PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tim Averill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tim Averill has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Averill
vs
Hammond

182 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Averill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Hammond!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Bruno Lombardi and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hammond gets a takedown into half guard.
Hammond is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Averill tries to kick Hammond off but Hammond keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Averill blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hammond.
Hammond really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Averill. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hammond controlling the action here.
Hammond is thwarting Averill's attempts to control the position.
Averill pushes Hammond off looking to stand but Hammond dives back in and keeps control.
Hammond seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hammond lands a nice short elbow.
Hammond performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hammond's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hammond throwing shots but Averill is blocking nicely.
Averill punching from the bottom.
Averill gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hammond looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammond is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hammond looking to pass the guard.
Hammond controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Averill is looking to stand up but Hammond isn't so interested in that idea.
Hammond seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond throws and elbow that misses. Averill uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hammond's guard. Nice move by Averill!
Averill tries to free his leg and advance position but Hammond is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Averill's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hammond can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hammond is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Averill trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hammond has a closed guard, preventing Averill from standing up.
Averill is breathing heavily.
Hammond wants to get back to his feet but Averill is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Averill from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Hammond dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Averill tries to clinch up.

Hammond feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hammond postures up in Averill's guard and throws a big left but Averill blocks it.
Hammond pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Averill is keeping the position for now.
Hammond stopping the sweep attempt from Averill.
Hammond is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hammond stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Averill swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averill throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Averill keeping moving, preventing Hammond from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammond sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hammond looking to sit in guard and control but Averill gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, Eric Hammond just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Averill moves in looking to clinch but Hammond pushes him off.
Averill misses with a takedown

and Hammond counters with a nice double leg into side control. Averill won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Averill is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hammond has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hammond scoring with punches and elbows.
Hammond tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hammond cracks Averill with a big right hand but Averill just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Averill taking a bit of punishment here - Hammond scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond cracks Averill with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hammond working the ground and pound from side control.
Hammond looks up at the clock and then as Averill takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hammond smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hammond tries to move to mount but Averill blocks the move with his legs.
Hammond controls the position from side control.
Hammond working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hammond staying calm.
Averill is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond lands a nice forearm strike.
Hammond cracks Averill with a big right hand but Averill just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Averill wants to control but Hammond postures up.
Hammond tries to advance to mount but Averill denies him.
Hammond taking a breather here.
Averill is trying to control Hammond's posture but Hammond avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Hammond showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hammond closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Averill did well to prevent Hammond getting side control.
Averill is trying to stand up here but Hammond is controlling him well.
Hammond content to control rather than advance.
Averill is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Averill trying to hold on to Hammond's head to control him but Hammond postures up.
Averill taking some punishment here, with Hammond in his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammond seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hammond landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averill on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hammond working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Averill wants to improve his position but Hammond is controlling well.
Hammond landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Eric Hammond has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammond takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hammond prevents Averill from improving his position.
Hammond working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hammond content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Averill moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Averill had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hammond is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Averill Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hammond's back instead.
Hammond wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Hammond is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Averill looking to break Hammond's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hammond remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Averill will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hammond avoids the strikes from Averill.
Eric Hammond is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hammond wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Averill trying to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Hammond comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hammond has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Hammond!