PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kaspars Petrovs (ranked 3591 p4p, 4333 weight class) and Raphael Hide (ranked 482 p4p, 536 weight class). Hide has chosen Nightwish as his entrance music. Kaspars Petrovs has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Petrovs
vs
Hide

180 cm
35
172
18 - 24 - 0

178 cm
28
186
11 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 18 - 24 - 0, fighting out of London, Kaspars Petrovs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Hide!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hide lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hide scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Petrovs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hide scores with a one two! Petrovs had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hide ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Petrovs moves away.
As Hide looks to move away, Petrovs throws a big counter combo but Hide just gets out of the way.
Hide scores with a hook to the body. Petrovs takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hide misses with a low kick.
Petrovs swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Petrovs slips under a jab.

Hide tries to keep at a distance but Petrovs has taken the fight into the clinch.

Petrovs breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hide scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A swing and a miss from Petrovs.
Hide takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Good standup being displayed there by Petrovs as he connects with a hook.
Petrovs misses with a straight right.
Hide is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Petrovs lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hide showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Petrovs.
Hide is looking to slow Petrovs down with leg kicks.
A right-left combo lands from Hide.
Hide misses with a series of wild punches.
Hide tries to work over Petrovs's front leg with a kick but Petrovs checks it.
As Hide looks to move away, Petrovs throws a big counter combo but Hide just gets out of the way.
Hide lands with a shot to the body.
Raphael Hide is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice straight punches there by Petrovs. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Petrovs.
Petrovs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hide scores with a jab.
Hide scores with a decent looking hook.
We've been told by Petrovs's head coaches at JAG Battle Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Petrovs takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hide punishes Petrovs's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hide takes a swing at Petrovs's ribcage but misses.
A swing and a miss from Hide.
Petrovs seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hide scores with a nice strike.
Petrovs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hide.
Petrovs checks a leg kick.
Petrovs is looking to counter punch.
Hide closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Petrovs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Petrovs looks to land a combination but Hide avoids it well.
Hide fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hide moves out of range as Petrovs throws a body kick.
Hide lands with a cross.
Petrovs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petrovs throws a big counter combination but Hide scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hide throws a hook but Petrovs blocks it.
Hide scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hide.
Hide throws a leg kick but Petrovs sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hide misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petrovs.
Hide keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Hide tries to keep at a distance but Petrovs has taken the fight into the clinch.
Petrovs lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hide keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Petrovs's efforts to push away.

Petrovs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Petrovs closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hide's guard.
Petrovs trying to control but Hide is working from the bottom.
Petrovs stopping the sweep attempt from Hide.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs content to stall in guard here.

Petrovs thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hide throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hide looking to hit a scissor sweep but Petrovs is one step ahead there.
Hide keeping moving, preventing Petrovs from controlling successfully.
Hide is trying to control the position but Petrovs postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hide keeping moving, preventing Petrovs from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Hide 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.

Petrovs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Petrovs loads up on a big right hand but Hide slips the punch.
Hide throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Petrovs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hide circles away quickly and effectively.
Hide is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Petrovs rather than just go for the knockout.

Petrovs clinches.
Petrovs on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hide manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Petrovs lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hide backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hide cracks Petrovs with a nice body shot.

Petrovs breaks the clinch.
Hide swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Petrovs swings for the body but Hide moves out of range.
Hide swings for the body but Petrovs moves out of range.
Hide has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hide takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hide throws a combination. Petrovs tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kaspars Petrovs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hide showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Petrovs.
Petrovs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hide sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hide clobbers Petrovs with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Petrovs shoots in for a double leg but Hide sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Petrovs tries to move into range but Hide moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hide connects with a body shot that sends Petrovs's belly button to the back.
Hide jabs at Petrovs's body.
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!
Petrovs takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Petrovs closes the distance and clinches.
Petrovs with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hide.
Hide is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Petrovs is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Hide.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hide as Petrovs tries to tie him up.
Hide scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hide lands a nice uppercut.
Hide tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Petrovs trying to control the position but instead, Hide has worked for underhooks and has pushed Petrovs into the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hide.
Hide lands a body punch in the clinch.
Petrovs is trying to break the clinch but Hide has him pressed against the cage.

Petrovs breaks the clinch.
Hide throws a leg kick
enabling Petrovs to counter with a crisp jab.
Hide throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Petrovs stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hide lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide slips a jab from Petrovs.
Hide shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hide tries to clinch there but Petrovs circles away.
Petrovs takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Petrovs's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Petrovs duly obliges.
Hide scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hide fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Petrovs looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hide scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hide misses with a series of wild punches.
Hide fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Petrovs looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hide connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hide lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petrovs. Hide does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hide ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Petrovs looks to land a left hand but Hide moved out of range nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hide. Petrovs does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Petrovs was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hide cracks Petrovs with an open hand slap.
Hide falls off balance throwing a combination
and Petrovs counters with a left and a right that stings Hide.
Petrovs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Hide gets tackled into the cage by Petrovs. Petrovs maintains the clinch.
Hide throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Petrovs taking a breather.
Petrovs wants to get back to striking at distance but Hide won't allow it.
Hide scores a nice knee to the body.
Hide pushes Petrovs back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Hide showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Petrovs moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Petrovs throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hide.
Nice straight punches there by Hide. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hide.
Good work by Petrovs as he checks the leg kick.
It looked like Petrovs was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hide.
Petrovs throws a right and a left that Hide avoids nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hide looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An attempted straight right counter from Petrovs misses the target.
A swing and a miss from Petrovs.
Hide digs a good body shot into Petrovs's ribs.
Hide works Petrovs's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hide wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Petrovs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A combination from Petrovs does no damage.
Hide comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hide dodges the punch combination from Petrovs.
Hide fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hide changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Petrovs checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A little feinted left hand from Petrovs on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hide.
Hide scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Petrovs doesn't seem bothered though.
No joy there for Hide, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Petrovs went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hide slips a jab and a cross from Petrovs.

Petrovs closes the distance and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hide tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Petrovs avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hide lands a nice knee to the body.
Hide misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hide has Petrovs pushed against the cage.

Petrovs breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hide with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hide misses with the combination.
Hide scores with a nice strike.
Raphael Hide seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrovs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hide moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hide ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Petrovs misses with the combination.
A punch lands to the side of Petrovs 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hide scores with a body shot.
Hide swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Petrovs counter with a right hand.
Hide misses the shot to the body.
A clash of legs there as Petrovs blocks the low kick.
Raphael Hide seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hide scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Petrovs uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hide has time to react.
Hide moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hide is looking to clinch.
Petrovs slips under a jab from Hide.
A little feinted left hand from Petrovs on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Petrovs moves into the clinch.

Petrovs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs misses with a wild combination.
A nice side step and Hide releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hide lands a jab to Petrovs's midsection.
Petrovs has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Petrovs there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hide works over Petrovs's head and body with a nice combination.
Kaspars Petrovs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hide looks to score with a jab to the body but Petrovs is just out of range.
Hide comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hide connects with a body shot that sends Petrovs's belly button to the back.
Hide wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Petrovs dodges the punch combination from Hide.
Raphael Hide is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Petrovs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hide moves away.
Hide now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Hide comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hide winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Hide!
A less than humble Raphael Hide misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.