PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Richie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fifn Hogj (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.

Richie
vs
Hogj

190 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Richie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fifn Hogj!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hogj shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Richie is trying to defend but Hogj finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hogj trying to control from half guard but Richie is working away.
Hogj looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Richie wants to get back to his feet.
Richie trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Hogj blocks the strikes from Richie.
Hogj wants to pass the guard but Richie is defending well.

Hogj is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Richie sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogj throwing shots but Richie is blocking nicely.

Richie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hogj pulls his head out easily.
Hogj wants to lay and pray for a moment but Richie keeps working.
Richie is looking for a sweep. Hogj is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richie is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hogj is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hogj wants to take a breather but Richie is having none of it.
Richie looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hogj trying to control the action but Richie is working from the bottom.
Hogj might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Richie haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Fifn Hogj.
Hogj tries to close the distance and clinch but Richie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Richie misses with a takedown attempt
and Hogj counters with a three punch combo that has Richie backing up. Richie nods at Hogj to acknowledge the strikes.
Hogj stuffs the takedown.
Richie is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Richie does no damage.
Hogj looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Richie takes a swing at Hogj's ribcage but misses.
Hogj fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Hogj takes the fight into the clinch.

Hogj ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hogj no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hogj is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richie is controlling him.
Hogj keeping moving, preventing Richie from controlling successfully.
Hogj is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richie slips nicely into half guard.
Richie trying to control the action but Hogj is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Richie is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Hogj as he works his way to full guard.
Richie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Richie doesn't manage to clinch there - Hogj circles away.
Richie slips a jab and a cross from Hogj.
Richie doesn't manage to clinch there - Hogj circles away.
Richie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hogj counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hogj.
Hogj is looking to stand up but Richie won't let him.
Hogj trying to control but Richie is working from the bottom.
Hogj missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hogj slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hogj gets to mount! Richie was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogj throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Hogj moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Richie has worked his arm free - good work by Richie!

Hogj stands up.
Richie shoots in for a takedown but Hogj shows good takedown defense.

Richie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hogj to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Richie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richie controls Hogj momentarily but Hogj frees himself.
Hogj sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hogj wants to control from the top but Richie keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fifn Hogj was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hogj tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Richie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Richie.
Hogj tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Richie taking a breather here.
Richie gets to mount! Hogj was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richie with good strikes from the mount here!
Richie looking to control but Hogj is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hogj wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Hogj manages to reverse the position and now he's in Richie's guard. Nice work there by Hogj.
Richie wants to get back to his feet but Hogj is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Richie holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fifn Hogj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Richie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Richie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hogj napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hogj wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Hogj is looking for a sweep.
Richie scores with punches from side control.
Hogj is trying to get back to half guard.
Richie controls the position.

Richie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hogj tries to bench press Richie off him but Richie keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richie is trying to get an arm triangle but Hogj is defending well.
Hogj tries to bench press Richie off him but Richie keeps the position.
Hogj manages to get back to half guard.
Hogj looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hogj trying to get back to full guard but Richie takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Hogj takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Richie tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogj bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Richie keeping moving, preventing Hogj from controlling successfully.
Richie wants to sweep but no luck.
Hogj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Richie wants to sweep here but Hogj controlling him for the moment.
Hogj is working Richie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richie wants to control but Hogj passes easily into half guard.
Hogj thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hogj looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Richie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hogj pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richie is keeping the position for now.
Fifn Hogj has got the better of the ground game so far.

Richie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hogj is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogj pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richie is keeping the position for now.
Hogj is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hogj lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hogj stops Richie from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hogj stands and throws Richie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hogj is looking to take a break and control but Richie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fifn Hogj.
Well Hogj 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 Nard Betker scores the fight for Fifn Hogj!
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Fifn Hogj!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Fifn Hogj!

Fifn Hogj wins by unanimous decision!