PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hammer (ranked 24177 p4p, 24269 weight class) and Tsuyoi Empi (ranked 542 p4p, 536 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hammer
vs
Empi

189 cm
22
274
2 - 5 - 0

200 cm
23
280
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tsuyoi Empi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Hammer throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hammer throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice cross by Hammer.
Hammer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Empi checks it well.
Hammer looks to land a right hand but Empi moved out of range.
Empi slips under a jab.
Hammer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Empi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hammer.
Empi is looking for the big counter here.
A left lands for Hammer.
Hammer scores with a body shot.
Hammer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Empi wants to counter the offense by Hammer and move into the clinch position.
Hammer connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Empi's hands.
Hammer scores with a nice strike.
Empi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hammer darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Empi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Empi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Empi lands an elbow that stopped Hammer in his tracks for a moment.
Empi has Hammer pushed against the cage.
Hammer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Empi told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Empi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hammer's efforts to push away.

Hammer breaks the clinch.

Empi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Come on Empi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Empi leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Empi's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Empi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hammer swings wildly with an uppercut but Empi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hammer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Empi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hammer wants to get back to striking at distance but Empi won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to get back to striking at distance but Empi won't allow it.
Empi stalls.
Hammer is trying to break free.
Hammer is trying to break the clinch but Empi has him pressed against the cage.
Empi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Empi looking to throw knees to the head but Hammer is blocking nicely.
Empi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Empi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Empi stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hammer breaks the clinch.

Empi forces Hammer back against the cage and clinches.
Empi lands a nice elbow.
Empi slows down the pace here.
Hammer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Empi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Empi tries a body shot but Hammer blocks it.
Hammer avoids a wild elbow strike from Empi.
Hammer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hammer avoiding damage as Empi throws knees to the body.
Hammer wants to break free but Empi has control.
Empi stalling in the clinch.
Hammer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Empi is stalling here.
Empi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Empi taking a breather.
Empi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tsuyoi Empi.

Empi drives through and clinches with Hammer against the cage.
Hammer is trying to break the clinch but Empi is controlling him.
Empi lands an elbow inside that Hammer shrugs off.
Empi working Hammer over with knees to the body.
Empi throws an elbow but it misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hammer tries to break the clinch but Empi is controlling the position.
Empi is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hammer throws a punch but it's blocked by Empi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tsuyoi Empi will probably get the nod.
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.

Empi takes the fight into the clinch.
Empi tries to land a knee to the head but Hammer blocks with his arms.
Empi has Hammer pushed against the cage.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Empi.
Empi tries a body shot but Hammer blocks it.

Hammer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Empi.
Hammer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hammer misses with a looping right.
Empi tries to counter by closing the distance.

Empi clinches up with Hammer and pushes him back against the cage.
Empi missing with knees to the body.
Tsuyoi Empi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hammer wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hammer manages to break the clinch.

Empi clinches up against the cage.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hammer breaks from the clinch.
Mike Hammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Hammer.
Hammer lands a jab to the nose.
Hammer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Empi.
Hammer keeps the fight on the outside.
Empi is looking to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Hammer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Empi doesn't manage to clinch there - Hammer circles away.
Hammer scores with a nice right hand.

Empi gets a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Empi.
Empi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hammers head.
Hammer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Empi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hammer up against the cage.
Empi just leaning against Hammer, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to break free but Empi has control.
Empi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hammer.
Empi content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Empi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Empi is struggling to control the position.
Empi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
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!
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tsuyoi Empi.
A lazy left from Hammer finds it's target.
Empi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hammer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Empi is looking to clinch.
Hammer swings for the body but Empi moves out of range.
Hammer misses with a straight right.

Hammer tries to keep at a distance but Empi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hammer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Empi has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Empi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Empi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hammer's efforts to push away.
Empi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Empi.
Hammer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Empi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hammer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Empi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hammer lands with a right to the head.
Hammer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hammer is trying to force a seperation but Empi has the dominant position.
Empi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hammer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Empi has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Empi is pushing Hammer up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Empi prevents Hammer from breaking the clinch.
Hammer is trying to break the clinch but Empi has him pressed against the cage.
Empi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Empi effectively controlling the action here.
Hammer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Empi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hammer up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Empi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hammer tries to break free but Empi pushes him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tsuyoi Empi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hammer throws a shot from downtown. Empi moves away and avoids it.
Empi staying out of range there.
A slow jab from Hammer misses its intended target.
Empi tries to counter by closing the distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hammer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Empi has him pressed against the cage.
Empi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hammer up against the cage.
Hammer letting Empi take a breather here.
Empi misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Empi.
Come on Empi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hammer lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer is trying to break free.
Empi trying to land knees to the body.
Empi pressing his opponent against the cage.

Hammer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hammer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hammer throws a big shot that misses.
Hammer throws a hook but Empi blocks it.
Hammer uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Empi has time to react.
Empi moves out of range as Hammer throws a body kick.
Hammer looks to land a combination. Empi sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Tsuyoi Empi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Empi closes the distance and pushes Hammer back into the cage.
Hammer blocks a body shot from Empi.
Hammer tries to break the clinch but Empi is controlling the position.
Empi tries to work over Hammer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Empi just leaning against Hammer, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Empi has Hammer pressed against the cage, preventing Hammer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hammer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hammer manages to break the clinch.
Empi tries to close the distance and clinch but Hammer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hammer swings widly with a right hand
and Empi counters with a left and a right that stings Hammer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Empi defending well as Hammer loads up on a big left hand.
Hammer misses with a right hand
and Empi counters with a three punch combo that has Hammer backing up. Hammer nods at Empi to acknowledge the strikes.
Mike Hammer is winning the standup battle so far.
Hammer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Empi has managed to clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Empi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hammer being controlled against the cage.
Empi has Hammer pressed against the cage, preventing Hammer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Empi has Hammer pressed against the cage.
Empi leaning against his opponent.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tsuyoi Empi.
Empi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hammer.
Empi follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Hammer's corner calls for a 1-2. Hammer obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hammer missing with a left hand there. Empi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Empi slips under a jab from Hammer.
Empi wants to counter with a clinch but Hammer pushes him away.
Empi ducks under a wild hook from Hammer.
Hammer lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheers as Hammer lands an impressive looking overhand right. Empi doesn't seem phased though.
Hammer throws a lazy right hand but Empi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Empi steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hammer.
Hammer swings for the body but Empi moves out of range.
Hammer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Empi.
Hammer swats away the attempt to clinch by Empi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Empi at a distance.
Empi tries to clinch up.
Hammer misses with a hook. Empi ducked under it nicely.
Empi tries to counter with a clinch but Hammer shakes him off and moves away.
Hammer misses with a straight left.
Hammer misses the jab.
Empi is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hammer scores with a hook.
Hammer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Empi takes one to the side of the head.
Empi fails with an attempt to clinch.

Empi clinches.
Empi lands a shot to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Empi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Empi keeps control of Hammer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mike Hammer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tsuyoi Empi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Empi prevents Hammer from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Hammer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Empi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tsuyoi Empi!