PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akahoshi Hisashi (ranked 1648 p4p, 2044 weight class) and Albert Hofmann (ranked 225 p4p, 271 weight class). Hisashi comes into the arena with Feng Shui blaring out of the sound system. Hofmann comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Primer 55 - Dose kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Albert Hofmann has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hisashi
vs
Hofmann

185 cm
24
170
10 - 5 - 1

180 cm
24
180
8 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

ZERO Fightwear
Conviction

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 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Akahoshi Hisashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Albert Hofmann!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hisashi has Hofmann up against the cage in a clinch.
Hisashi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hofmann backwards.
Hofmann tries to pull guard but Hisashi won't allow it.
A short right from Hisashi.
Hisashi misses with the head strike.
Hofmann blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hisashi lands a left hand.
Hisashi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hisashi lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Albert Hofmann has been cut.
Hofmann jumps guard but Hisashi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A short right from Hisashi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hisashi.
Hofmann slowing the pace effectively.
Hofmann blocks an uppercut.
Hisashi stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hofmann tries to pull guard but Hisashi won't allow it.
Akahoshi Hisashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Hofmann.
Hisashi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hofmann blocks the elbow strike.

Hofmann drags the fight down to the ground.

Hofmann is working an open guard so Hisashi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Hisashi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hisashi has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Hofmann trying to control but Hisashi is working from the bottom.
Hisashi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hofmann is controlling him.
Hofmann scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hofmann postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hisashi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hofmann is controlling him.
Hofmann tries to free his leg and advance position but Hisashi is retaining full guard.
Hofmann trying to control the position from guard on top but Hisashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hofmann content to stall in guard here.
Hofmann trying to control the position from guard on top but Hisashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hisashi wants to stand and escape but Hofmann is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Hofmann with that takedown attempt.
Hisashi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hofmann momentarily.
Hofmann throws a body punch but Hisashi moves out of range.
Hisashi throws a big counter combination but Hofmann scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hisashi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hisashi misses with a looping left.
Hofmann bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hofmann shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hisashi pinned against the cage. Hisashi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
It looked like Hisashi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hisashi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hisashi enables Hofmann to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hisashi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hisashi wants to stand up but Hofmann is controlling him.
Hisashi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hofmann dives into side control.
Hisashi pushes Hofmann away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hofmann gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hisashi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hofmann stands up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akahoshi Hisashi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Albert Hofmann's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Hisashi. No joy for Hofmann on that attempt.
Hisashi throws out a loose jab but Hofmann uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hofmann darts in looking for a takedown but Hisashi gets double underhooks and turns Hofmann into the cage.
Hisashi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hisashi scores with a sloppy right hand. Hofmann should have avoided that one.

Hofmann rushes Hisashi and presses him up against the cage.
Hofmann being controlled against the cage.
Hisashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hisashi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hisashi throws a head punch that misses.
Hisashi digs a right hand into Hofmann's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hofmann's gas tank.
Hisashi misses with a knee strike.
Hisashi stops a takedown attempt from Hofmann.
Akahoshi Hisashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Hofmann.
Hisashi can't find room to land a body shot as Hofmann controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hofmann tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hisashi smiles and moves away.
Hofmann gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hisashi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hisashi misses with an uppercut. Hofmann saw that one coming.
Hisashi misses with a looping right.
Hisashi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hofmann.
Hofmann takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hofmann fails with a takedown attempt.
Hofmann bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Hofmann dives in and scores a takedown into Hisashi's guard.
Hisashi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hofmann dives into side control.

Hisashi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hofmann looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hisashi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hofmann asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Hofmann throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hisashi wants to get back to his feet but Hofmann drags him back down.
Hisashi defending against the ground and pound.
Hisashi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann working the ground and pound.
Hisashi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hisashi misses with a head kick.
Hofmann shoots for a takedown but Hisashi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hisashi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hofmann can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann misses with a combination
and Hisashi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hofmann doesn't manage to clinch there - Hisashi circles away.
Hofmann walks into a left hand.

Hofmann looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hisashi is trying to stand.

Hisashi has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hofmann is on him like a limpet, forcing Hisashi back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hofmann blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hisashi stalling in the clinch.
Hisashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Hofmann.
Hofmann changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hisashi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akahoshi Hisashi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Albert Hofmann's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hofmann shoots in but Hisashi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hofmann with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hisashi to score with a decent uppercut.
Hisashi missing with a left hand there. Hofmann was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hisashi scores with a decent looking hook.

Hisashi takes the fight into the clinch.
Hofmann blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hisashi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hofmann up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hofmann working hard to break the clinch.
Hofmann tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hisashi smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hofmann doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hisashi counters with a stiff right hand.
Akahoshi Hisashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Hofmann.

Hofmann gets a double leg takedown into Hisashi's guard.
Hisashi is looking to stand up but Hofmann isn't so interested in that idea.
Hofmann must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hofmann seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hofmann wants to control from the top but Hisashi keeps moving.
Hisashi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Albert Hofmann has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Hofmann pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hisashi is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Hisashi. No joy for Hofmann on that attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Hisashi misses the target.
Hisashi throws a jab when Hofmann was well out of range.
Hofmann appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Hisashi moves into the clinch successfully.
Hofmann is trying to pull guard but Hisashi has him pressed against the cage.
Hisashi throws a head punch that misses.
Hofmann blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hisashi smiles and moves away.
Hisashi looks to land a left hand but Hofmann moved out of range nicely.
Hisashi throws a jab when Hofmann was well out of range.
Hisashi cracks Hofmann with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hofmann swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hofmann on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hisashi misses with a straight left.
Hisashi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hofmann.
Hofmann throws a counter combo.
Hisashi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hisashi cracks Hofmann with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hofmann looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Hisashi clinches with his opponent.
Hofmann is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hisashi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hisashi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hisashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Hofmann.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hisashi after a bit of a struggle.
Hisashi lands with a short shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hisashi lands with a right to the head.
Albert Hofmann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hisashi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hofmann's brow.
Hisashi is pressed up against the cage. Hofmann has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hisashi down to the mat. Hisashi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hofmann gets tackled into the cage by Hisashi. Hisashi maintains the clinch.
Hofmann blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hisashi working aggressively here.
Hofmann tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Hisashi fails to land.

Hofmann jumps guard.

Hisashi gets to his feet - Hofmann follows without any prompting.
Akahoshi Hisashi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hofmann takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akahoshi Hisashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hisashi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akahoshi Hisashi!