PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Karlyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon The Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Karlyle
vs
The Hammer

178 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Karlyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brandon The Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlyle scores with a punch to the head.
The Hammer blocks a head kick by Karlyle.

The Hammer gets caught flat footed, as Karlyle shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Karlyle wants to get up but he can't break The Hammer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The Hammer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karlyle is one step ahead there.
The Hammer keeping moving, preventing Karlyle from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Hammer keeping full guard, as Karlyle tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlyle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karlyle tries to free his leg and advance position but The Hammer is retaining full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The Hammer will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Karlyle tries for a takedown but The Hammer circles away easily
and The Hammer counters with a two punch combo.
Karlyle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and The Hammer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Karlyle won't be happy with that.
The Hammer looks winded!
Check out the look on The Hammer's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Who's going to make the next move?
The Hammer working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlyle is trying to buck The Hammer off.
Karlyle is trying to improve his position.
The Hammer working the ground and pound.
Karlyle is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Hammer staying calm.
Karlyle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The Hammer is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Karlyle's shoulder. That is not cool.
Let's hope that The Hammer has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karlyle looks for a takedown but The Hammer sprawls well.
The Hammer only half commits to the counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Karlyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
The Hammer tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Karlyle defends well and The Hammer ends up having to push Karlyle into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Karlyle misses with a takedown
and The Hammer counters with a one-two to the body.
Karlyle misses with a takedown attempt

and The Hammer counters by moving into the clinch.

Karlyle manages to break the clinch.

The Hammer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Karlyle's half guard.
The Hammer lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The Hammer is trying to control. Karlyle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon The Hammer dominated that round.
That's time! Karlyle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The Hammer drives through with a takedown into Karlyle's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Karlyle trying to control the position here.
Karlyle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Karlyle advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karlyle wants to take a breather but The Hammer manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Karlyle.

Karlyle gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The Hammer is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hammer is trying hard to land a takedown here. Karlyle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And Karlyle counters with a quick kick to the body but The Hammer blocks it.
Karlyle connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
James Karlyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Hammer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karlyle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karlyle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The Hammer shoots in for a takedown but Karlyle shows good takedown defense.
Karlyle fails to land the takedown.
Karlyle sets himself, and The Hammer steps forward looking for the clinch! Karlyle avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Hammer shoots and misses
and Karlyle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James Karlyle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon The Hammer.
The Hammer leaves Karlyle with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Karlyle misses with a series of wild punches.
The Hammer with the counter takedown but Karlyle avoids it easily.
The Hammer has a takedown stuffed.
Karlyle drops down looking for a counter takedown but The Hammer sprawls and moves away.
The Hammer steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Karlyle. That one must have hurt.

Karlyle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

The Hammer sneaks out the side door and pushes Karlyle away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlyle shoots in and drives through. The Hammer sprawls well.
A big right from Karlyle misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from The Hammer.
The Hammer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Karlyle darts in looking for a takedown but The Hammer gets double underhooks and turns Karlyle into the cage.
The Hammer avoids a kick to the body.
The Hammer dives in for a single leg takedown but Karlyle sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karlyle scores with a takedown into The Hammer's guard.
Karlyle looking to sit in guard and control but The Hammer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The Hammer content to stall in guard here.
The Hammer stops Karlyle from standing up.
The Hammer is stalling in the full guard.
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 James Karlyle will probably get the nod.
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!

Karlyle moves in looking to clinch but The Hammer pushes him off.
Karlyle misses with a double jab.
The Hammer shoots in and drives through. Karlyle sprawls well.
Karlyle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Karlyle fails to land the takedown.
Karlyle fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The Hammer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Karlyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karlyle connects with a high kick.
Karlyle shoots in for a takedown but The Hammer shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The Hammer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlyle is trying to get back to half guard.
The Hammer 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.
Karlyle tries to buck The Hammer off but The Hammer is having none of it.
Karlyle tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Karlyle is wriggling around trying to escape.
The Hammer lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Hammer takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from The Hammer.
The Hammer avoids the attempt from Karlyle to control.
The Hammer controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Hammer lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Karlyle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Brandon The Hammer has got the better of the ground game so far.
The Hammer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Karlyle tries to lock up and control but The Hammer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karlyle is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because The Hammer is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee warns Karlyle that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Karlyle taking shots to the head.
Karlyle is wriggling around trying to escape.
The Hammer controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The Hammer is standing up, even though he is in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon The Hammer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think The Hammer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon The Hammer!
A victorious Brandon The Hammer thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.