PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Scott Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Hoffman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scott Black has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Black
vs
Hoffman

150 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Scott Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Hoffman!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoffman misses with a takedown

and Black moves into the clinch.

Hoffman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hoffman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Black.
Black doesn't manage to clinch there - Hoffman circles away.
Hoffman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Black as he avoids it easily.

Hoffman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Black is trying to get back to half guard.
Black tries to strike but it doesn't land.
You can see the frustration on Black's face as Hoffman controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Hoffman has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Black explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Hoffman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Black's half guard.
Black is breathing heavily.
Black keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hoffman seems to be working for a kimura but Black defends the submission attempt.
Black makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Black.
Hoffman is looking to stand up but Black won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoffman stops Black from standing up.
Hoffman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hoffman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoffman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Black looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hoffman is one step ahead there.
Hoffman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josh Hoffman was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hoffman fails with the takedown.
Scott Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Hoffman.
Hoffman shoots for a double leg takedown but Black sprawls well. He's pushed Hoffman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hoffman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Black.
Hoffman is looking to slow Black down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Hoffman.

Black shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hoffman is trying to defend but Black finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hoffman is refusing to be controlled, as Black sits in half guard.
Black has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Hoffman trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoffman wants to get back to his feet.

Hoffman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick from Hoffman lands but Black takes it in his stride.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Black.
Hoffman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Black but Black pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hoffman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Black avoids it really well and circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hoffman.
Hoffman fails with a takedown attempt.
Scott Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Hoffman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hoffman is breathing heavily.
Hoffman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Scott Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Black tries to keep at a distance but Hoffman has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hoffman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Hoffman.
Black is trying to maintain a safe position but Hoffman gets an underhook and turns Black into the cage.
Black dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Black tries to score a body lock takedown but Hoffman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Black up against the cage.
Black tries to circle away but Hoffman has him pinned against the cage.
Hoffman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hoffman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Black smiles and moves away.
Hoffman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black fails with an attempt to clinch.

Black scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Black trying to control from half guard but Hoffman is working away.
Black prevents Hoffman from standing back up.
Black is trying to control. Hoffman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hoffman tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.
Hoffman keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Black wants to work for an arm triangle but Hoffman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
It looks like Black is going to stand back up.
Black looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hoffman is looking to control Black's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hoffman avoid being mounted?
Black seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Scott Black will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Black. No joy for Hoffman on that attempt.
Black shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hoffman defends it nicely.
Hoffman scores with a hook.
Hoffman throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Hoffman lands with a nice combination. Black backs away looking to recover.
Hoffman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoffman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Black manages to avoid it.
Black throws a sloppy head kick and Hoffman moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Black leaves Hoffman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black looks for a takedown but Hoffman sprawls well.

Hoffman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Black's half guard.
Hoffman content to control rather than advance.
Black wants to control but Hoffman is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoffman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Josh Hoffman wasn't active enough on the ground.

Hoffman pushes Black up against the cage in a clinch.

Hoffman manages to pull guard.
Hoffman is looking to stand up but Black isn't so interested in that idea.
Hoffman keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hoffman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
Hoffman controls Black momentarily but Black frees himself.

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.
Black sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hoffman's guard.

Black looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Black is thwarting Hoffman's attempts to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Black prevents Hoffman from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Hoffman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hoffman 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Hoffman!