PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Thigpen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thigpen
vs
Hodges

187 cm
25
223 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Thigpen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Hodges!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hodges showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thigpen.
Thigpen throws a right hand that Hodges ducks under and follows up with a left that Hodges also avoids with ease.
Thigpen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Thigpen lands a left and a right that send Hodges crashing to the mat, dazed. Thigpen thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Hodges is rocked!

It looks like Justin Hodges has been cut.
Thigpen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hodges is still on wobbly legs! Can Thigpen finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thigpen misses with an uppercut. Hodges saw that one coming.
Hodges seems to have recovered his senses.
Thigpen swinging wildly here.
Hodges connects with a nice looking jab.

Hodges scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hodges happy to just control the position for now.
Hodges is looking to take a break and control but Thigpen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hodges creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Thigpen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hodges swings around for an armbar but Thigpen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hodges's guard.
Hodges pulls Thigpen in close to prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hodges can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hodges looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thigpen is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hodges is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thigpen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hodges is proving hard to escape from.
Hodges controlling Thigpen's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hodges is adopting a defensive guard.
Hodges trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hodges has a closed guard, preventing Thigpen from standing up.
Hodges has his hands on Thigpen's head, controlling the position.
Thigpen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hodges's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Thigpen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Hodges's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hodges connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thigpen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Tommy Thigpen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheers as Hodges lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thigpen doesn't seem phased though.
Thigpen misses with a double jab.

Thigpen gets caught flat footed, as Hodges shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thigpen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hodges throwing strikes but missing.
Hodges distracts Thigpen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thigpen keeping moving, preventing Hodges from controlling successfully.
Hodges trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Thigpen manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges managing to control the position.
Hodges looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hodges is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two 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.
Hodges looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thigpen is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hodges throws an overhand right that lands on Thigpen's shoulder, as Thigpen tries to avoid the shot.

Hodges gets the takedown into side control.
Hodges tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thigpen keeps working.

Hodges tries for a kimura but Thigpen is defending well.
Thigpen trying to remain calm as Hodges controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hodges fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Thigpen is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hodges is controlling him well.
Hodges tries to advance to mount but Thigpen denies him.
Thigpen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hodges looks to land a left hand but Thigpen moved out of range nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hodges throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thigpen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hodges ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thigpen moves away.
Thigpen throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Hodges showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Justin Hodges's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hodges throws a series of punches but Thigpen avoids them all with ease.
Thigpen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hodges to score with a decent uppercut.
Thigpen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thigpen throws a head kick but Hodges moves out of range.
Hodges keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thigpen.
Thigpen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hodges throws a series of strikes that have Thigpen backpedaling.
Hodges takes a swing at Thigpen's ribcage but misses.
Thigpen throws a head kick that misses.
Thigpen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hodges connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thigpen. Thigpen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Thigpen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hodges manages to avoid it.
A punch lands to the side of Thigpen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hodges jabs Thigpen right on the nose. Thigpen blinks but takes it well.
Hodges might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Thigpen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hodges ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hodges cracks Thigpen with an open hand slap.

Hodges shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thigpen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hodges.
Hodges sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hodges is looking to advance position but Thigpen won't allow it.
Hodges thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thigpen's head.

That's two 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.
Hodges is trying to control the action in half guard but Thigpen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thigpen is trying to stand back up but Hodges is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hodges is looking to advance position but Thigpen won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Thigpen does no damage.
Hodges takes a swing at Thigpen's ribcage but misses.
Hodges throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thigpen on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Thigpen throws a hook but Hodges blocks it.
Hodges blocks a head kick by Thigpen.
Hodges scores with a nice strike.
Hodges tests Thigpen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thigpen misses with a double jab

and Hodges counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thigpen's guard now.
Thigpen keeping moving, preventing Hodges from controlling successfully.
Hodges sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thigpen keeping moving, preventing Hodges from controlling successfully.
Thigpen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hodges.
Hodges trying to control the position from guard on top but Thigpen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hodges won't allow Thigpen to get back to his feet.
Hodges trying to control but Thigpen is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Hodges comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hodges 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Hodges!