PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tim Ernst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerald Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ernst comes to the cage accompanied by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjVvhDwFnJk. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ernst
vs
Hodges

180 cm
31
157 lbs
17 - 13 - 1

173 cm
31
157 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 17 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Tim Ernst!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gerald Hodges!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ernst wants to clinch.

Hodges rushes Ernst and presses him up against the cage.
Ernst landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ernst scores a nice knee to the body.
Ernst misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Hodges breaks the clinch.
Hodges plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ernst gets tackled into the cage by Hodges. Hodges maintains the clinch.

Hodges breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ernst fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hodges manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernst misses with an uppercut.
Hodges is looking to chop away at Ernst's legs.
Ernst throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Ernst moves into the clinch.
Hodges wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ernst has him pressed against the cage.
Hodges avoiding damage as Ernst throws knees to the body.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hodges avoids it.
Ernst lands a knee to the head.
Ernst is looking for a takedown.
Ernst is pushing Hodges up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ernst prevents Hodges from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hodges breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ernst fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hodges manages to avoid it.
Ernst checks a leg kick.
Hodges throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gerald Hodges seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hodges throws a head kick that misses.
Ernst takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hodges misses with a leg kick.
A head kick from Hodges lands but Ernst takes it in his stride.

It looks like Tim Ernst has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ernst throws an overhand right that lands on Hodges's shoulder, as Hodges tries to avoid the shot.
Ernst looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hodges buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ernst is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hodges misses with a low kick.
Hodges drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Ernst has managed to clinch.
Hodges keeps control of Ernst as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hodges is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Hodges's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hodges wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ernst has him pressed against the cage.
Ernst throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ernst tries to work over Hodges's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ernst throws a head punch that misses.
Ernst throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hodges is trying to push Ernst away but Ernst has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knees to the body from Ernst.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hodges on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hodges breaks the clinch.
Ernst misses with a looping left.
Ernst misses with a straight right.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ernst blocks a head kick by Hodges.
Ernst lands a two punch combo.
Ernst avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Ernst dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tim Ernst's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ernst avoids the head kick by Hodges.
Ernst blocks a head kick by Hodges.
Good standup being displayed there by Ernst as he connects with a hook.
Ernst fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ernst loads up on a big right hand but Hodges slips the punch.

Ernst tries to keep at a distance but Hodges has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Ernst.

Hodges is rocked!
Ernst throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hodges blocks it with crossed arms.
Hodges is still on wobbly legs! Can Ernst finish him?
Ernst fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Hodges blocks with his arms.
Ernst throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ernst looking to throw knees to the head but Hodges is blocking nicely.
Ernst throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hodges blocks it with crossed arms.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Hodges blocks with his arms.
Ernst with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hodges is trying to break the clinch but Ernst is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Ernst fails to land.
Ernst swings wildly with an uppercut but Hodges uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hodges blocks an uppercut.
Ernst tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ernst tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ernst tries for a takedown but Hodges manages to get underhooks.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Hodges blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ernst with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ernst misses with a hook from the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hodges's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ernst using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hodges has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tim Ernst has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ernst tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ernst fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ernst throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hodges blocks it with crossed arms.
Hodges blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ernst throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hodges seems to have recovered his senses.

Hodges escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hodges rushes Ernst and presses him up against the cage.
Ernst is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ernst misses with a knee to the head.
Hodges tries to break the clinch but Ernst is controlling the position.
Hodges is trying to break the clinch but Ernst has him pressed against the cage.
Hodges has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges letting Ernst take a breather here.
Hodges tries to break the clinch but Ernst is controlling the position.

Hodges breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hodges pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hodges rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ernst moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ernst on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hodges. Hodges obviously looking to wear him down.
Hodges tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hodges tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hodges closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ernst swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hodges takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst looking to throw knees to the head but Hodges is blocking nicely.
Hodges tries to break free but Ernst pushes him back against the cage.
Hodges is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ernst tries a knee to the head but Hodges blocks it.
Hodges wants to break free but Ernst has control.
Ernst doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Hodges manages to break the clinch.
Ernst waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hodges.
Ernst throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot lands for Ernst.
Ernst misses with a body shot.
Ernst wants to clinch up but Hodges keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hodges connects with a solid leg kick.
Hodges moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Hodges instigates a clinch.
Ernst with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Hodges manages to break the clinch.
Hodges is looking to land body kicks.
Hodges throws a quick inside leg kick.
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.
Hodges looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ernst cracks Hodges with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
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 Tim Ernst will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tim Ernst's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ernst ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ernst takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ernst misses with a wild body shot.
Hodges misses with a kick to the body.
Hodges pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hodges takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ernst rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hodges moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Ernst instigates a clinch.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Hodges blocks with his arms.

Hodges breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ernst checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gerald Hodges seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Hodges clinches up with Ernst and pushes him back against the cage.
Ernst misses with a hook from the clinch.

Hodges pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hodges fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ernst, pushing him back against the cage.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Hodges blocks with his arms.
Ernst lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Hodges manages to break the clinch.
Ernst tries to clinch up.

Hodges fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ernst, pushing him back against the cage.
Ernst misses with the head strike.
Ernst with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hodges's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hodges throws a head kick that misses.
Ernst avoids the head kick by Hodges.

Hodges clinches with his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ernst stalling in the clinch but Hodges improves position.
Ernst lands an uppercut.
Ernst wants to get back to striking at distance but Hodges won't allow it.
Stalling in the clinch from Ernst.
Ernst misses with a knee to the head.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hodges has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gerald Hodges has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ernst lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hodges up against the cage.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ernst just leaning against Hodges, taking a breather.

Hodges escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hodges moves into the clinch.

Hodges breaks the clinch.
Tim Ernst is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hodges is looking to slow Ernst down with leg kicks.
Hodges turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ernst fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hodges checks it well.
Hodges throws a head kick but Ernst moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodges throws a sloppy head kick and Ernst moves out of range easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ernst checks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hodges, right into the meat.
Ernst lands a slapping body shot.

Hodges moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hodges's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hodges managing to block the knees to the body from Ernst.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ernst misses with a shot to the kidneys.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hodges scores with a shot to the side of Ernst's head.
Hodges scores with a shot to the side of Ernst's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hodges.
Hodges tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerald Hodges comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ernst 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerald Hodges!
Gerald Hodges was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.