PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theis Hovgaard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Children of Bodom - Are You Dead Yet?. Josh Hammer had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Hammer
vs
Hovgaard

225 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Theis Hovgaard!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Hovgaard. Hammer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hammer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Hammer as Hovgaard shoots in.
Hammer misses with a double jab.
Hovgaard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hammer keeps the fight on the outside.
Hammer works over Hovgaard's head and body with a nice combination.
Hammer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hammer works Hovgaard's body with a nice hook.

Hovgaard moves into the clinch successfully.
Hammer prevents the takedown attempt.
Hovgaard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hammer prevents it.
Josh Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theis Hovgaard.
Hammer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hovgaard letting Hammer take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hovgaard ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hovgaard no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hammer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hovgaard looking for a sweep. Not yet Hovgaard, not yet.
Hovgaard looking to control.
Hovgaard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hammer kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hovgaard wants to sweep but no luck.
Hovgaard looks gassed!
Hovgaard trying to control the position.
Hammer trying to control but Hovgaard is working from the bottom.
Hovgaard keeping full guard, as Hammer tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hammer goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hovgaard takes one to the side of the head.

Hovgaard clinches up against the cage.
Hammer gets underhooks to prevent Hovgaard's takedown attempt.
Hovgaard has Hammer pressed against the cage, preventing Hammer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hammer is trying to force a seperation but Hovgaard has the dominant position.
Hovgaard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hammer's efforts to push away.
Hammer lands with a light punch inside.
Hammer is looking to break free of the clinch but Hovgaard has double underhooks.
Hovgaard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer working hard to break the clinch.
Hammer has had enough of the clinch but Hovgaard keeps him there for the moment.

Hovgaard tightens his grip and picks Hammer up, before dumping him to the ground. Hammer manages to land in guard.
Hammer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hovgaard is controlling him.
Hammer trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Hovgaard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hovgaard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hovgaard connects with a couple of short punches.

Hovgaard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hammer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hovgaard is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hammer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hovgaard tries to clinch up but Hammer circles away and keeps his distance.
Hammer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hovgaard gets a takedown into half guard.
Hammer won't allow Hovgaard to pass to mount.
Hammer wants to get back to his feet.
Hammer wants to stand back up but Hovgaard manages to pass into side control.
Hammer is not content to let Hovgaard control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hammer wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovgaard is putting a hurting on Hammer here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hovgaard fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hovgaard controlling from side mount.
Hovgaard prevents Hammer from escaping the position.
Hovgaard scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hammer to see if he's OK.

Hovgaard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hammer, who protects the arm well.
Hammer is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hovgaard is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hovgaard on the ground.

That's two 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.

Hovgaard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hammer is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hovgaard taking a breather here.
Hovgaard trying to control the position but Hammer is working away.
Hovgaard prevents Hammer from escaping the position.
Hovgaard wants to control but Hammer is keeping him busy.
Hammer is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hovgaard asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovgaard tries to score with some ground and pound. Hammer controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Hovgaard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hammer is not content to let Hovgaard control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hovgaard is looking to clinch but Hammer is avoiding it.

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.
Hammer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hammer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hammer stuffs the takedown attempt from Hovgaard. Hovgaard gets slowly back to his feet.
Hovgaard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hammer counters with a nice uppercut.
Hammer lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hammer scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hovgaard tries to clinch
and Hammer counters with a one-two to the body.
Hammer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hovgaard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammer lands a jab to the nose.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theis Hovgaard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hovgaard tries to clinch but Hammer is having none of it.
Hammer lands a lovely overhand right.
Hammer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hovgaard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hammer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hovgaard throws a sloppy head kick and Hammer moves out of range easily.
Hammer misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammer tries for a takedown but Hovgaard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Hovgaard.
Hammer connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovgaard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hovgaard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hammer as he jumps to the side.
Hammer ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hovgaard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Josh Hammer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hammer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hammer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hammer throws a right hand that Hovgaard ducks under and follows up with a left that Hovgaard also avoids with ease.

Hovgaard moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hovgaard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hammer avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hammer tries to break the clinch but Hovgaard is controlling the position.

Hovgaard jumps guard.
Hovgaard has control of Hammer's left arm, preventing Hammer from doing any damage.
Hammer postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovgaard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hovgaard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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.
Hovgaard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Hovgaard keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hovgaard has his foot on Hammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hammer works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Josh Hammer.
I think Hammer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Josh Hammer!