PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Crusher (ranked 76 p4p, 945 weight class) and Johnny Hogg (ranked 13 p4p, 122 weight class). Hogg has chosen Styx - Renegade as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Crusher
vs
Hogg

195 cm
26
250
11 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
250
8 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

Conquer
Conviction

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Crusher !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johnny Hogg!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hogg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hogg misses the body punch

and Crusher counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hogg won't be happy with that.
You can see the frustration on Hogg's face as Crusher controls the position.
The strikes coming from Crusher are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hogg can't do much from the bottom here.
Hogg gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hogg slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusher throwing strikes from guard but Hogg blocks nicely.

Hogg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Crusher is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogg has momentary wrist control but Crusher slips an elbow through the middle.
Hogg looking for a sweep. Not yet Hogg, not yet.

Hogg is looking for a triangle but Crusher pushes his legs off easily.

Hogg looking for a guillotine here but Crusher defends easily.
Crusher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hogg is trying to control the position but Crusher postures up.
Crusher sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hogg's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crusher is looking to take a break and control but Hogg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hogg trying to hold on to Crusher 's head to control him but Crusher postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Crusher is keen to just control but Hogg is a slippery customer.
Hogg is trying to get back to full guard.
Crusher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hogg defending well though.

Hogg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogg taking some punishment here, with Crusher in his half guard.
Crusher wants to take a breather but Hogg is having none of it.
Crusher prevents Hogg from improving his position.
Hogg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crusher .
Hogg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Crusher is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Hogg gets a double leg takedown into Crusher 's guard.
Crusher looking for a sweep. Not yet Crusher , not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crusher is keeping the position for now.

Crusher throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hogg wants to control from the top but Crusher keeps moving.
Hogg is looking to work some ground and pound but Crusher has wrist control.

Crusher working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hogg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hogg manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crusher being controlled here, momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Crusher dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hogg tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Crusher counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hogg!
Hogg is trying to control Crusher 's posture but Crusher avoids it.
Hogg is looking to reverse the position.

Crusher working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Crusher working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hogg tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogg struggling a bit here.
Crusher wants to control but Hogg is keeping him busy.
The strikes coming from Crusher are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hogg is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Crusher off and has taken his back!

Crusher fending off the submission attempt from Hogg.
Crusher can't escape the position.
Crusher breaks Hogg's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crusher lands a couple of elbows.
Crusher throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hogg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hogg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Crusher defends it easily.
Crusher trying to control the position from guard on top but Hogg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogg controls Crusher momentarily but Crusher frees himself.

Hogg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Hogg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Crusher can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hogg working for submissions but it's allowed Crusher to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crusher is keen to just control but Hogg is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hogg wants to control but Crusher is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Crusher is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hogg can do to turn this around?
Crusher is trying to control the action in half guard but Hogg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Crusher takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hogg is trying to control but can't.
Crusher is trying to control the action in half guard but Hogg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hogg manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hogg has his foot on Crusher 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Crusher works his way back into a safe position though.
Crusher has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hogg wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Hogg is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Crusher dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hogg cracks Crusher with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hogg shoots in looking for a takedown but Crusher manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hogg's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Crusher changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hogg takes a swing at Crusher 's ribcage but misses.
Crusher seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hogg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusher ducks under a wild hook from Hogg.
A jab from Hogg misses.
A shot to the body from Hogg misses

and Crusher moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Hogg fails to land.
Good body shot from Hogg.
Hogg scores with a shot to the side of Crusher 's head.
Hogg scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Crusher .
Hogg misses with the head strike.
Hogg tries to work over Crusher 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Crusher blocking some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Hogg.
Hogg lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hogg lands a right hand that snaps the head of Crusher backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogg tries to throw a body punch but Crusher avoids it by throwing Hogg back against the cage.

Crusher turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Crusher manages to end up in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hogg manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
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. Hogg connects with a nice short shot to Crusher 's temple.
Hogg is nestled in close to Crusher , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hogg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hogg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hogg drops an elbow to the side of Crusher 's head.
Crusher is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Crusher with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hogg wants to pass to mount but Crusher is defending the position.
Hogg prevents Crusher from improving his position.
Hogg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hogg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hogg moves into full mount! Crusher won't be happy about that!
Jack Crusher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hogg lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogg lands a big elbow.
Hogg unloading with bombs!

Hogg looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Hogg trying to control but Crusher is having none of it.
Hogg is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hogg controlling from the full mount.
Hogg trying to control but Crusher is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crusher tries to hold on but Hogg postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hogg really dominated that round.
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.

Hogg misses with an uppercut. Crusher saw that one coming.
Crusher changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Crusher walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hogg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Hogg tries to get set, Crusher tries to push him back and clinch up but Hogg manages to avoid the attempt.
Hogg misses with a hook
and Crusher counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hogg thinking.
Hogg misses with a lunging right hand

and Crusher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Hogg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Crusher can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusher looking to pass the guard.
Crusher is looking to work some ground and pound but Hogg has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crusher got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hogg has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Crusher has managed to get both his arms back between Hogg's legs - danger averted.
Crusher is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hogg can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Crusher controls the pace.
Hogg trying to control the position.
Crusher sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hogg's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Hogg looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Crusher pushes past his half guard into mount!
Crusher working Hogg over with strikes here.

Hogg is rocked!

It looks like Johnny Hogg has been cut.
Hogg sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hogg is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Crusher scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hogg is still in real trouble! Can Crusher finish him?
Hogg wants to improve his position but Crusher is controlling well.
Hogg seems to have recovered his senses.
Crusher is trying to control the action in half guard but Hogg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hogg is trying to control but Crusher passes into side control!
Check out the look on Crusher 's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogg is trying to control Crusher 's posture but Crusher avoids it.
Hogg sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Hogg looking for a kimura from the bottom but Crusher passes into side control!
Hogg regains half guard.
Hogg is refusing to be controlled, as Crusher sits in half guard.
Crusher is taking a breather. Hogg says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Crusher passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hogg!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogg is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crusher avoids the attempt from Hogg to control.
Hogg is desperately trying to improve his position but Crusher has a good base and remains in mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Crusher had his way with Johnny Hogg in that round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Hogg's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hogg throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnny Hogg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hogg manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Crusher on his heels. He'll look to pass Crusher 's guard now, I'm sure.
Hogg stopping the sweep attempt from Crusher .
Hogg keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Crusher 's head.
Crusher thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Crusher wants to sweep but no luck.
Crusher has momentary wrist control but Hogg slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hogg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hogg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hogg looking to pass the guard.
Hogg with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogg distracts Crusher with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Crusher trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Crusher wants to sweep but no luck.
Hogg advances position into side control!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Hogg is trying to get an arm triangle but Crusher is defending well.
Hogg looks up at the clock and then as Crusher takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hogg smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crusher struggling a bit here.
Crusher is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Crusher takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Crusher sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hogg is pressing down on Crusher 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Crusher is holding on for now.
Hogg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hogg is trying to control the action in half guard but Crusher is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hogg lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hogg trying to control the action but Crusher is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hogg lands a nice short elbow.
Crusher is looking to improve his position.

Hogg seems to be working for a kimura but Crusher defends the submission attempt.
Crusher is trying to get back to full guard.
Crusher trying to control from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Hogg lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Crusher is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hogg scores with a couple of nice shots.
Crusher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hogg.
Crusher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Crusher has a hand on Hogg's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hogg takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hogg prevents Crusher from getting the reversal.
Hogg scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Crusher ?

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Hogg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crusher has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 48:47
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 48:47
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Crusher !
Jack Crusher retains his heavyweight title!
Johnny Hogg was interviewed post fight and said 'What can I say, I have work to do.'.