PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jerry Hammerstein (ranked 1644 p4p, 1070 weight class) and Zane Raven (ranked 130 p4p, 89 weight class). Raven has chosen 300 Violin Orchestra - Jorge Quintero as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hammerstein
vs
Raven

179 cm
23
146
9 - 4 - 0

172 cm
24
145
8 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel
Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jerry Hammerstein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zane Raven!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammerstein tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hammerstein swings for the body but Raven moves out of range.
Raven is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hammerstein shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Raven but Raven pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Raven connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hammerstein takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Hammerstein closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Raven did well to prevent Hammerstein getting side control.
Hammerstein trying to control the pace.
Raven moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Raven is looking for a triangle but Hammerstein pushes his legs off easily.

Raven is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raven working for a triangle but Hammerstein defends it easily.

Hammerstein got a little sloppy there for a moment and Raven has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hammerstein has managed to get both his arms back between Raven's legs - danger averted.

Raven throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hammerstein postures up.

Raven had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hammerstein defends it easily.

That's two 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.
Hammerstein wants to control from the top but Raven keeps moving.
Hammerstein with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Raven looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hammerstein puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Raven keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Hammerstein working the head and body with strikes.

Raven looking for submissions off his back.
Raven is staying active underneath Hammerstein, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raven is defending against the submission attempts here by Hammerstein.
Raven wants to improve his position but Hammerstein is controlling well.
Raven wants to control but Hammerstein is keeping busy.
Hammerstein controlling the action here.

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.
Raven wants to improve his position but Hammerstein is controlling well.
Hammerstein moves nicely into side control.
Hammerstein scoring with punches from side control.
Raven is looking to regain half guard here but Hammerstein keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Raven is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hammerstein's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hammerstein controlling the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Raven takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hammerstein wants to clinch but Raven slips to the side

and Raven counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Raven in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jerry Hammerstein overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hammerstein keeping moving, preventing Raven from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerstein doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hammerstein is controlling Raven's posture.
Hammerstein continues to stall.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Raven working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raven is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammerstein working a defensive guard here.
Raven throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerstein is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Raven wants to control but Hammerstein is keeping busy.
Hammerstein is controlling the pace.
Hammerstein is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Raven bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hammerstein holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerstein looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raven is one step ahead there.
Hammerstein utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerstein doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hammerstein seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hammerstein trying to keep a closed guard but Raven is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerstein keeping full guard, as Raven tries to pass.
Hammerstein looking for a sweep. Not yet Hammerstein, not yet.
Hammerstein is looking to stand up but Raven isn't so interested in that idea.
Hammerstein keeping moving, preventing Raven from controlling successfully.
Raven throws a strike but Hammerstein rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hammerstein is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerstein trying to control but Raven is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raven looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hammerstein pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raven is keeping the position for now.
Hammerstein sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hammerstein lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerstein trying to control but Raven is working from the bottom.
Raven is trying to hold Hammerstein in close to prevent damage but Hammerstein has managed to pass into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammerstein slips a nice elbow through Raven's hands, connecting with Raven's forehead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jerry Hammerstein will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Raven looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Hammerstein drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hammerstein slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Raven wants to control but Hammerstein postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raven tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hammerstein wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Raven keeps trying to improve his position.
Hammerstein scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven manages to get back to half guard.
Hammerstein prevents Raven from improving his position.
Raven is trying to control but can't.
Raven is trying to get back to full guard.
Raven is pressing down on Hammerstein's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hammerstein 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.
Hammerstein landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerstein cracks Raven with a solid left hand.
Hammerstein postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerstein engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Hammerstein is posturing up here but Raven has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Hammerstein tries to roll out but it's too tight and Hammerstein has to tap! Slick submission there by Raven!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zane Raven!
During a confident post fight interview, Zane Raven thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.