PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jason Hammer (ranked 5818 p4p, 5699 weight class) and Mike Justice (ranked 277 p4p, 270 weight class). The key to victory for Jason Hammer has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hammer
vs
Justice

170 cm
18
135
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
134
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

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 Montreal, Jason Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Justice!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Justice.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Justice has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Hammer closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Justice's guard.
Justice keeping moving, preventing Hammer from controlling successfully.
Hammer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Justice tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hammer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hammer preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Justice wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hammer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Justice has his hands on Hammer's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justice is continuing to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Justice 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.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Justice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Justice closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Justice slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Justice has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Justice with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Justice can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hammer is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Hammer controls the position.
Justice takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hammer has given up his back. Will we see Justice going for some submissions?

Justice working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hammer is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Justice gets his way!

Hammer preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Justice.
What can Hammer do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Justice looking to break Hammer's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hammer remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Justice will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Justice dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hammer tries to clinch up but Justice circles away and keeps his distance.
Hammer slaps away a takedown attempt from Justice, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Justice shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hammer is trying to defend but Justice finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hammer tries to get to full guard but Justice has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Justice wants to pass to mount but Hammer is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Justice is working for a kimura but Hammer is defending it quite comfortably.

Justice is looking for a kimura here.
Justice controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Justice trying to control from half guard but Hammer is working away.
Hammer wants to control but Justice passes into side.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Justice working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Justice has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justice trying to control the position but Hammer is working away.
Justice just content to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hammer tries to bench press Justice off him but Justice keeps the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Justice just misses with a punch to the body.
Justice cracks Hammer with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Justice goes for a double leg but Hammer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hammer continues to drive forward.
Justice closes the distance and clinches up with Hammer, looking for a takedown. Justice pushes Hammer against the cage but Hammer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hammer half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jason Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Justice.
Justice shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hammer sprawls well. Hammer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Justice gets slowly back to his feet.
Hammer half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Justice showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hammer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Justice.
Justice tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hammer swivels and escapes.
Justice is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hammer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hammer throwing a counter right hand but Justice manages to avoid it.
Hammer missing with a left hand there. Justice was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Justice goes for a double leg but Hammer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hammer continues to drive forward.
Jason Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Justice.
Hammer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hammer gets the takedown into side control.
Hammer wants to control but Justice is keeping him busy.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justice is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hammer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mike Justice has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Justice does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Justice wants to control but Hammer is keeping busy.
Justice makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Justice.
Justice 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.
Justice keeping moving, preventing Hammer from controlling successfully.
Hammer looking to sit in guard and control but Justice gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Justice trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justice is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Justice forces his way into half guard.
Still in half guard, Justice seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer won't allow Justice to pass to mount.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.
Justice passes to side control.
Hammer is trying to escape the position but Justice is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Justice has a takedown stuffed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Justice fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Justice.
I've got Justice 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Justice!