PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dana Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Royce Gracie looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Hodges
vs
Gracie

165 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dana Hodges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Hodges, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Hodges against the cage but Hodges circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hodges thumps Gracie with a low kick.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hodges as he avoids it easily.
Hodges cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Dana Hodges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Gracie.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hodges.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hodges moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hodges's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Hodges easily slips into full mount!
Hodges can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Hodges looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hodges knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Hodges takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hodges seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gracie for as long as he can get away with.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Dana Hodges just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Hodges looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.
Hodges looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie wants to control but Hodges is having none of it.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hodges looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hodges controlling from the full mount.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie wants to control but Hodges is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges controlling from mount.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hodges sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Hodges's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Dana Hodges just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Hodges counters with an inside leg kick.
Hodges pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hodges.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hodges counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.
Hodges wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hodges might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie looking to control.
Hodges trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hodges works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Hodges is very close to passing his half guard.
Hodges takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hodges clinches.
Hodges prevents a takedown attempt there.

Hodges successfully pulls guard.
Hodges keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Hodges had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hodges Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Gracie is in bad spot here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hodges controlling from the back.
Hodges lands strikes to the head.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Hodges controls the position.

Hodges looking for the choke but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I would not like to be Gracie right now.
Gracie trying to control but not successfully.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Hodges controlling the positon.
Hodges trying to control momentarily.
Gracie trying to control the position but Hodges manages to sink in the hooks.
Hodges lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Gracie hold on?!
Gracie is in bad spot here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hodges controlling from the back.
Hodges gets his hands free as Gracie looks to control.
Hodges really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Gracie.

Hodges has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Hodges gets his hands free.
Hodges really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges cracks Gracie with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Gracie from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Hodges is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.
Gracie trying to control the action but Hodges just sinks the hooks in.
Gracie is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Dana Hodges just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hodges lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hodges shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Hodges finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Hodges keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gracie is looking to escape.
Hodges tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gracie.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hodges is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hodges uses his free foot to push down on Gracie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gracie.
Hodges avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dana Hodges dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Hodges darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hodges feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Hodges throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hodges lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Some wild striking there from Hodges.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Hodges.
Hodges misses the shot to the body.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hodges!
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hodges counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Hodges tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hodges controls the pace.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hodges can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hodges trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hodges can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hodges got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hodges has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.
Hodges trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hodges showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hodges moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hodges takes the fight into the clinch.

Hodges pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dana Hodges seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hodges counters with a takedown into side control.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Hodges taking a breather here.
Gracie stops Hodges from passing to mount.
Hodges taking a breather here.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Hodges stands up and beckons Gracie to his feet.
Gracie has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hodges scoring well with a low kick there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hodges.
Hodges throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Hodges scores with a nice body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Hodges as he connects with a hook.

Hodges closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gracie did well to prevent Hodges getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodges is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hodges pulls his head out easily.
Gracie trying to hold on to Hodges's head to control him but Hodges postures up.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Hodges stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Hodges buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hodges drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Royce Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dana Hodges is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Hodges from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dana Hodges showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hodges has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:25
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:25
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dana Hodges!