PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nails Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Raban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Gonna Beat You Up!. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hammer
vs
Raban

193 cm
28
231 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
39
270 lbs
22 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nails Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Raban!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer moves out of range of the strikes.
Raban moves out of range of the body kick.
Raban has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Raban there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hammer throws a leg kick

and Raban counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Raban wants to control from the top but Hammer keeps moving.
Raban trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hammer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Raban has picked Hammer up and slammed him! Hammer can't keep hold of the triangle and Raban manages to pass to side control!
Hammer is trying to get back to half guard.
Raban working the body and head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammer can't do much from the bottom here.
Raban controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban is working Hammer over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hammer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hammer is not content to let Raban control the position.
Raban scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hammer is looking to regain half guard here but Raban keeps moving and retains side control.
Raban in side control lands a decent elbow.
Raban takes a little break here. Hammer wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Raban gets to mount! Hammer was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raban working Hammer over with strikes here.
Raban avoids the attempt from Hammer to control.
Hammer sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hammer is looking to improve his position.
Raban working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Hammer looking for submissions off his back.

Raban is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Raban in particular looking to stall.
Hammer is looking for a sweep. Raban is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Raban working the head and body with strikes.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Raban 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.
Raban prevents Hammer from improving his position.
Raban is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four 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.
Raban prevents Hammer from improving his position.
Raban passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hammer!
Hammer wants to control but Raban is having none of it.
Raban controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Raban dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raban dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hammer takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
James Raban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raban tries to clinch but Hammer is having none of it.
Hammer walks into a stiff left hand from Raban.
Hammer gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Raban.
Hammer lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hammer avoids the head kick by Raban.
A good leg kick by Hammer.
Raban slips a jab from Hammer.
Hammer slips a jab and a cross from Raban.
Hammer tries to bum rush Raban with a series of wild strikes but Raban uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Raban has closed the distance and engaged Hammer in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raban is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Hammer breaks from the clinch.
Hammer moves out of range as Raban strikes.
Raban missing with a left hand there. Hammer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raban thuds his right hand into Hammer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hammer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hammer moves forwards but Raban connects with a nice, crisp jab.
James Raban seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hammer fails with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Raban.
Raban has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hammer throws a leg kick that misses.
Raban has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammer with a hook.
Hammer smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Raban tries to close the distance and clinch but Hammer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hammer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hammer is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Raban.
Hammer was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hammer takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hammer ducks right into an uppercut from Raban.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hammer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Raban on the side of the head.

Raban moves into the clinch successfully.
Raban swings wildly with an uppercut but Hammer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hammer content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hammer lands a body shot.
Raban presses Hammer against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hammer swings wildly with an uppercut but Raban uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raban blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer goes for a takedown attempt but Raban pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Raban swinging wildly here.
Raban is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hammer falls off balance throwing a combination

and Raban counters with a takedown into side control.
Raban wants to control but Hammer is keeping him busy.
Hammer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Raban's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Raban takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hammer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Raban seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Raban is keen to just control but Hammer is a slippery customer.
Raban is looking to stall here but Hammer recovers full guard.
Raban is looking to pass into half guard but Hammer pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hammer is in guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Raban keeps moving.
James Raban has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raban has control of Hammer's left arm, preventing Hammer from doing any damage.
Hammer distracts Raban with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Raban showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hammer digs a good hook to Raban's body.
Raban blocks a head kick by Hammer.
Raban tests Hammer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hammer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raban lands a head shot.
Raban lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Raban misses with a two punch combination.
Hammer looks to land a left hand but Raban moved out of range nicely.
A head kick misses from Hammer.
Raban is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raban avoids the body shot from Hammer.
Hammer keeps the fight on the outside.
Donk. Hammer catches Raban right on the button with a cross.
Hammer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raban connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hammer. Hammer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer misses with a straight right.
And Raban tries to counter it with a takedown but Hammer pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Raban lands with a hook. Hammer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Raban digs a good hook to Hammer's body.
Hammer misses the shot to the body.
Raban pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hammer getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Raban throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Raban scores with a nice right hand.
Raban drops his hands momentarily and Hammer takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Raban throws a sloppy head kick and Hammer moves out of range easily.
Hammer lands with an overhand left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hammer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raban.
Hammer getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raban misses the shot to the body.
Hammer takes a swing at Raban's ribcage but misses.
Raban changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hammer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raban.
Raban feints the counter takedown.
Raban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raban tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hammer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Raban somewhat.
Raban pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hammer appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hammer looks to land a right hand but Raban moved out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Raban.
Hammer is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raban lands an elbow.
Hammer sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
James Raban is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hammer wants to sweep but Raban has passed to side control!
Hammer trying to remain calm as Raban controls from the top position.
Nails Hammer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hammer stops Raban from passing to mount.
Hammer is looking to reverse the position.
Raban taking a breather here.
Raban landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raban in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Raban takes a little break here. Hammer wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hammer trying his best to control but Raban has mounted him.
Raban sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hammer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Raban controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Raban comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raban 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Raban!
James Raban took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.