PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brett Hartlock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sambo Rambo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hartlock comes to the cage accompanied by Shoot To Thrill by AC/DC. Brett Hartlock has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hartlock
vs
Rambo

187 cm
24
172 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

166 cm
24
170 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MMA Hype Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brett Hartlock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sambo Rambo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rambo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rambo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hartlock throws a low kick but Rambo avoids it.
Rambo throws a series of punches but Hartlock avoids them all with ease.
Hartlock slips a jab from Rambo.
Rambo throws a low kick, looking for Hartlock's leg but Hartlock calmly moves out of range.
A big right from Rambo misses.
Hartlock feinted with a counter takedown.
Rambo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hartlock scoring well with a low kick there.
Hartlock turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rambo blocks a leg kick.
Hartlock tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rambo swivels and escapes.
Rambo throws a big shot that misses.

Rambo instigates a clinch.
Rambo misses with a punch on the inside.
Rambo misses with some punches.
Rambo is leaning against Hartlock and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rambo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rambo lands a right hand.
Hartlock goes for a takedown attempt but Rambo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rambo rushes Hartlock and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hartlock turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rambo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hartlock.
Rambo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rambo is looking for a sweep.
Rambo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rambo keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartlock landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Hartlock throws a strike aimed at the side of Rambo's head but Rambo avoids it well.
Hartlock working the ground and pound but Rambo is defending the strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hartlock tries to advance to mount but Rambo denies him.
Hartlock is chipping away with strikes.
Hartlock wants to control but Rambo is keeping him busy.
Rambo can't do much from the bottom here.
Hartlock tries to score with some ground and pound. Rambo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rambo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rambo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hartlock is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hartlock seems to be working for a kimura but Rambo defends the submission attempt.
Hartlock will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rambo has hold of Hartlock's hands but Hartlock slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rambo tries to get to full guard but Hartlock has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hartlock is taking a breather. Rambo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rambo manages to get to full guard.
Hartlock connects with a couple of short punches.
Hartlock has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartlock preventing the sweep.
Hartlock throwing strikes but missing.
Hartlock slips nicely into half guard.
Rambo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rambo.
Hartlock landing some decent shots from guard.
Hartlock trying to control the position from guard on top but Rambo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brett Hartlock will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice defenses there by Rambo.
Hartlock throws a nice head kick!
Rambo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hartlock.
Rambo misses with an uppercut.

Hartlock closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rambo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hartlock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rambo keeps working.
Hartlock is looking to advance position but Rambo won't allow it.
Hartlock content to control rather than advance.
Rambo felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Brett Hartlock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rambo wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rambo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rambo wants to improve his position but Hartlock is controlling well.
Hartlock thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hartlock stalling away here and it's allowed Rambo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rambo can't keep his opponent in guard - Hartlock advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hartlock throwing shots but Rambo is blocking nicely.

Hartlock is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hartlock is looking to stall here but Rambo recovers full guard.
Hartlock stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rambo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hartlock postures up in Rambo's guard and throws a big left but Rambo blocks it.
Rambo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hartlock.
Hartlock throws a strike but Rambo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rambo wants to pass the guard but Hartlock is keeping the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rambo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartlock wants to sweep but no luck.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hartlock closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rambo to the mat! Rambo manages to get full guard.
Hartlock preventing the sweep.
Hartlock missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rambo looking to control.
Rambo wants to sweep here but Hartlock controlling him for the moment.
Rambo keeping moving, preventing Hartlock from controlling successfully.

Rambo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hartlock defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rambo keeping moving, preventing Hartlock from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rambo is pulling down on Hartlock's head. It's preventing any offense from Hartlock, at least for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rambo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hartlock's sensitive parts.
Hartlock shoots in but no luck this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hartlock takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rambo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hartlock throws a head kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Rambo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Hartlock dominated that second round.
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!

Rambo moves into the clinch successfully.
Hartlock is looking for a takedown.
Hartlock wants a takedown but no success here.
Rambo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hartlock is trying to break the clinch but Rambo has him pressed against the cage.
Hartlock has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rambo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brett Hartlock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hartlock trying to stall but Rambo improves his position.
Rambo throws a punch but it's blocked by Hartlock.
Rambo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hartlock is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rambo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rambo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hartlock is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rambo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rambo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hartlocks head.
Rambo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rambo is pressed up against the cage. Hartlock has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rambo down to the mat. Rambo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hartlock wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hartlock takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rambo scoring well with a low kick there.
Rambo moves in looking to clinch but Hartlock pushes him off.
Rambo misses with a combination
and Hartlock counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hartlock darts in looking for a takedown but Rambo gets double underhooks and turns Hartlock into the cage.

Hartlock shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hartlock showed some decent athleticism there.

Hartlock is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rambo defends it well.
Rambo manages to get to full guard.
Rambo wants to sweep here but Hartlock controlling him for the moment.
Sambo Rambo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brett Hartlock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rambo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hartlock wants to control from the top but Rambo keeps moving.
Hartlock controlling from the top position.
Rambo looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rambo wants to sweep here but Hartlock controlling him for the moment.
Hartlock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rambo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Brett Hartlock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Rambo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rambo throws a combination. Hartlock tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Hartlock changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rambo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hartlock remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rambo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hartlock wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hartlock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rambo keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartlock controls the position from side control.
Rambo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hartlock is staying active underneath Rambo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hartlock trying to control but Rambo postures up.
Rambo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hartlock makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hartlock.
Hartlock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sambo Rambo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hartlock 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brett Hartlock!
An out of breath and clearly excited Brett Hartlock thanked MMA Hype Apparel for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).