PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Hammer (ranked 2659 p4p, 4588 weight class) and Alex Vader (ranked 367 p4p, 534 weight class). Hammer comes to the cage accompanied by Dominator. The crowd seem to be enjoying Vader's choice of entrance music: Imperial March. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hammer
vs
Vader

180 cm
25
170
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
182
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cruz Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Vader!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vader gets a clinch.
Hammer has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vader after a bit of a struggle.

Vader pulls Hammer into guard.
Hammer landing with the ground and pound.

Vader working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hammer has passed into half guard!

Hammer wants to work for an arm triangle but Vader is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader is trying to get back to full guard.
Hammer is keen to just control but Vader is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hammer is working for a kimura but Vader is defending it quite comfortably.
Vader slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hammer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammer 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.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Vader keeps moving.
Vader keeping full guard, as Hammer tries to pass.
Hammer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vader looking to control.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Vader keeps moving.

Vader is looking for a triangle but Hammer pushes his legs off easily.
Vader wants to sweep here but Hammer controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vader is pulling down on Hammer's head to control his posture.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vader changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hammer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hammer stops Vader from passing to mount.
Hammer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vader's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hammer trying to hold on to Vader's head to control him but Vader postures up.
Hammer is looking for a sweep. Vader is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hammer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hammer looking for submissions off his back.
Vader is looking to take a break and control but Hammer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader prevents Hammer from improving his position.
Hammer is looking to control Vader's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hammer avoid being mounted?

Hammer is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vader pulls his head out easily.
Vader is looking to take a break and control but Hammer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vader lands strikes from half guard.
Hammer is pressing down on Vader's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vader really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hammer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hammer working for submissions but it's allowed Vader to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Vader dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vader misses with a head kick.

Vader gets the takedown into side control.
Vader misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Hammer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vader tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hammer's legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Hammer's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hammer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader trying to control the action but Hammer is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader taking a breather here.
Hammer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vader wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vader has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammer is trying to control Vader's posture but Vader avoids it.
Hammer trying his best to control but Vader has mounted him.
Vader trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Vader thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Alex Vader has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vader wants to control the pace but Hammer is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer is looking to get to half guard.
Vader tries to control but Hammer wriggling away.
Hammer wants to hold on but Vader pushes him away.
Hammer is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vader looking to ground and pound but Hammer is blocking nicely.
Hammer tries to lock up and control but Vader gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hammer because Vader loaded up on that one.
Hammer tries to hold on but Vader pushes him away.
Vader throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hammer sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Hammer actively working from the bottom here.

Hammer looking for submissions off his back.

Hammer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vader thows a huge punch but Hammer dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Vader wants to get back to his feet.

Hammer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hammer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vader is working away from the top position though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vader connects with a nice short shot to Hammer's temple.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hammer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hammer wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Vader showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Vader moves into range and clinches up with Hammer.

Vader turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hammer can't do much from the bottom here.
Vader wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hammer keeps working.
Vader tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vader working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hammer tries to improve position but can't.
Vader wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hammer keeps working.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader trying to control the action but Hammer is working from the bottom.
Hammer managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Vader.
Vader tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Vader trying to control the action but Hammer is working from the bottom.
Hammer tries to control but Vader manages to take his back.
Hammer is in bad spot here.
Vader not allowing Hammer to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer tries to roll but Vader sticks to his back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Vader's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Vader gets his hands free as Hammer looks to control.
Vader keeps control of the position as Hammer tries to break free.
Hammer is working hard here to advance position.
Hammer manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Hammer.

Vader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hammer is looking for a triangle but Vader pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vader sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hammer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Vader has picked Hammer up and slammed him! Hammer can't keep hold of the triangle and Vader manages to pass to side control!
Hammer is trying to control Vader's posture but Vader avoids it.
Vader working the ground and pound.
Vader tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Vader staying calm.
Hammer tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Vader presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to control but Vader is having none of it.
Hammer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hammer is trying to escape the mount but Vader keeps good control and instead manages to take Hammer's back.
Vader is not going to allow Hammer to sit and survive in this position.
Hammer manages to reverse the position and now he's in Vader's guard. Nice work there by Hammer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vader is looking to stand up but Hammer isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Vader comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vader has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Vader!
After winning the bout, Alex Vader thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Cruz Hammer was interviewed post fight and said 'I'd like to thank my team and the organization owner for this opportunity to fight, I'll hit the gym next week and work on my bugs and promise to be back better than ever. '.