PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abel Braga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Hamilton (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.

Braga
vs
Hamilton

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Abel Braga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Richard Hamilton!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Braga closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hamilton circles away.
Braga shoots in and drives through. Hamilton sprawls well.
Hamilton swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Braga.
Braga fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abel Braga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hamilton takes a swing at Braga's ribcage but misses.
Nice uppercut there from Hamilton.
A slow jab from Hamilton misses its intended target.
Hamilton throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice cross by Hamilton.
Hamilton throws a shot to the body.

Braga clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hamilton creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hamilton is trying to push Braga away but Braga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Braga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Braga will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Braga closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hamilton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hamilton wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braga blocks a jab.
Hamilton bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Braga's head backwards.
Braga has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hamilton finds it's way round the side to connect with Braga's head.
Hamilton on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Good shot there by Hamilton.
Braga avoids the body shot from Hamilton.
Hamilton throws an off balance right hand
and Braga counters with a series of strikes. Hamilton will be more careful next time no doubt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Braga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hamilton scores with a sloppy right hand. Braga should have avoided that one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hamilton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hamilton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Braga fails to pull guard.
Hamilton tries to break the clinch but Braga is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamilton wants to get back to striking at distance but Braga won't allow it.
Still in the clinch, Hamilton scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Braga keeps control of Hamilton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Braga jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hamilton walks away with a smile on his face. Braga gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hamilton scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Braga uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hamilton.
Braga looks for a takedown but Hamilton sprawls well.
Braga is breathing heavily.
Braga shoots in looking for a takedown but Hamilton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Braga's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hamilton thuds his right hand into Braga's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Richard Hamilton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Braga slips under a jab.
Braga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hamilton.
Hamilton lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hamilton.
Hamilton throws a shot from downtown. Braga moves away and avoids it.
Hamilton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Braga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamilton swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Braga.
Hamilton scores with a jab. Braga acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hamilton throws a nice looking combination but Braga bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hamilton misses with an uppercut. Braga saw that one coming.

Hamilton closes the distance and clinches.
Braga keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hamilton's efforts to push away.
Hamilton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Braga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Braga. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Braga keeps control of Hamilton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Braga tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hamilton wants to get back to striking at distance but Braga won't allow it.
Braga is trying to maintain a safe position but Hamilton gets an underhook and turns Braga into the cage.
Hamilton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Braga has him pressed against the cage.
Hamilton can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hamilton to keep the fight standing.
Hamilton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Braga is looking for a takedown.
Hamilton can't break the clinch.
Hamilton tries to circle away but Braga has him pinned against the cage.
Hamilton tries to break free but Braga pushes him back against the cage.
Hamilton tries to circle away but Braga has him pinned against the cage.
Hamilton prevents a takedown attempt there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hamilton tries to circle away but Braga has him pinned against the cage.
Hamilton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hamilton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hamilton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Braga keeps control of Hamilton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Hamilton dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice shot lands for Hamilton.
Danga de danga de dang - Hamilton scores with a four punch combination!
Abel Braga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hamilton leaves Braga with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hamilton throws a right hand that misses
and Braga counters with a right hand to the body.
Hamilton misses with a looping right.
Hamilton just misses with a punch to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Hamilton as he connects with a hook.
A big right from Hamilton misses.
Braga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hamilton.
Braga throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hamilton's waist but Hamilton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Braga off to one side.
Hamilton looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hamilton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abel Braga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Braga fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamilton scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Richard Hamilton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hamilton lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hamilton lands with a straight right. Braga didn't see that one coming.
Hamilton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Braga needs to keep his hands up - Hamilton had a free shot at his head there.
Sloppy strikes from Hamilton. Those never looked like landing.
Hamilton lands an overhand right.
Nice sprawl there from Hamilton as Braga shoots in.
Braga drops his hands momentarily and Hamilton takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hamilton scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hamilton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hamilton scores with a hook to the body. Braga takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hamilton throws a series of punches but Braga moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Hamilton.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hamilton gets a clinch.
Hamilton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Braga has him pressed against the cage.
Braga prevents Hamilton from breaking the clinch.
Hamilton is trying to break the clinch but Braga is controlling him.
Hamilton lands a shoulder strike.
Hamilton digs a right hand into Braga's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Braga's gas tank.
Hamilton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Braga wants a takedown but no success here.
Hamilton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hamilton can't break the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hamilton.
Hamilton tries to circle away but Braga has him pinned against the cage.
Braga looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hamilton is trying to break the clinch but Braga is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamilton tries to break free but Braga pushes him back against the cage.
Hamilton lands a nice uppercut.
Braga looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hamilton has had enough of the clinch but Braga keeps him there for the moment.
Hamilton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Braga has him pressed against the cage.
Hamilton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Richard Hamilton seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Braga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Braga is trying to break free.
Hamilton tries to break free but Braga pushes him back against the cage.
Braga jumps guard but Hamilton turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Braga is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hamilton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Braga has him pressed against the cage.
Hamilton wants to get back to striking at distance but Braga won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamilton is trying to break the clinch but Braga has him pressed against the cage.
Braga keeps control of Hamilton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hamilton prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Hamilton.
A body shot lands from Hamilton.

Hamilton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hamilton instigates a clinch.
Hamilton working hard to break the clinch.
Hamilton wants to get back to striking at distance but Braga won't allow it.
Hamilton has had enough of the clinch but Braga keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hamilton is trying to push Braga away but Braga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Braga has Hamilton pressed against the cage, preventing Hamilton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hamilton wants to break free but Braga has control.
Hamilton wants to break free but Braga has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Braga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hamilton swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hamilton closes the distance and clinches.
Hamilton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Braga breaks the clinch.
Hamilton misses the shot to the body.
Hamilton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hamilton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hamilton cracks Braga with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Braga fails with a takedown attempt.
Braga keeps the fight on the outside.
Hamilton takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Braga tries to clinch but Hamilton moves out of range.
Braga moves out of range as Hamilton strikes.
Braga throws a right hand that Hamilton ducks under and follows up with a left that Hamilton also avoids with ease.
Braga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hamilton is fending him off so far but Braga persists. Nope, Hamilton circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hamilton cracks Braga with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hamilton missing with a left hand there. Braga was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Hamilton moves into the clinch successfully.
Hamilton is trying to break the clinch but Braga is controlling him.
Braga keeps control of Hamilton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hamilton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hamilton is trying to force a seperation but Braga has the dominant position.

Hamilton breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Braga.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abel Braga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Hamilton misses.
Hamilton throws a hook to the side of Braga's head but Braga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab lands there for Hamilton.
Richard Hamilton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braga doesn't manage to clinch there - Hamilton circles away.
Hamilton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hamilton cracks Braga with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Braga displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hamilton throws out the jab.
Hamilton fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Braga looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Braga gets tackled into the cage by Hamilton. Hamilton maintains the clinch.
Braga tries to break the clinch but Hamilton is controlling the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hamilton tries to circle away but Braga has him pinned against the cage.
Braga struggles to land a body shot inside as Hamilton controls his hands.
Braga jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hamilton walks away with a smile on his face. Braga gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Braga avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hamilton throws a big shot that misses.
Hamilton lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braga on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hamilton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Braga sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Braga has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hamilton finds it's way round the side to connect with Braga's head.
Hamilton pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Braga back to the cage. Hamilton follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Hamilton changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hamilton scores with a nice strike.
Braga on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Braga ducks under a wild hook from Hamilton.
Braga tries to clinch there but Hamilton circles away.
Braga bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hamilton stuffs the takedown.
Hamilton scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hamilton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamilton scores with a crisp jab that stopped Braga in his tracks.
Hamilton leaves Braga with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hamilton listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hamilton throws a hook but Braga blocks it.
Hamilton lands a right hook to the body.
A combination from Hamilton does no damage.
Hamilton swinging wildly here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Braga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Braga slips a straight right by Hamilton.
Braga takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Abel Braga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Braga blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Hamilton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hamilton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Richard Hamilton!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Richard Hamilton!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Richard Hamilton!

Richard Hamilton wins by unanimous decision!