PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mattia Ricon (ranked 4771 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Hammer (ranked 4624 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer has chosen I am a Dragon as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ricon
vs
Hammer

192 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Mattia Ricon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jack Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ricon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ricon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Ricon postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Hammer to stand up.
Ricon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hammer but Hammer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hammer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hammer is looking to clinch but Ricon is avoiding it.
Hammer tries to clinch up but Ricon circles away and keeps his distance.
Hammer slips a jab and a cross from Ricon.
Hammer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ricon has Hammer up against the cage in a clinch.

Ricon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Ricon manages to end up in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hammer trying to remain calm as Ricon controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer is pushing Ricon's head away, looking to escape. Ricon manages to hold on to the position though.

Ricon stands up.

Ricon has managed to clinch.
A short right from Ricon.

Ricon tightens his grip and picks Hammer up, before dumping him to the ground. Hammer manages to land in guard.
Ricon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ricon won't allow Hammer to get back to his feet.
Ricon controlling from the top position.
Ricon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ricon decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ricon misses with a hook. Hammer ducked under it nicely.
Hammer throws a low kick but Ricon moves out of range easily.
Hammer looks to land a combination but Ricon avoids it well.
A big right from Hammer misses.

Ricon gets a clinch.

Hammer ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hammer no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ricon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ricon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hammer wants to stand but Ricon is controlling the position.
Ricon cracks Hammer with a solid left hand.
Hammer wants to stand up but Ricon is controlling him.
Ricon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Hammer slaps away a takedown attempt from Ricon, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Hammer gets tackled into the cage by Ricon. Ricon maintains the clinch.
Hammer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ricon is defending well for now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ricon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hammer avoids it.
Hammer misses with a knee strike.

Ricon has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hammer clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Hammer manages to stand up with Ricon still on his back. Eventually Ricon drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Hammer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ricon looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
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 Mattia Ricon will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hammer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ricon swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ricon closes the distance and clinches.
Hammer tries to pull guard but Ricon won't allow it.
Ricon dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Ricon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hammer misses with a combination

and Ricon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hammer is trying to break the clinch but Ricon has him pressed against the cage.

Ricon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ricon closes the distance and clinches up with Hammer, looking for a takedown. Ricon pushes Hammer against the cage but Hammer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hammer fails to land with a series of punches.

Ricon is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hammer's half guard.
Ricon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricon trying to mount his opponent but Hammer defends it.
Ricon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hammer on the ground.
Ricon sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ricon prevents Hammer from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ricon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hammer is trying to stand back up but Ricon is controlling him

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No joy there for Hammer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Ricon gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ricon jumps into guard, dragging Hammer to the mat.
Ricon has his hands on Hammer's head, controlling the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to stand but Ricon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Ricon has his foot on Hammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hammer works his way back into a safe position though.

Ricon is working an open guard so Hammer takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Jack Hammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hammer tries to clinch up.
Ricon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hammer can do to turn this around?
Ricon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hammer sprawls well. Hammer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ricon gets slowly back to his feet.
Hammer lands a nice hook to Ricon's body. Ricon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer lands a nice looking body shot.
Hammer throws a nice looking combination but Ricon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jack Hammer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ricon dodges the punch combination from Hammer.

Ricon closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hammer quickly recovers to half guard.
Hammer tries to kick Ricon off but Ricon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ricon is nestled in close to Hammer, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ricon decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Hammer is breathing heavily.
Hammer scores with a hook to the body. Ricon takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
Hammer throws a combination. Ricon tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Hammer 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!

A looping hook to the body misses from Hammer. Ricon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ricon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hammer swivels and escapes.
Ricon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hammer.
Ricon slips under a jab.
Hammer thumps Ricon with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ricon jumps guard and drags Hammer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Hammer stands and steps away. Ricon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer scores with a shot to the body.
Ricon takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Ricon closes the distance and clinches.
Ricon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hammer walks away with a smile on his face. Ricon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammer digs a good body shot into Ricon's ribs.
Hammer works Ricon's body with a nice hook.
Hammer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ricon takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hammer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ricon throws a wild body kick that Hammer sees coming a mile off.
Hammer throws a sloppy head kick and Ricon moves out of range easily.
Hammer scores with a jab to the body.
Hammer lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Ricon is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hammer is looking to clinch.
Oh Ricon is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ricon get stunned by a cross and takes another one on the button. Ricon stumbles backwards and tries to bounce back off the cage but Hammer runs in and jumps on him with a leaping lead hook that puts him out! Wow, that was highlight reel stuff! Awesome finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jack Hammer!
Jack Hammer tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.