PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickhard Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hulk Hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Smith
vs
Hogan

185 cm
23
223 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

185 cm
24
216 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

►Schwarzenegger Nutrition
►Schwarzenegger Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Rickhard Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Hulk Hogan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hogan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Hogan tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith looks to land a combination but Hogan avoids it well.
Smith avoids the head kick by Hogan.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hogan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Hogan.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith controls Hogan momentarily but Hogan frees himself.
Hogan advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.
Hogan wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hogan in particular looking to stall.
Hogan wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Smith gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hogan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Hogan from controlling successfully.
Smith controls Hogan momentarily but Hogan frees himself.
Hogan trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hogan stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Hogan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hogan is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Hogan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hogan is keeping the position for now.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hogan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith moves into full guard.
Hogan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hogan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Smith looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Hogan defends easily.
Hogan throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith trying to control the position here.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hogan defends it easily.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Hogan from controlling successfully.

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.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hogan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hogan!
Hogan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Smith is nestled in close to Hogan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith is looking to advance position but Hogan won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hulk Hogan will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Good work by Hogan as he checks the leg kick.
Hogan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rickhard Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hogan tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Hogan tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Smith blocks the leg kick.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Hogan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hogan is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Hogan ducks under a wild hook from Smith.

Hogan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hogan showed some decent athleticism there.
Smith gets full guard.
Hogan trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Hogan preventing the sweep.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Hogan from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan postures up.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hogan trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Smith.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hogan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Hogan is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Hogan saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Hogan.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Hogan from controlling successfully.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Hogan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smith wants to improve his position but Hogan is controlling well.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hogan.
Hogan trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Smith wants to control but Hogan is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hogan throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith misses with a combination

and Hogan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Hogan wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Hulk Hogan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hogan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith keeping full guard, as Hogan tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controls Hogan momentarily but Hogan frees himself.
Hogan connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hogan's guard.
Smith throws a strike but Hogan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hogan wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Hogan tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hulk Hogan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hogan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Smith won't allow Hogan to sweep him here.
Hogan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hogan can do anything to dispel that myth.

Hogan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Hogan is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith trying to control but Hogan is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hogan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith throws a hook but Hogan avoids it easily.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Hogan moves out of range easily.
Hogan takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Smith moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Smith throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hogan was covering up waiting for the punch and Smith finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hogan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Hogan controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogan tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.
Hogan throws a strike there. Smith manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hogan is looking to stall here but Smith recovers full guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Hogan controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogan tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Hogan stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Hogan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hogan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hogan slips a jab from Smith.
Hogan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Smith wants to clinch up but Hogan keeps it at a distance.
Smith misses with a few strikes there.

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.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hogan is in all sorts of trouble here.

Smith wants to finish this one by submission but Hogan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Smith.
Hogan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rickhard Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hogan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Smith pushes Hogan off and scrambles back to his feet.

Hogan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickhard Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hogan 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hulk Hogan!