PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and New Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hodges
vs
Fighter

189 cm
30
215 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

205 cm
20
224 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justin Hodges!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, New Fighter!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Hodges. Those never looked like landing.
Fighter tries to clinch there but Hodges circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fighter tries to clinch but Hodges is having none of it.
Hodges misses with a hook. Fighter ducked under it nicely.
Fighter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hodges misses the jab.
Hodges throws an overhand right that lands on Fighter's shoulder, as Fighter tries to avoid the shot.
A leg kick checked by Fighter.
Hodges throws a looping overhand right but Fighter ducks down to avoid it.
A lazy left from Hodges finds it's target.

Fighter has closed the distance and engaged Hodges in a clinch.
Fighter missing with knees to the body.
Fighter tries to land knees in the clinch but Hodges avoids the damage to the body.
Hodges takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fighter has Hodges pressed against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fighter connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hodges's face.
Hodges misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fighter lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Fighter.
Fighter using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hodges has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hodges can't break the clinch.
Fighter landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fighter scores a nice knee to the body.
Fighter lands a nice knee to the body.
Hodges is breathing heavily.
Fighter scores a nice knee to the body.
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!
Fighter lands a knee to the body.
Fighter lands a good knee to the midsection. Hodges won't want to take too many of those.
Fighter lands a knee to the body.
Fighter lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fighter obliges.
Fighter landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hodges's face.
Fighter working Hodges over with knees to the body.
Fighter stalls.
Fighter crunches a lovely knee into Hodges's ribcage.
Knees to the body from Fighter.
Hodges avoiding damage as Fighter throws knees to the body.
Fighter leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fighter lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter lands a knee to the head.
Fighter landing knees to the head.
Fighter landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hodges on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hodges looking for a takedown.
Fighter scores with a knee to the head.
Hodges takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fighter gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hodges.
Fighter with a knee to the head.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hodges lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodges takes a knee to the side of the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fighter with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Fighter landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hodges on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hodges is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Fighter utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fighter lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fighter obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

New Fighter dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fighter is looking to clinch but Hodges is avoiding it.
Hodges jabs Fighter right on the nose. Fighter blinks but takes it well.
Fighter ducks under a wild hook from Hodges.
Fighter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hodges manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hodges misses with a takedown attempt - Fighter sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fighter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hodges lands a jab.
Fighter tries to clinch but Hodges is having none of it.
New Fighter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hodges swats away the attempt to clinch by Fighter.
Fighter tries to clinch up but Hodges circles away and keeps his distance.
Fighter tries to clinch up.
Hodges bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fighter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hodges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fighter is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter doesn't manage to clinch there - Hodges circles away.
Fighter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hodges throws a low kick but it's checked well by Fighter.
Fighter slips a straight right by Hodges.
New Fighter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hodges swinging wildly here.
Fighter tries to clinch up.
Hodges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fighter blocks a jab.
No luck for Hodges with that takedown attempt.
Hodges fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fighter on the side of the head.
Hodges throws a right and a left that Fighter avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fighter moves in looking to clinch but Hodges pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fighter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
New Fighter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hodges throws a hook to the side of Fighter's head but Fighter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fighter keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hodges.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch but Hodges swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter wants to clinch up but Hodges keeps it at a distance.
Fighter wants to clinch up but Hodges keeps it at a distance.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hodges swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hodges throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Fighter clinches with his opponent.
Fighter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fighter utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fighter with a knee to the head.
Come on Fighter - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Fighter scores a nice knee to the body.
Fighter scores with a knee to the head.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hodges takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fighter obliges.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fighter obliges.
Hodges takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fighter landing knees to the body.
Fighter landing knees to the head.
Fighter landing knees to the head.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hodges lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Fighter tries to land knees in the clinch but Hodges avoids the damage to the body.
Hodges is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fighter just leaning against Hodges, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hodges is defending well for now.
Fighter putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hodges in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fighter prevents a body shot from Hodges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fighter tries a knee to the head but Hodges blocks it.
Hodges looking to stall.
Fighter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hodges goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fighter prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Hodges. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hodges avoiding damage as Fighter throws knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fighter landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hodges is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Fighter is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

New Fighter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fighter avoids the body shot from Hodges.
Fighter tries to clinch but Hodges moves out of range.
Hodges shoots for a takedown but Fighter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fighter checks the leg kick.
Fighter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hodges manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fighter tries to clinch up but Hodges circles away and keeps his distance.
Fighter is looking to clinch.

Fighter moves into range and clinches up with Hodges.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hodges lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hodges managing to block the knees to the body from Fighter.
Fighter lands a knee to the head.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fighter missing with knees to the body.
Hodges blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hodges avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hodges on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fighter lands a knee to the body.
Hodges is looking to control Fighter's arms but Fighter gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hodges has his back to the cage.
Fighter lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hodges looking to stall.
Fighter using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hodges looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Justin Hodges.
Fighter tries to clinch there but Hodges circles away.
Fighter tries to clinch up but Hodges circles away and keeps his distance.
Hodges shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hodges keeps the fight on the outside.
Hodges throws a hook but Fighter blocks it.
Hodges circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch but Hodges swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fighter tries to clinch up.
Fighter tries to clinch there but Hodges circles away.
Fighter tries to clinch but Hodges moves out of range.
Fighter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fighter slips a jab and a cross from Hodges.
Hodges just misses with a punch to the body.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hodges swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fighter tries to clinch up but Hodges circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter moves in looking to clinch but Hodges pushes him off.
Hodges throws a hook but Fighter avoids it easily.
Fighter moves in looking to clinch but Hodges pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fighter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hodges lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Fighter moves in looking to clinch but Hodges pushes him off.
Fighter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fighter tries to clinch there but Hodges circles away.
Fighter looks to clinch
and Hodges counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hodges swats away the attempt to clinch by Fighter.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hodges paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fighter moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hodges swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hodges misses with a two punch combination.
Fighter blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hodges tries to bum rush Fighter with a series of wild strikes but Fighter uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fighter checks a low kick from Hodges.
Fighter tries to clinch there but Hodges circles away.
Hodges fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Hodges. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fighter is looking to clinch.

Fighter moves into range and clinches up with Hodges.
Fighter connects with a knee to the head.
Fighter stalling in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hodges blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hodges looking to slow down the pace here.
Hodges working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

New Fighter really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hodges swats away the attempt to clinch by Fighter.
Hodges misses with a low kick as Fighter jumps back.
Fighter ducks under a wild hook from Hodges.
Hodges has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fighter.
Hodges throws a lazy right hand but Fighter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fighter tries to clinch but Hodges is having none of it.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch but Hodges swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hodges takes a swing at Fighter's ribcage but misses.
Fighter moves in looking to clinch but Hodges pushes him off.
Hodges looks to land a left hand but Fighter moved out of range nicely.
Fighter wants to clinch up but Hodges keeps it at a distance.
Hodges looks to throw the jab but Fighter is out of range.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hodges swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch but Hodges swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fighter tries to clinch but Hodges is having none of it.
Fighter tries to clinch up but Hodges circles away and keeps his distance.

Fighter takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter is struggling to control the position.
Knees to the body from Fighter.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Fighter unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hodges lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees in the clinch landing for Fighter.
Fighter connects with a knee to the head.
Fighter connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hodges's face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hodges takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fighter missing with knees to the body.
Hodges on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fighter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hodges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges tries to circle away but Fighter has him pinned against the cage.
Hodges can't get the takedown.
Hodges tries to break the clinch but Fighter is controlling the position.
Fighter is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hodges is defending well for now.
Hodges goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fighter prevents it.
Hodges trying to stall but Fighter improves his position.
Fighter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hodges.
A knee to the head by Fighter.
Hodges wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hodges is looking to control Fighter's arms but Fighter gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hodges has his back to the cage.
Hodges managing to block the knees to the body from Fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter lands a good knee to the midsection. Hodges won't want to take too many of those.
Fighter tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hodges avoids it.
Fighter is trying to stall.
Hodges wants to get back to striking at distance but Fighter won't allow it.
Hodges wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hodges blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hodges misses with the head strike.
Hodges tries to work over Fighter's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hodges managing to block the knees to the body from Fighter.
Fighter tries to land knees in the clinch but Hodges avoids the damage to the body.
Fighter landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodges tries to break the clinch but Fighter is controlling the position.
Fighter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hodges.
Hodges misses with some punches.
Fighter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hodges.
Fighter tries to land a knee to the head but Hodges blocks with his arms.
Hodges misses with a punch on the inside.
Knees to the body from Fighter.
Fighter trying to land knees to the body.
Hodges stalling in the clinch but Fighter improves position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hodges blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hodges lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fighter backwards.
Hodges is looking to break free of the clinch but Fighter has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

New Fighter dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Hodges's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hodges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fighter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hodges manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hodges swats away the attempt to clinch by Fighter.

Hodges fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fighter to the ground. Hodges is now in Fighter's guard.
Hodges tries to free his leg and advance position but Fighter is retaining full guard.
Fighter can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hodges controls the pace.
Hodges passes Fighter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fighter is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Hodges prevents Fighter from improving his position.
Hodges wants to take a breather but Fighter is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hodges scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hodges is looking to take a break and control but Fighter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hodges is looking to pass Fighter's guard but actually Fighter recovers to full guard.
Hodges trying to control the position from guard on top but Fighter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fighter trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges trying to control but Fighter is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fighter controls Hodges momentarily but Hodges frees himself.
Fighter keeping full guard, as Hodges tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Justin Hodges.
Hodges throws a jab but it's blocked by Fighter.
Fighter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hodges ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fighter moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fighter leaves Hodges with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fighter moves in looking to clinch but Hodges pushes him off.
Fighter moves out of range of the strikes.
Fighter tries to clinch but Hodges moves out of range.
Fighter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hodges stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Hodges changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fighter looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hodges scoring with punches and elbows.
Hodges content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Hodges crashes against the mat.
Justin Hodges has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hodges tries to score with some ground and pound. Fighter controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ground and pound from Hodges seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
New Fighter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hodges is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fighter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Fighter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Hodges showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fighter 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 46:49
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 45:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... New Fighter!
New Fighter is the new light heavyweight champion!