PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Gauthier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and john hammer (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.

Gauthier
vs
hammer

184 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 Montreal, Jacob Gauthier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, john hammer!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

hammer 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.
hammer chips away with some ground and pound.
Gauthier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
hammer throwing strikes but missing.
hammer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
hammer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gauthier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
hammer is looking to work some ground and pound but Gauthier has wrist control.
hammer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gauthier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gauthier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gauthier wants to stand but hammer is controlling the position.
hammer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
hammer with a flurry of punches that miss.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
hammer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gauthier as he avoids it easily.

hammer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. hammer showed some decent athleticism there.
Gauthier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hammer thows a huge punch but Gauthier dodges it nicely.
Gauthier trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
hammer thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gauthier to regain full guard.
hammer throws and elbow that misses. Gauthier uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in hammer's guard. Nice move by Gauthier!

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

hammer shoots in and bounces Gauthier off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gauthier lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for hammer!
hammer wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier landing strikes from the mount and hammer is in trouble!
Gauthier pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
hammer is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gauthier putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
hammer is trying to stand up.
hammer looks gassed!
Gauthier dominating with strikes here.

Gauthier jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but hammer manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gauthier trying to control the position but hammer is working away.

Gauthier stands up.

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

hammer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
hammer seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gauthier is looking to improve his position.
Gauthier trying to control but hammer postures up.
hammer is nestled in close to Gauthier, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gauthier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gauthier trying to keep a closed guard but hammer is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john hammer dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

hammer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
hammer postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Gauthier tries to escape but hammer is in control.
Gauthier taking a bit of punishment here - hammer scoring with strikes.
Gauthier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
hammer working the ground and pound.
hammer working the ground and pound.
Gauthier is pushing hammer's head away, looking to escape. hammer manages to hold on to the position though.
hammer in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gauthier is working to avoid the ground and pound but hammer connects with a decent elbow.
hammer lands a decent elbow from side control.
hammer working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gauthier is trying to control hammer's posture but hammer avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
hammer lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gauthier down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gauthier tries to bench press hammer off him but hammer keeps the position.
hammer lands a few punches from side control.
Gauthier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
hammer working the ground and pound.
hammer working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Check out the look on hammer's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
hammer tries to advance to mount but can't.
john hammer has got the better of the ground game so far.
hammer scoring with punches from side control.
hammer creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gauthier tries to improve position but can't.
hammer is putting a hurting on Gauthier here, landing some big shots from side control.
hammer in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Gauthier is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
hammer lands a decent elbow from side control.
Oh Gauthier is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gauthier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
hammer working the ground and pound from side control.
Gauthier is looking for a sweep.
Gauthier seems to have got his legs back now.
hammer working the ground and pound.
hammer working the body and head with strikes.
hammer scores with a couple of short elbows.
hammer working the head with strikes.
Gauthier tries to buck hammer off but hammer is having none of it.
hammer lands a decent elbow from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gauthier taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gauthier is looking for a sweep.
hammer working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hammer lands a decent elbow from side control.
hammer scoring with punches and elbows.
Gauthier managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by hammer.
hammer scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gauthier to see if he's OK.
Gauthier sneaks back into half guard.
Gauthier tries to kick hammer off but hammer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gauthier tries to roll over but hammer keeps him under control.
Gauthier has hold of hammer's hands but hammer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
hammer is nestled in close to Gauthier, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gauthier is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
hammer winds up and cracks Gauthier with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
hammer trying to mount his opponent but Gauthier defends it.
Gauthier is trying to stand.
hammer trying to mount his opponent but Gauthier defends it.
Gauthier has hold of hammer's hands but hammer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
hammer seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
hammer working Gauthier over with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. hammer lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
hammer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gauthier trying to control here.
Gauthier moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john hammer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

hammer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
hammer in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gauthier is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gauthier is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but hammer has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gauthier can't do much from the bottom here.
Gauthier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
hammer lands a few punches from side control.
hammer connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gauthier some visible discomfort.
Gauthier wants to control but hammer postures up.
hammer grinds an elbow into Gauthier's temple.
Gauthier is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
hammer is chipping away with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hammer lands an elbow.
Gauthier manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gauthier wants to free his trapped foot but hammer is holding on for dear life with his legs.
hammer tries to kick Gauthier off but Gauthier keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
hammer is refusing to be controlled, as Gauthier sits in half guard.
Gauthier stops hammer from getting back to his feet.
Gauthier is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
hammer is trying to stand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gauthier throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
hammer tries to clinch up.

hammer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gauthier sprawls well initially but hammer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
hammer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
hammer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ground and pound from hammer.
Gauthier has hold of hammer's hands but hammer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gauthier is looking to control hammer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gauthier avoid being mounted?
hammer working over Gauthier with some ground and pound. Gauthier looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hammer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gauthier is looking to control hammer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gauthier avoid being mounted?
Ground and pound from hammer.
Gauthier on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
hammer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gauthier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from hammer.
hammer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
hammer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
hammer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. hammer connects with a nice short shot to Gauthier's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
hammer slips a nice elbow through Gauthier's hands, connecting with Gauthier's forehead.
hammer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gauthier with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
hammer scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
hammer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gauthier is looking to control hammer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gauthier avoid being mounted?
Gauthier pushes hammer off looking to stand but hammer dives back in and keeps control.
Gauthier is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of hammer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take hammer's back!
hammer wants to get back to his feet.
Jacob Gauthier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
john hammer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
hammer is covering up but some of the strikes from Gauthier are getting through and doing damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
john hammer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got hammer 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... john hammer!