PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Hogg (ranked 997 p4p, 2090 weight class) and Dennis Cunningham (ranked 126 p4p, 245 weight class). Hogg comes to the cage accompanied by Styx - Renegade. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hogg
vs
Cunningham

190 cm
21
250
5 - 0 - 1

193 cm
21
277
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johnny Hogg!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dennis Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hogg closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cunningham wants to control but Hogg postures up.
Cunningham tries to bench press Hogg off him but Hogg keeps the position.
Cunningham prevents Hogg from moving into mount.
Cunningham is looking for a sweep.
Hogg sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cunningham is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hogg throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cunningham on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Cunningham felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Cunningham really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hogg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hogg happy to just control the position for now.

Hogg swings around for an armbar but Cunningham sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hogg's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hogg is trying to keep Cunningham in close.

Hogg has his foot on Cunningham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cunningham works his way back into a safe position though.
Cunningham passes Hogg's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cunningham thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogg wants to control but Cunningham is keeping busy.

Hogg looking for submissions off his back.
Cunningham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hogg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hogg trying to control here.
Hogg is trying to get back to full guard.
Cunningham trying to control from half guard but Hogg is working away.
Cunningham prevents Hogg from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cunningham tries to pass to full mount but Hogg defends it.
Cunningham is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hogg wants to control but Cunningham is keeping busy.

Hogg looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cunningham is trying to control. Hogg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hogg is pressing down on Cunningham's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hogg is trying to keep Cunningham in close.
Cunningham won't allow Hogg to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham controlling from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hogg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cunningham trying to control the position from guard on top but Hogg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cunningham misses with a body shot.
Hogg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cunningham but Cunningham pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hogg goes for a double leg but Cunningham avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cunningham continues to drive forward.
Cunningham working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hogg tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hogg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cunningham lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hogg looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogg drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cunningham pulls his leg out and moves away.
A big right from Cunningham misses.
Hogg blocks a jab.
The crowd cheers as Cunningham lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hogg doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like Johnny Hogg has been cut.
Hogg uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cunningham.
Hogg drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cunningham sprawls and moves away.
Hogg throws out a loose jab but Cunningham uses good head movement to avoid it.
Donk. Cunningham catches Hogg right on the button with a cross.
A combination from Cunningham does no damage.

Hogg decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hogg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cunningham's head.
Cunningham avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hogg.
Hogg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cunningham is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hogg scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dennis Cunningham will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johnny Hogg's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cunningham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cunningham thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed right hand from Cunningham misses the target.
Hogg closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hogg keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cunningham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hogg is defended easily by Cunningham.
A nice side step and Cunningham releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham misses with a body shot.
Hogg takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogg ducks under a wild hook from Cunningham.
Cunningham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hogg manages to avoid it.
Hogg feinted with a counter takedown.
Hogg staying out of range there.
Cunningham misses with a wild body shot.
Hogg scores with a hook.
Hogg misses with a body shot.
Hogg dives in for a single leg takedown but Cunningham sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cunningham stops a takedown attempt from Hogg.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Hogg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hogg is looking for a takedown.
Hogg drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cunningham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cunningham.
Cunningham misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogg is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cunningham gets underhooks to prevent Hogg's takedown attempt.
A short right from Cunningham on the inside.
Cunningham lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hogg backwards.
Hogg lands a nice uppercut.
Cunningham lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Hogg is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cunningham throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hoggs head.
Oh Hogg is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cunningham creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Hogg with a big uppercut! Hogg tries to clinch up but Cunningham pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Hogg to the mat! Hogg covers up and Cunningham unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Dennis Cunningham!
Dennis Cunningham is the new heavyweight champion!
Johnny Hogg spoke after the fight, saying 'What can I say, I have work to do.'.