.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet.
Edwards throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Martinez to regain full guard.
Martinez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Edwards.
Edwards is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Edwards postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards distracts Martinez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Edwards stops Martinez from standing up.
Edwards postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Edwards makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Edwards is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Edwards looking to pass the guard.
Edwards scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Edwards 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.
Edwards sitting in guard here, content to control.
Edwards forces his way into half guard.
Edwards is taking a breather. Martinez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Martinez is staying active underneath Edwards, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Edwards drops an elbow to the side of Martinez's head.
Edwards working over Martinez with some ground and pound. Martinez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Edwards scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Edwards dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Edwards gets a double leg takedown into Martinez's guard.

Martinez has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Edwards off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Edwards gets a takedown into half guard.

Martinez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martinez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Edwards shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Edwards showed some decent athleticism there.
Martinez is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards slips a nice elbow through Martinez's hands, connecting with Martinez's forehead.
Edwards working over Martinez with some ground and pound. Martinez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Edwards slips a nice elbow through Martinez's hands, connecting with Martinez's forehead.
Edwards lands with a punch from half guard.
Martinez pushes Edwards off looking to stand but Edwards dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Edwards connects with a nice short shot to Martinez's temple.

Edwards postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Martinez to stand up.
Martinez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Edwards tries to clinch up but Martinez circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Edwards clinches with his opponent.

Edwards pulls guard effortlessly.

Edwards has his feet on Martinez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Edwards closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Martinez to the mat! Martinez manages to get full guard.

Martinez pushes Edwards off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Edwards clinches with his opponent.
Edwards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Martinez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Edwards is working for takedown but Martinez is calmly controlling the position for now.

Edwards pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Edwards's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Edwards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Martinez wants to stand but Edwards has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Martinez is fighting to break Edwards's control of his arms but Edwards is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Edwards manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Edwards tries to pull guard but Martinez won't allow it.
Manuel Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Edwards.
Edwards blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Martinez is trying to break the clinch but Edwards has him pressed against the cage.
Martinez working hard to break the clinch.
Edwards is trying to break the clinch but Martinez has him pressed against the cage.
Martinez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Edwards 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Edwards drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Edwards scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Martinez is working an open guard so Edwards takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Edwards drives through with a takedown into guard.
Edwards works over Martinez with some ground and pound from guard.
Edwards cracks Martinez with a solid left hand.
Martinez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Edwards works over Martinez with some ground and pound from guard.
Edwards working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Martinez's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Edwards working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Martinez's head.

Martinez has his feet on Edwards's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edwards closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Martinez quickly recovers to half guard.

Martinez has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Edwards is on him like a limpet, forcing Martinez back against the cage.
Edwards is trying to drag Martinez to the mat but Martinez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Martinez lands with a left to the head.
Martinez prevents the takedown attempt.
Edwards jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Martinez walks away with a smile on his face. Edwards gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Manuel Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Edwards.
Edwards has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Martinez.
Martinez lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Martinez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Edwards connects with a couple of short punches.
Edwards is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Edwards lands a couple of digs.
Edwards with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Edwards lands a couple of elbows.
Edwards's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards cracks Martinez with a solid left hand.
Ethan Edwards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Edwards landing some decent shots from guard.
Edwards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Edwards wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
Edwards is in close to Martinez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Edwards working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Martinez's head.

That's four 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.
Martinez wants to stand up but Edwards is controlling him.
Martinez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Edwards manages to pass to side control.
Edwards 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.
Edwards controlling the action here.
Edwards working Martinez over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ethan Edwards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Edwards winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Edwards!