PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Henry Hillbilly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James P Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hillbilly comes into the arena with I Love Country Music (And I'd Rather Fight Than Switch) blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hillbilly
vs
P Sullivan

188 cm
24
195 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

154 Degrees in Sydney (154 Quality Stamina)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Hillbilly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James P Sullivan!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sullivan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sullivan tries to clinch but Hillbilly is having none of it.
Sullivan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A punch lands to the side of Sullivan 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sullivan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hillbilly tries to clinch

and Sullivan counters by clinching up.
Hillbilly wants to get back to striking at distance but Sullivan won't allow it.

Hillbilly breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sullivan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hillbilly.
Hillbilly misses with a combination

and Sullivan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hillbilly has Sullivan pressed against the cage, preventing Sullivan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sullivan.
Hillbilly lands an elbow inside that Sullivan shrugs off.
Sullivan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Hillbilly fails to land.
Sullivan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hillbilly managing to block the knees to the body from Sullivan.
Hillbilly lands a shoulder strike.
Sullivan keeps control of Hillbilly as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hillbilly creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Hillbilly manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hillbilly throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henry Hillbilly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hillbilly throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Hillbilly.
Hillbilly moves in looking to clinch but Sullivan pushes him off.
Sullivan throws a sloppy head kick and Hillbilly moves out of range easily.
Hillbilly misses with a combination

and Sullivan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hillbilly makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hillbilly looking for a takedown.
Sullivan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sullivan lands an uppercut.
Hillbilly looking for a takedown.
Hillbilly avoiding damage as Sullivan throws knees to the body.
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hillbilly avoids it.
Hillbilly misses with a knee to the head.
Sullivan stalling the fight.
Hillbilly is trying to maintain a safe position but Sullivan gets an underhook and turns Hillbilly into the cage.
Hillbilly using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sullivan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sullivan misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hillbilly managing to block the knees to the body from Sullivan.
Still in the clinch, Hillbilly scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hillbilly is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sullivan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Hillbilly breaks the clinch.
Hillbilly keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice defenses there by Sullivan.
Hillbilly uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sullivan has time to react.
Hillbilly avoids the head kick by Sullivan.
Hillbilly looks to clinch

and Sullivan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sullivan.

Hillbilly escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hillbilly misses with the combination.
Hillbilly tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sullivan counters by clinching up.

Hillbilly has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sullivan uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hillbilly throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sullivan landing some decent shots from guard.
Sullivan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sullivan pushing down on Hillbilly's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hillbilly tries to roll over but Sullivan keeps him under control.

Hillbilly kicks Sullivan off and gets back to his feet.
Hillbilly tries to clinch up.
Sullivan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hillbilly avoids the head kick by Sullivan.

Sullivan has closed the distance and engaged Hillbilly in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hillbilly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sullivan blocking some punches.
A short left from Hillbilly.
Hillbilly working aggressively here.
Sullivan lands with a left to the head.
Hillbilly is trying to break the clinch but Sullivan has him pressed against the cage.
Hillbilly is trying to force a seperation but Sullivan has the dominant position.
Hillbilly drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Hillbilly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hillbilly lands a nice knee to the body.
Hillbilly's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hillbilly lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sullivan backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hillbilly being controlled against the cage.
Hillbilly scores with a shot to the side of Sullivan's head.
Hillbilly avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A punch combination from Hillbilly misses.
Hillbilly scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hillbilly fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sullivan manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Hillbilly.
Hillbilly misses with a wild combination.
Hillbilly swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sullivan moves into the clinch.
Hillbilly wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hillbilly creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hillbilly fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Hillbilly.
Hillbilly misses with the head strike.
Hillbilly trying to control the position but instead, Sullivan has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hillbilly into the cage.
Hillbilly tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sullivan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hillbilly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan can't find room to land a body shot as Hillbilly controls the action.
Hillbilly tries to land a knee to the head but Sullivan blocks with his arms.
Hillbilly lands an uppercut.
Sullivan blocks an uppercut.
Hillbilly connects with a knee to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Hillbilly.
Hillbilly wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sullivan has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hillbilly working Sullivan over with knees to the body.
Hillbilly drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sullivan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hillbilly on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sullivan throws a punch but it's blocked by Hillbilly.
Sullivan stalling the fight.
Hillbilly misses with a knee strike.
Hillbilly tries to land a knee to the head but Sullivan blocks with his arms.
Sullivan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hillbilly is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sullivan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from Sullivan.
Nice body punch from Sullivan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Hillbilly.
Hillbilly blocks an uppercut.
Hillbilly lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hillbilly misses with an elbow strike.
Hillbilly lands a shoulder strike.
Hillbilly blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hillbilly blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hillbilly throws a punch but it's blocked by Sullivan.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sullivan.
Sullivan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sullivan blocking some punches.
Hillbilly drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sullivan pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Hillbilly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hillbilly thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sullivan dodges the punch combination from Hillbilly.
Sullivan misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hillbilly swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sullivan counters by clinching up.
Hillbilly scores with a shoulder strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sullivan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hillbilly throws a head punch that misses.
Sullivan blocks a body shot from Hillbilly.
Sullivan stalling in the clinch.
Sullivan connects with a knee to the head.
Hillbilly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
James P Sullivan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hillbilly can't break the clinch.
Hillbilly misses with some punches.
Hillbilly tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hillbilly wants to get back to striking at distance but Sullivan won't allow it.
Hillbilly lands a good knee to the midsection. Sullivan won't want to take too many of those.
Sullivan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sullivan is looking to control Hillbilly's arms but Hillbilly gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sullivan has his back to the cage.
Sullivan blocks an uppercut.
Hillbilly managing to block the knees to the body from Sullivan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hillbilly is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sullivan misses with a knee strike.
Hillbilly looking for a takedown.
Sullivan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hillbilly backwards.
Sullivan prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short body shot lands from Sullivan as the two fighters clinch.
Hillbilly trying to stall but Sullivan improves his position.
Sullivan misses with an elbow strike.
Sullivan blocking some punches.
Hillbilly drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hillbilly has a couple of punches blocked by Sullivan.
Sullivan lands a shot to the body.
Sullivan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hillbilly.
Sullivan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sullivan digs a right hand underneath Hillbilly's ribcage. Hillbilly let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hillbilly swings wildly with an uppercut but Sullivan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sullivan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hillbilly or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Henry Hillbilly will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hillbilly's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sullivan is looking to clinch.
Sullivan misses with a head kick.

Hillbilly clinches with his opponent.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hillbilly as Sullivan tries to tie him up.
Hillbilly has a couple of punches blocked by Sullivan.
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hillbilly avoids it.
Hillbilly tries to score a body lock takedown but Sullivan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sullivan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hillbilly lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hillbilly works on Sullivan's body with a couple of short punches.
Sullivan tries to break free but Hillbilly pushes him back against the cage.
Hillbilly looking to stall.
Sullivan tries to land a knee to the head but Hillbilly blocks with his arms.
Hillbilly doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A body shot lands from Hillbilly.
Sullivan trying to land knees to the body.
Hillbilly has had enough of the clinch but Sullivan keeps him there for the moment.
Hillbilly tries to score a body lock takedown but Sullivan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hillbilly avoiding damage as Sullivan throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hillbilly tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sullivan avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hillbilly goes for a takedown attempt but Sullivan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Hillbilly. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hillbilly moves into the clinch successfully.
Hillbilly throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sullivan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hillbilly drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sullivan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hillbilly circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses.
A big right from Hillbilly misses.
Hillbilly falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sullivan moves into the clinch.
Hillbilly drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hillbilly misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hillbilly has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sullivan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hillbilly tries to work over Sullivan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sullivan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sullivan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hillbilly throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hillbilly tries to pull guard but Sullivan holds him up against the cage and eventually Hillbilly drops back down to his feet.
Sullivan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hillbilly avoids the elbow strike from Sullivan, against the cage.
Hillbilly lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sullivan.
Hillbilly tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sullivan avoids it.
Hillbilly wants a takedown but no success here.
Sullivan lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hillbilly has had enough of the clinch but Sullivan keeps him there for the moment.
Hillbilly wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sullivan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hillbilly blocks it with crossed arms.
Sullivan lands a body shot.
Sullivan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hillbilly.
Hillbilly misses with a punch on the inside.
Hillbilly tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sullivan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hillbilly drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hillbilly avoiding damage as Sullivan throws knees to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sullivan. Hillbilly does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henry Hillbilly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sullivan clinches.
Hillbilly working hard to break the clinch.
Hillbilly throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

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

Sullivan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hillbilly looking to throw knees to the head but Sullivan is blocking nicely.
Sullivan wants to get back to striking at distance but Hillbilly won't allow it.
Hillbilly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sullivan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sullivan wants to get back to striking at distance but Hillbilly won't allow it.
Hillbilly tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sullivan avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hillbilly using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sullivan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sullivan lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hillbilly.
A head punch on the inside from Hillbilly fails to land.
Sullivan gets underhooks to prevent Hillbilly's takedown attempt.
Hillbilly avoiding damage as Sullivan throws knees to the body.
Sullivan lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hillbilly managing to block the knees to the body from Sullivan.
Sullivan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sullivan lands a body shot.
Henry Hillbilly is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A left hand lands to the body for Sullivan.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sullivan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sullivan blocking some punches.
Hillbilly misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sullivan blocking some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sullivan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sullivan misses with a punch to the body.
James P Sullivan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sullivan gets underhooks to prevent Hillbilly's takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
James P Sullivan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hillbilly 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!