PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Monkey Business (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JD Hogg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Business
vs
Hogg

225 cm
26
300 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

185 cm
27
260 lbs
15 - 5 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

KnockOut

Lion Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Monkey Business!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, JD Hogg!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Business closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hogg quickly recovers to half guard.
Business uses his free foot to push down on Hogg's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hogg.
Hogg tries to hold on but Business pushes him away.
Business raining down hammerfists from mount.
Hogg really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Business thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Business wants to finish this one by submission but Hogg is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Business.

Business is working for a guillotine from mount but Hogg frees his head quite easily.

Business is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hogg has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hogg!
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.
Hogg content to stall in guard here.
Business is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Business is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Business is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hogg defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hogg is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Business is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hogg defends well.
Hogg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Business is keeping the position for now.
Hogg engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Business not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hogg sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Business wants to control the position but Hogg says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hogg seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Business wants to get back to full guard.

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.
Hogg wants to pass to mount but Business is defending the position.
Business trying to control but Hogg postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Hogg shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hogg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Business throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hogg escapes and throws Business's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Business regains half guard.
Business makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Business.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Business is controlling Hogg's posture.

Business working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hogg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hogg 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.

That was a close round but I would say that Monkey Business 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.

Hogg feints and as Business raises his hands in defense, Hogg changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Business keeping moving, preventing Hogg from controlling successfully.
Hogg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Business looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Business is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hogg defends well.

Business is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Business has his foot on Hogg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hogg works his way back into a safe position though.
Hogg works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hogg in particular looking to stall.
Business is trying to control but can't.
Business wants to improve his position but Hogg is controlling well.
Business wants to sweep but Hogg has passed to side control!
Business can't do much from the bottom here.
Hogg is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Hogg working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Business can't do much from the bottom here.
Business is holding Hogg down, trying to stall.
Hogg tries to move to mount but Business blocks the move with his legs.
JD Hogg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Business gets back to half guard.
Hogg slows the pace down in half guard.
Business is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hogg's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hogg's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hogg is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Hogg defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Business's arms.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Business has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hogg has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Business misses with punches from the back.

That's four 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.
Business struggling to land strikes to the head as Hogg covers up.
Business punches the canvas rather than the man.
Business tries to keep control of the position but Hogg is staying busy.

Business patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Hogg defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Business's arms.

Business is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hogg has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hogg rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Monkey Business will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Business feints and as Hogg raises his hands in defense, Business changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Business controls from within his opponent's guard.

Business is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hogg is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hogg has escaped and now he's on top!

Business is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Business throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hogg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Business not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Business keeping moving, preventing Hogg from controlling successfully.
Business wants to hit a switch here but Hogg passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Business there!
Business is trying to escape the mount.
Hogg trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Business is desperately trying to improve his position but Hogg has a good base and remains in mount.
Business tries to hold on but Hogg pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogg controlling the pace for now.
Business tries to hold on but Hogg pushes him away.
Hogg content just to control the position here.
Business is looking to get to half guard.
Hogg tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Business really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
JD Hogg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogg throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Business keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hogg controlling from the full mount.
Hogg is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Hogg controlling from the full mount.
Business sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hogg performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Business actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Business actively working from the bottom here.
Hogg throwing shots but Business is blocking nicely.
Business wants to get back to full guard.
Hogg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hogg passes to side control.
Business is not content to let Hogg control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Business defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
JD Hogg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Business 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Monkey Business!
Monkey Business thanked the fans post fight for their support.