PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pat Tillman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Hound (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tillman
vs
Hound

177 cm
23
159 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

172 cm
26
155 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pat Tillman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, The Hound!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tillman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hound.
Tillman defending well as Hound loads up on a big left hand.
Hound throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hound lands a body shot.
Tillman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Tillman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hound.
Hound is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tillman was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Tillman staying out of range there.

Hound shoots in and gets a takedown into Tillman's guard.
Tillman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hound trying to control but Tillman is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hound trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hound missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hound throwing strikes from guard but Tillman blocks nicely.
Tillman trying to keep a closed guard but Hound is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hound in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tillman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hound connects with a couple of short punches.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hound working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Hound postures up in Tillman's guard and throws a big left but Tillman blocks it.
Tillman wants to sweep here but Hound controlling him for the moment.
Hound trying to control but Tillman is working from the bottom.
Hound trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Tillman has an active guard here but Hound has managed to pass into half guard.
Hound not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hound is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hound trying to control from half guard but Tillman is working away.
Hound has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tillman is looking to improve his position.
Hound thows a huge punch but Tillman dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tillman has hold of Hound's hands but Hound slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tillman trying to control but Hound postures up.
Tillman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hound.
Tillman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hound.
Tillman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hound slips a nice elbow through Tillman's hands, connecting with Tillman's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hound lands a nice short elbow.
Hound thows a huge punch but Tillman dodges it nicely.
Tillman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hound is working away from the top position though.
Tillman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hound is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tillman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hound.
Hound throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hound throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tillman to regain full guard.
Tillman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hound not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hound looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tillman is looking to work some ground and pound but Hound has wrist control.
Tillman trying to control the position from guard on top but Hound is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hound wants to sweep here but Tillman controlling him for the moment.
Hound working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tillman.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tillman won't allow Hound to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Hound dominated that 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.

Hound scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hound throws out a loose jab but Tillman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tillman slips a jab and a cross from Hound.
A shot to the body from Hound misses
and Tillman finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hound throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tillman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hound.
Tillman lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hound throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Tillman counters by clinching up.
Hound blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tillman.
Hound lands an uppercut.
Tillman lands with a right to the head.

Hound gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tillman regains guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Tillman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hound trying to control but Tillman is working from the bottom.
Tillman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hound slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tillman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hound's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tillman trying to hold on to Hound's head to control him but Hound postures up.

Hound seems to be working for a kimura but Tillman defends the submission attempt.
Tillman moves into full guard.
Tillman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tillman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tillman tries to free his leg and advance position but Hound is retaining full guard.
Tillman throwing strikes from guard but Hound blocks nicely.
Tillman throws an elbow that misses. Hound uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tillman's guard. Nice move by Hound!

Hound has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hound chips away with some ground and pound.

Tillman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hound sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hound won't allow Tillman to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillman is adopting a defensive guard.
Hound is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hound trying to control but Tillman is working from the bottom.
Hound trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hound working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Tillman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hound defends it easily.

Tillman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hound gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hound is looking to work some ground and pound but Tillman has wrist control.
Tillman looking for a sweep. Not yet Tillman, not yet.
Hound throws a strike but Tillman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hound is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hound is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tillman gets full guard.
The Hound has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hound distracts Tillman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Tillman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hound doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hound manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but The Hound will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tillman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hound on the side of the head.
Tillman digs a good hook to Hound's body.

Hound shoots in and bounces Tillman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tillman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hound throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tillman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hound postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tillman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hound manages to get himself to full guard.

Hound working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tillman.
Tillman preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hound lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tillman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hound can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hound trying to move into half guard but instead Tillman has managed to sweep!

Tillman advances position into side control!
Tillman is chipping away with strikes.
Hound is trying to control Tillman's posture but Tillman avoids it.
Hound tries to buck Tillman off but Tillman is having none of it.
Pat Tillman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hound is still trying to improve position.
Tillman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hound keeps working.
Hound manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hound has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tillman is working away from the top position though.
Hound keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillman is trying to control. Hound wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tillman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hound wants to improve his position but Tillman is controlling well.
Tillman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hound does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tillman lands a slapping body shot.
The Hound seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hound closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hound lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hound forces his way into half guard.

Tillman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hound working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tillman has a hand on Hound's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hound takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Hound scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tillman is looking to get to half guard.
Hound connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to The Hound.
I've got Hound winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Hound!
A very excited looking The Hound made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.