Anthony Rocco Martin

Jake Matthews vs. Anthony Rocco Martin

Round 1
Matthews misses on an overhand right, and the crowd is firmly behind its hometown hero. Neither fighter is finding the range in the early going. A glancing right lands for Matthews and he circles away. Martin lands a low kick followed by a straight right. A hard low kick connects for Martin. Matthews digs to the body and follows up with a leg kick of his own. Matthews ducks under a Martin high kick. Matthews with a straight right to the body. Martin goes back to the low calf kick and Matthews counters with an overhand right. Martin nods and moves forward. Matthews is warming up now, winging heavy shots. They trade in the pocket and Matthews drops Martin. The Aussie immediately jumps on a guillotine. Martin attempts to roll out of danger but Matthews hangs on. Eventually Matthews is forced to give up on the squeeze and Martin is on top with less than a minute to go. Matthews reverses with 20 seconds left and fends off an armbar as time expires. 10-9 Matthews.

Round 2
Martin resumes attacking the lead leg of his opponent. It’s a slow beginning to the period, with Matthews circling on the outside and Martin attempting to walk his foe down. An overhand right lands for Matthews, who lands another overhand right and just misses with a follow-up jumping knee. A high kick by Martin is blocked. A one-two from Martin finds a home. Martin sneaks a jab through Matthew’s guard. Martin lands a pair of whipping low calf kicks. Another one-two lands for Martin. Matthews looks to be setting up one-off power shots, but nothing is really landing this round. Martin continues to press the action, landing another low kick. Martin ducks under a massive right hand. Martin absorbs a knee in the clinch and then lands a short right on the break. 10-9 Martin.

Round 3
Martin goes right back to the well with a low kick. Matthews blocks a high kick but comes up short on a follow-up combination. Martin lands a long jab as he continues to pressure. Martin catches Matthews with another leg kick, and the Aussie reaches for an ill-advised takedown. Martin stuffs the takedown attempt and for a moment appears ready to take his opponent’s back. Instead, Martin locks in an anaconda choke. It’s tight, and Matthews goes to sleep in a few seconds.

The Result
Anthony Rocco Martin def. Jake Matthews via Technical Submission (Anaconda Choke) R3 1:19

Beneil Dariush vs. Tony Martin

Round 1
Martin strikes out from the center of the cage with a kick to the inside of southpaw Dariush’s lead leg. Martin lands another, but this time Dariush is waiting with a hard left-handed counter. Martin sticks Dariush with a straight right down the center, then another which bloodies the nose of the Kings MMA fighter. Dariush puts up a high guard as Martin comes around the outside with a pair of left hooks, then a straight right. Dariush is pulling up short with long, reaching punches but finding his range with some kicks to Martin’s body. Martin clinches up briefly to connect with an uppercut and then releases. Dariush returns the favor with a clinch behind a knee to the gut, but the lightweights soon fight off the fence. Dariush tries a double-leg against the fence, brings Martin to the mat and tries to jump on his back, but Martin turns around and stands to change the position and hold Dariush on the cage. Martin lands a combination near the fence, finishes with an uppercut. Dariush turns a clinch into a takedown just before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Martin
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Martin
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Martin

Round 2
Dariush goes to the body of Martin with a kick, tries to leap into range with a knee and gets countered with a left. Martin uses a standing kimura to thwart a takedown attempt on the fence, then holds Dariush there with an underhook about 90 seconds into the round. The 155ers pummel for position, neither man mounting much offense until they work off the fence and Dariush scores with a knee to the body. Martin changes levels to try a double-leg on the fence, can’t get it and winds up leaning on Dariush until referee Dan Miragliotta separates them. Martin comes away from the tie-up with a cut around the outside corner of his right eye, and now Dariush hits a takedown to half guard. Dariush passes quickly to mount, frames up an arm-triangle and slides off to the side to bear down on the choke, forcing Martin to tap out.

The Official Result
Beneil Dariush def. Tony Martin via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) R2 3:38