PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Margarito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Deftones - Prince. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hammer
vs
Margarito

202 cm
20
214 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Margarito!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hammer looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hammer prevents Margarito from improving his position.

Hammer seems to be looking for submissions.

Hammer seems to be looking for submissions.
Margarito gets full guard.
Hammer won't allow Margarito to sweep him here.
Hammer trying to control but Margarito is working from the bottom.
Hammer controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Hammer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Margarito being controlled here, momentarily.
Margarito is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margarito pulls Hammer in to control the position.
Hammer trying to control but Margarito is working from the bottom.

Hammer gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Margarito shoots for a takedown but Hammer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hammer takes a kick to the side of the head.

Margarito closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Margarito lands in his opponent's guard.
Margarito looks gassed!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hammer is on top in guard.
Hammer passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hammer scoring with punches from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Margarito 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Margarito's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Margarito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Margarito is trying to control Hammer's posture but Hammer avoids it.
Margarito stops Hammer from passing to mount.
Hammer trying to control the action but Margarito is working from the bottom.
Margarito is looking for a sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hammer shoots in but no luck this time.
Hammer scores with a jab to the jaw.
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 shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Margarito napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hammer cracks Margarito with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer lands some shots froms side control.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Margarito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammer controlling the position from side mount.

Hammer is trying to get an arm triangle but Margarito is defending well.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Margarito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hammer is really struggling to control Margarito but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Margarito wants to get back to his feet but Hammer is dominant here and he's now got Margarito's back!
Hammer avoiding Margarito 's attempts to control his hands.
Hammer trying to control momentarily.
Hammer controlling well, preventing Margarito from escaping the position.
Hammer is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Hammer lands punches and elbows.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Margarito tries to break free.
Hammer tries to keep control of the position but Margarito is staying busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Hammer dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Margarito fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hammer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Margarito fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hammer slips a jab and a cross from Margarito.
Hammer avoids a punch combination nicely.

Hammer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Margarito sprawls well initially but Hammer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hammer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hammer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Hammer stands up and beckons Margarito to join him on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hammer.

Hammer shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Margarito is breathing heavily.
Margarito pushes Hammer off looking to stand but Hammer dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer is trying to control. Margarito wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Margarito is trying to get back to full guard.
Hammer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hammer trying to control from half guard but Margarito is working away.
Hammer trying to control the pace.
Margarito trying to control here.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Margarito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hammer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Margarito swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Margarito rushes Hammer and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Margarito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hammer with a jab.
Margarito doesn't manage to clinch there - Hammer circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hammer is defended easily by Margarito.
Hammer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Margarito avoids it really well and circles away.
Margarito takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hammer dives in and grabs Margarito's left leg, looking for a takedown. Margarito pushes down on Hammer's head and hops out.
Margarito tries a head kick but it misses.
Hammer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hammer wants it to stay on the feet.

Hammer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hammer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Margarito looking for a sweep. Not yet Margarito, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margarito being controlled here, momentarily.
Hammer scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hammer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hammer content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammer content to stall in guard here.
Margarito manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hammer is desperately trying to improve his position but Margarito has a good base and remains in mount.

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.
Margarito with the ground and pound from mount.
Margarito sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Margarito wants to control but instead Hammer manages to regain half guard.
Hammer is trying to get back to full guard.
Hammer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Margarito trying to control but Hammer is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hammer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hammer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Margarito defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Hammer dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Margarito takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nice sprawl there from Hammer as Margarito shoots in.
Hammer tries to clinch but Margarito moves out of range.
Hammer shoots for a takedown but Margarito saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hammer fails to land the takedown.
Hammer stuffs the takedown.
Margarito wants to clinch up but Hammer keeps it at a distance.
Margarito takes a kick to the side of the head.

Hammer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hammer controlling the pace.
Nice strikes from Hammer there.

Hammer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margarito trying to hold on to Hammer's head to control him but Hammer postures up.
Hammer is trying to control the action in half guard but Margarito is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hammer is nestled in close to Margarito, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hammer is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Margarito tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hammer in particular looking to stall.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Margarito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Margarito wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Margarito manages to get to full guard.

Hammer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Margarito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Margarito looking for subs off his back but Hammer has passed one foot through into half guard.

Hammer is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hammer trying to control from half guard but Margarito is working away.
Hammer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tony Hammer.
Hammer will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Hammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Margarito stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Margarito wants it to stay on the feet.
Margarito defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hammer.
Nice takedown defense from Hammer. No joy for Margarito on that attempt.

Hammer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hammer forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Margarito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hammer prevents Margarito from standing back up.
Margarito is refusing to be controlled, as Hammer sits in half guard.
Margarito won't allow Hammer to pass to mount.
Hammer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hammer trying to control from half guard but Margarito is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Hammer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hammer, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Hammer!