PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Hancock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mir
vs
Hancock

190 cm
24
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Hancock!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hancock closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mir did well to prevent Hancock getting side control.
Hancock looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hancock perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mir moves into full guard.
Mir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mir keeping full guard, as Hancock tries to pass.
Mir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hancock trying to control the position from guard on top but Mir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mir pulls Hancock in close to his closed guard and prevents Hancock from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hancock is working Mir over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hancock gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hancock fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mir sprawls well initially but Hancock persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Hancock is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mir sees it coming and defends easily.
Mir wants to improve his position but Hancock is controlling well.
Mir keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hancock is working for a kimura but Mir is defending it quite comfortably.
Mir manages to get to full guard.
Mir being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mir tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mir keeping full guard, as Hancock tries to pass.
Mir is looking to stand up but Hancock isn't so interested in that idea.
Hancock trying to control but Mir is working from the bottom.

Mir uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hancock will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mir keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Hancock darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hancock is trying to control. Mir wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mir is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hancock tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mir controls his leg.
Mir is looking for a sweep. Hancock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mir tries to kick Hancock off but Hancock keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hancock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mir keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hancock is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mir closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mir advances to full mount.
Hancock wants to control but Mir is having none of it.
Mir can't control as he wanted to and Hancock manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Hancock is pressing down on Mir's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mir pushes down on Hancock's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hancock dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hancock changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mir looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee asks Hancock politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hancock prefers to stall for the moment though.
You can see the frustration on Mir's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Hancock stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mir with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hancock counters with a single leg into guard. Mir didn't expect that.
Mir wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hancock is now in half guard.
Mir pushes Hancock off looking to stand but Hancock dives back in and keeps control.

Hancock stands up from half guard.

Hancock darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mir is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hancock is keen to just control but Mir is a slippery customer.
Hancock wants to pass to mount but Mir is defending the position.
Hancock not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mir is trying to get back to full guard.
Hancock is trying to control the action in half guard but Mir is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hancock prevents Mir from standing back up.
Mir tries to get to full guard but Hancock has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mir with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hancock counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mir is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hancock's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mir wants to get back to his feet but Hancock is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hancock with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hancock throwing strikes but missing.
Mir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mir keeping full guard, as Hancock tries to pass.
Hancock is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mir gets caught flat footed, as Hancock shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hancock is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mir is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hancock is one step ahead there.
Mir trying to keep a closed guard but Hancock is proving a slippery customer.
Hancock wants to control from the top but Mir keeps moving.
Mir wants to stand but Hancock is controlling the position.
Hancock wants to control from the top but Mir keeps moving.
Mir is trying to keep Hancock in close.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hancock counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mir tries to get to full guard but Hancock has control of the leg.

Hancock seems to be working for a kimura but Mir defends the submission attempt.
Mir trying to control but Hancock postures up.
Hancock content to control rather than advance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hancock is trying to control. Mir wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hancock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mir fails with the takedown

and Hancock counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hancock perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hancock tries to stand and escape but Mir is controlling the position.

Mir kicks off Hancock and gets to his feet.

Hancock closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hancock lands in his opponent's guard.
Hancock preventing the sweep.
Mir pulls Hancock in close to prevent any damage.
Mir is trying to keep Hancock in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir wants to get back to his feet but Hancock is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hancock wants to control from the top but Mir keeps moving.
Hancock wants to stand but Mir has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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

Mir gets the takedown into side control.

Mir working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Hancock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hancock manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
John Hancock has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hancock trying to control but Mir postures up.

Mir is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hancock is just riding it out for now. Mir eventually gives up the hold.
Hancock tries to roll over but Mir keeps him under control.
Hancock punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hancock is concentrating on defense, preventing Mir from advancing position.
Mir looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mir moves nicely into side control.

Mir looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hancock struggling a bit here.
Frank Mir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hancock sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hancock moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mir wants to control from the top but Hancock keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hancock looking for a sweep. Not yet Hancock, not yet.
Hancock is adopting a defensive guard.
Hancock manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mir manages to get himself to full guard.

Mir looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hancock trying to control the position from guard on top but Mir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mir trying to keep a closed guard but Hancock is proving a slippery customer.
John Hancock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mir throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Hancock comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hancock winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Hancock!