PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Terry Hobbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Polly Italiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Polly Italiano is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Hobbs
vs
Italiano

184 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Terry Hobbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Polly Italiano!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hobbs moves into the clinch.

Italiano has Hobbs pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Italiano pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hobbs tumbling to the mat - Italiano dives into Hobbs's guard.
Hobbs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hobbs is controlling Italiano's posture.
Hobbs looking for a sweep. Not yet Hobbs, not yet.
Italiano trying to control but Hobbs is working from the bottom.
Hobbs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Hobbs has an active guard here but Italiano has managed to pass into half guard.
Italiano stops Hobbs from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hobbs is not content to let Italiano control the position.
Hobbs trying to control from the bottom.
Hobbs is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Italiano is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hobbs fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Italiano is out of range.

Italiano fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hobbs, pushing him back against the cage.
Italiano cracks Hobbs with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Italiano successfully pulls guard.
Italiano wants to stand up but Hobbs is controlling him.
Hobbs controls from within his opponent's guard.

Italiano is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Italiano wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs won't allow Italiano to sweep him here.
Italiano should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Italiano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Italiano pulls Hobbs in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Italiano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Polly Italiano.

Italiano has closed the distance and engaged Hobbs in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Italiano pulls guard successfully.
Hobbs looking to sit in guard and control but Italiano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hobbs is trying to control the position but Italiano postures up.
Italiano trying to control but Hobbs is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Italiano prevents Hobbs from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Polly Italiano dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Italiano moves into the clinch.
Italiano scores with a knee to the head.

Hobbs is rocked!

It looks like Terry Hobbs has been cut.

Italiano is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hobbs can't fight it off and eventually Italiano manages to take the fight to the floor. Hobbs looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Italiano trying to control the position from guard on top but Hobbs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hobbs looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hobbs is looking to stand up but Italiano isn't so interested in that idea.
Italiano trying to control but Hobbs is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polly Italiano has got the better of the ground game so far.

Polly Italiano has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Italiano lands a leg kick that knocks Hobbs off balance momentarily.
Hobbs darts in looking for a takedown but Italiano gets double underhooks and turns Hobbs into the cage.

Italiano gets control of Hobbs's arms and successfully pulls guard. Italiano will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Italiano doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hobbs stopping the sweep attempt from Italiano.

Italiano pushes Hobbs off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Italiano dives in and scores a takedown into Hobbs's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hobbs tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Italiano drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hobbs looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hobbs looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hobbs!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Italiano is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Italiano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hobbs wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Italiano tries to escape but Hobbs is in control.
Italiano manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Italiano tries to get to full guard but Hobbs has control of the leg.
Italiano trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Hobbs avoids the attempt from Italiano to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hobbs tries to control but Italiano wriggling away.
Italiano tries to hold on but Hobbs postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hobbs looking to control but Italiano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Polly Italiano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Terry Hobbs'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. This is the final round!

Italiano moves into the clinch.

Italiano breaks the clinch.

Italiano moves into the clinch successfully.
Hobbs tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Italiano gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hobbs regains guard.
Hobbs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Italiano prevents Hobbs from getting back to his feet.
Hobbs can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Italiano controls the pace.
Hobbs trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Italiano scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Italiano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hobbs does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Italiano gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Italiano feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Italiano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hobbs is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs looking to control.

Italiano stands up and waves to Hobbs to follow him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Italiano fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hobbs to the ground. Italiano is now in Hobbs's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hobbs has Italiano pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hobbs controls Italiano momentarily but Italiano frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Terry Hobbs wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hobbs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hobbs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hobbs fails with an attempt to clinch.

Italiano looking to score a takedown here. Hobbs is defending well but Italiano drives through and ends up in Hobbs's guard.
Italiano controlling from the top position.
Italiano trying to control but Hobbs is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Polly Italiano has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Hobbs rushes Italiano and presses him up against the cage.

Italiano breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Italiano closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hobbs did well to prevent Italiano getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Italiano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hobbs does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Terry Hobbs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Polly Italiano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Italiano content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Polly Italiano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Italiano 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Polly Italiano!