PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tom Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ross Peerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peerson has chosen Good Feeling as his entrance music. Ross Peerson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hammer
vs
Peerson

165 cm
29
157 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

170 cm
28
150 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ross Peerson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Peerson as he avoids it easily.

Peerson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hammer wants to control but Peerson is keeping busy.
Hammer has hold of Peerson's hands but Peerson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Peerson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Peerson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Peerson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Peerson slows the pace down in half guard.
Hammer is concentrating on defense, preventing Peerson from advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peerson is looking to advance position but Hammer won't allow it.

Peerson decides to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Peerson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hammer misses with a takedown attempt - Peerson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Peerson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hammer.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Hammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Peerson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hammer's guard.
Peerson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hammer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hammer trying to control the position.

Peerson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peerson throws a nice looking combination but Hammer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Peerson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hammer.
Hammer shoots in but Peerson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Peerson throws a series of punches but Hammer moves out of range.
Hammer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Peerson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Peerson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hammer circles away quickly and effectively.
Hammer is looking to clinch but Peerson is avoiding it.

Hammer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammer misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Hammer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Peerson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hammer but great work by Peerson.

Peerson stands up and beckons Hammer to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peerson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Peerson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hammer.
Peerson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hammer.
Hammer dodges the punch combination from Peerson.
Peerson looks to land a right hand but Hammer moved out of range.
Hammer shoots for a takedown but Peerson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hammer tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Peerson defends well and Hammer ends up having to push Peerson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hammer is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Peerson to keep the fight standing.
Hammer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Peerson breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peerson motions for Hammer to come forward. Peerson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Peerson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hammer sprawls well initially but Peerson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Peerson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Peerson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hammer is staying active underneath Peerson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Peerson is thwarting Hammer's attempts to control the position.
Peerson is controlling the pace.
Hammer is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Peerson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Peerson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Peerson throws a series of punches but Hammer moves out of range.

Hammer closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Hammer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Well, if Hammer is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Peerson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hammer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer wants to take a breather but Peerson is having none of it.
Peerson is looking for a sweep. Hammer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Peerson punching from the bottom.

Peerson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Peerson lands with a nice combination. Hammer backs away looking to recover.
Peerson throws a hook to the side of Hammer's head but Hammer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peerson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hammer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Peerson.
Hammer just misses with a punch to the body.
Peerson motions for Hammer to come forward. Peerson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Peerson misses.
Peerson throws a right hand that Hammer ducks under and follows up with a left that Hammer also avoids with ease.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Peerson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hammer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hammer throws a right and a left that Peerson avoids nicely.

Hammer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Peerson's half guard.
Hammer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Peerson's head.

Peerson is defending against the submission attempts here by Hammer.
Peerson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hammer is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Peerson wants to improve his position but Hammer is controlling well.

Hammer is trying to work for a kimura but Peerson is defending well.

Hammer is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Peerson sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hammer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hammer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Peerson keeps working.

Hammer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peerson is looking to control Hammer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Peerson avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ross Peerson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Peerson, right into the meat.

Peerson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hammer manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Peerson content to stall in guard here.
Hammer looking to control.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Peerson from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Peerson looking to pass the guard.
Peerson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Peerson from controlling successfully.
Peerson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hammer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Peerson.
Peerson misses with the combination.

Hammer dives in and scores a takedown into Peerson's guard.
Peerson wants to stand up but Hammer is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer throws a strike but Peerson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Peerson is looking to work some ground and pound but Hammer has wrist control.
Hammer seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Peerson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammer wants to sweep but no luck.

Hammer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Peerson is aware though and is defending well.
Peerson postures up.
Peerson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Peerson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peerson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Peerson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Peerson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hammer's head.

Hammer working for a triangle but Peerson defends it easily.
Peerson wanted to stand there but Hammer had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Peerson preventing the sweep.
Hammer is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Peerson misses with a two punch combination.

Peerson closes the distance and pushes Hammer back into the cage.
Peerson stops a takedown attempt from Hammer.
Peerson has had enough of the clinch but Hammer keeps him there for the moment.
Hammer wants to take the fight to the mat but Peerson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tom Hammer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ross Peerson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hammer looking for a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ross Peerson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Peerson 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ross Peerson!
A relieved looking Ross Peerson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.