PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Ponjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drunken Hermit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Ponjev has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ponjev
vs
Hermit

185 cm
25
180 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

DROPPIN BODIES
Ace of Spades Clothing

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Ponjev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Drunken Hermit!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponjev is looking to clinch but Hermit is avoiding it.
Nice takedown defense from Hermit. No joy for Ponjev on that attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hermit.
Sloppy strikes there by Hermit.
Hermit working the body and head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hermit working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ponjev has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hermit wants to control for a moment but Ponjev uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Hermit trying to control from half guard but Ponjev is working away.
Hermit misses with a head shot. Ponjev uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermit slips nicely into half guard.
Hermit is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hermit throwing strikes but missing.
Hermit throws a strike but Ponjev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ponjev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ponjev works over Hermit with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ponjev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hermit pulls Ponjev in close to his closed guard and prevents Ponjev from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ponjev trying to control the position from guard on top but Hermit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hermit is trying to control the position but Ponjev postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hermit misses with a takedown
and Ponjev counters with a leg kick.
Ponjev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Hermit feints and as Ponjev raises his hands in defense, Hermit changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hermit tries to free his leg and advance position but Ponjev is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermit won't allow Ponjev to sweep him here.
Hermit with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hermit throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ponjev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ponjev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ponjev keeping full guard, as Hermit tries to pass.
Ponjev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hermit has his takedown stuffed
and Hermit takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hermit shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ponjev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hermit stopping the sweep attempt from Ponjev.
Hermit throws a strike but Ponjev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ponjev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ponjev won't allow Hermit to sweep him here.
Ponjev stays in close to Hermit's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermit wants to stand and escape but Ponjev is having none of it.
Ponjev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ponjev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hermit can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ponjev controls the pace.
Ponjev trying to control the position from guard on top but Hermit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sam Ponjev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hermit misses with a takedown attempt - Ponjev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hermit gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hermit keeping moving, preventing Ponjev from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hermit works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ponjev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hermit can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ponjev controls the pace.
Drunken Hermit has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ponjev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ponjev trying to control the position from guard on top but Hermit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Ponjev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hermit shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ponjev defends it nicely.
Sam Ponjev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drunken Hermit.
Hermit fails with the takedown
enabling Ponjev to counter with a crisp jab.
Hermit gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ponjev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Hermit drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hermit is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hermit tries for a kimura but Ponjev is defending well.
Ponjev is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ponjev preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Ponjev is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponjev manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Ponjev dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Hermit fails with the takedown
and Ponjev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hermit with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ponjev counters with a straight right hand.
Ponjev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ponjev wants to clinch.
Hermit shoots in looking for a takedown but Ponjev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hermit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sam Ponjev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drunken Hermit.
Hermit with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ponjev counters with a stiff right hand.

Hermit instigates a clinch.
Ponjev prevents Hermit from breaking the clinch.

Ponjev decides to pull guard.
Hermit takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ponjev has Hermit pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermit throws a strike but Ponjev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hermit looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ponjev 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.

Hermit looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev trying to control but Hermit is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ponjev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hermit looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ponjev is one step ahead there.
Our spies down at at Elite Training Facility inform us that Hermit has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Ponjev with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ponjev has gone for a leg lock! Hermit slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ponjev's guard.
Ponjev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hermit's guard.
Ponjev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hermit's head.
Ponjev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hermit's head.
Ponjev controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ponjev throws a big elbow that misses.
Ponjev throwing strikes from guard but Hermit blocks nicely.
Ponjev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Ponjev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ponjev 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Ponjev!
A very excited looking Sam Ponjev made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.