PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rockstar Randy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Randy's choice of entrance music: High. On his way into the cage it seems that James Hodges has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily James Hodges seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hodges
vs
Randy

165 cm
21
146 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Hodges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rockstar Randy!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hodges throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hodges sizes up Randy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Randy stuffs the takedown.
Randy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hodges counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice body kick there by Hodges.
Randy ducks under a wild hook from Hodges.
Hodges chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Randy shoots for a takedown but Hodges saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Randy shoots and misses
and Hodges counters with a two punch combo.
James Hodges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rockstar Randy.
Randy slips a jab and a cross from Hodges.
Nice cross by Hodges.
Randy closes the distance and clinches up with Hodges, looking for a takedown. Randy pushes Hodges against the cage but Hodges circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Randy misses with a head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hodges.
Randy throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hodges counters with a series of strikes. Randy will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randy doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hodges counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Randy looks gassed!
Randy is looking for a sweep. Hodges is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Randy is trying to stand back up but Hodges is controlling him

Hodges stands up out of the half guard.
James Hodges seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hodges lands a high kick!

Randy is rocked!
Hodges throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Randy is still on wobbly legs! Can Hodges finish him?
Nice sprawl there from Randy as Hodges shoots in.
Randy tries for a takedown but Hodges circles away easily
and Hodges makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hodges scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Randy seems to have recovered his senses.
Hodges throws a hook but Randy avoids it easily.

Randy drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Randy trying to control but Hodges is working from the bottom.
Randy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hodges is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Randy stands up and waves to Hodges to follow him.
Randy has his takedown stuffed

and Hodges counters with a single leg into guard. Randy didn't expect that.
Randy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hodges controls the pace.
Hodges trying to stand up but can't free himself from Randy's guard.
Hodges content to stall in guard here.
Hodges wants to pass the guard but Randy is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges stopping the sweep attempt from Randy.
Randy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hodges is looking to work some ground and pound but Randy has wrist control.

Randy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hodges postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hodges is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hodges seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Randy for as long as he can get away with.

Randy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hodges doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hodges manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Randy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hodges controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hodges is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hodges not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hodges has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Randy is proving hard to escape from.
Hodges stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Randy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hodges working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hodges won't allow Randy to sweep him here.
Hodges knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Randy on the ground.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Randy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hodges tries to avoid it but Randy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hodges to the ground. Hodges escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Randy avoids the body shot from Hodges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hodges dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Hodges as Randy shoots in.
Randy takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hodges is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hodges, as that shot connected.
Some wild striking there from Hodges.
Randy connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hodges stuns Randy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Good exchange - Randy coming out on top.
Hodges scores with a leg kick.
Randy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hodges as he jumps to the side.
Randy fails to land the takedown.
James Hodges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rockstar Randy.

Hodges shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Randy's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Randy manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hodges counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice jab there from Hodges.
Hodges misses with a wild combination.
Randy takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Randy doesn't manage to clinch there - Hodges circles away.
Hodges misses with a kick to the body.
Randy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Randy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hodges throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Randy.

Hodges gets a takedown into half guard.
Randy tries to get to full guard but Hodges has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hodges in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Randy tries to get to full guard but Hodges has control of the leg.
Randy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Randy looking to control.
Hodges tries to free his leg and advance position but Randy is retaining full guard.

Randy is looking for a triangle here but Hodges uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Hodges working the ground and pound.
James Hodges overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Randy regains half guard.
Hodges is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hodges is looking to take a break and control but Randy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges controlling the action here.
Randy is trying to get back to full guard.
Well, if Hodges is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee stands the fighters back up. James Hodges just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Hodges feints and then cracks Randy's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Randy down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hodges scores with a sloppy right hand. Randy should have avoided that one.
Hodges connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Hodges shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hodges was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hodges sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hodges prevents Randy from getting the reversal.
Hodges controlling from the full mount.
Hodges wants to control the pace but Randy is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hodges dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Randy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Randy trying to control the position from guard on top but Hodges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hodges looking for a sweep. Not yet Hodges, not yet.
Randy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hodges's guard.
Randy is stalling in the full guard.
Hodges wants to get back to his feet but Randy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Randy passes Hodges's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Randy takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Randy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hodges knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randy passes to side control.
Randy is looking to take a break and control but Hodges is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Randy stands up.
Randy with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hodges counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Randy thinking.

Hodges scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Randy sneaks back into half guard.
Hodges looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hodges is thwarting Randy's attempts to control the position.
Randy is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Hodges is staying active.
Hodges is taking a breather. Randy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hodges trying to control the pace.
Randy wants to get back to his feet.
Randy trying to control but Hodges postures up.
Hodges content to control rather than advance.

Randy kicks off Hodges and gets to his feet.
Hodges lands with a shot to the body.
Randy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Randy lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hodges looks to land a combination but Randy avoids it well.
Randy shoots and misses
and Hodges counters with a nice leg kick.
Hodges wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Randy throws a lazy head kick

and Hodges counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Randy's guard now.
Randy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Randy had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hodges is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Randy Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hodges's back instead.
Randy is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Hodges. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Hodges is trying to break free.

Randy working for the choke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hodges staying busy and making it hard for Randy to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randy is trying to stick to Hodges's back but Hodges is turning into Randy. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Randy's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hodges.
Hodges pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Randy is keeping the position for now.
Hodges stands and throws Randy's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hodges just content to control the position.

Hodges decides to stand back up. Hodges steps back and let's Randy get back to his feet.
Randy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hodges throws a lazy head kick
and Randy counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hodges is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Randy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hodges sprawls well initially but Randy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rockstar Randy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Randy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hodges wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rockstar Randy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

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