PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Etan Xoul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russ Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Xoul
vs
Hodges

190 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Etan Xoul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Russ Hodges!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hodges fails with a takedown attempt.

Xoul looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hodges controls Xoul momentarily but Xoul frees himself.
Xoul trying to control but Hodges is working from the bottom.

Etan Xoul has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Xoul closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Xoul lands in his opponent's guard.
Xoul wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xoul is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Xoul seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hodges for as long as he can get away with.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hodges wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Etan Xoul just wasn't active enough.

Hodges gets caught flat footed, as Xoul shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Xoul wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.
Xoul is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hodges is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hodges really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xoul. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Xoul 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xoul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hodges is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Etan Xoul.
Hodges swats away the attempt to clinch by Xoul.

Xoul closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hodges did well to prevent Xoul getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hodges is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Xoul jumps into side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Xoul is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hodges has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hodges is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Xoul is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hodges is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Xoul decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Xoul drives through with a takedown into guard.
Xoul sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hodges keeping full guard, as Xoul tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xoul stands and steps away. Hodges gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hodges tries for a takedown but Xoul circles away easily

and Xoul counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Xoul.
Xoul is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xoul not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Xoul stands up and waves to Hodges to follow him.

Xoul closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hodges to the mat! Hodges manages to get full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xoul trying to control but Hodges is working from the bottom.
Hodges is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Etan Xoul dominated that round.
That's time! Xoul's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Xoul drives through with a takedown into Hodges's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Xoul wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.
Hodges wants to sweep here but Xoul controlling him for the moment.
Xoul wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Etan Xoul has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Xoul motions for Hodges to come forward. Xoul throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xoul tries to avoid it but Hodges manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xoul to the ground. Xoul escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Etan Xoul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Xoul drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hodges is breathing heavily.
Xoul trying to control the position from guard on top but Hodges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xoul controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Xoul gets to his feet. Hodges looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hodges fails with the takedown.
Xoul doesn't manage to clinch there - Hodges circles away.

Hodges gets caught flat footed, as Xoul shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hodges can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Xoul controls the pace.
Etan Xoul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Xoul wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xoul not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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 avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

We're going to have a standup here because Etan Xoul wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Xoul takes the fight into the clinch.
Hodges drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Xoul gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Etan Xoul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russ Hodges.

Xoul jumps guard and drags Hodges to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Hodges gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Xoul to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Xoul's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hodges has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Xoul has passed into side control.
Xoul advances to full mount.
Hodges reaches up to try and control the position but Xoul seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Hodges rolls and tries to escape and now Xoul has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xoul has his arm under Hodges's chin here. Game over son! Xoul squeezes tightly and Hodges is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Etan Xoul!
An out of breath Etan Xoul thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.