PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between john hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxime Giroux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

hammer
vs
Giroux

183 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, john hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maxime Giroux!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

hammer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Giroux's guard.
Giroux avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
hammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
hammer is working Giroux over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
hammer throwing strikes but missing.
hammer is looking to work some ground and pound but Giroux has wrist control.
Giroux wants to stand up but hammer is controlling him.
Giroux working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from hammer.
hammer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
hammer throws a strike but Giroux rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Giroux must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Giroux is stalling in the full guard.
Giroux prevents hammer from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Giroux doesn't manage to clinch there - hammer circles away.

hammer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Giroux parries the strikes from hammer easily there. hammer is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Giroux to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Giroux can do anything to dispel that myth.
hammer tries to score with some ground and pound. Giroux controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Giroux tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but hammer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Giroux is pushing hammer's head away, looking to escape. hammer manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
hammer sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Giroux is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
hammer throwing strikes but Giroux manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
hammer pushes Giroux away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Giroux gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Giroux controlling from side mount.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck for hammer with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giroux fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
hammer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Giroux swivels and escapes.
Giroux scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Giroux lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but hammer circles away quickly and effectively.
Giroux fails to land with a series of punches.

hammer scores with a takedown into Giroux's guard.
hammer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
hammer is breathing heavily.
hammer preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as hammer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
hammer looking to pass the guard.

Giroux scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giroux misses with the combination.
Maxime Giroux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giroux throws a right and a left that both miss.
hammer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Giroux pinned against the cage. Giroux gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for john hammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Giroux shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Giroux missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
hammer tries to kick Giroux off but Giroux keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

hammer has one foot on Giroux's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Giroux tries to bum rush hammer with a series of wild strikes but hammer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Giroux swinging wildly here.
Giroux fails to land with a series of punches.
Giroux throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Giroux gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows hammer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
hammer distracts Giroux with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Giroux avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
hammer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Giroux's head.
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!

Giroux rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but hammer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Giroux thumps hammer with a low kick.
Good work by hammer as he checks the leg kick.
hammer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Giroux as he jumps to the side.

hammer drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
hammer is looking to work some ground and pound but Giroux has wrist control.
Giroux working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from hammer.
Giroux is trying to keep hammer in close.
hammer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Giroux avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
hammer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Giroux works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
hammer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hammer throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Giroux throws a series of punches but hammer avoids them all with ease.
Giroux loads up on a big right hand but hammer slips the punch.
Giroux fails to land with a series of punches.
Giroux fakes a jab and throws a low kick but hammer checks it well.
Giroux fails to land with a series of punches.
hammer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Giroux counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

hammer scores a takedown into full mount!
hammer lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Giroux hang on?
hammer scoring with strikes but Giroux is staying in there.
john hammer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
hammer scoring with strikes but Giroux is staying in there.
hammer lands a big elbow.
hammer in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
hammer is landing with some decent strikes but Giroux is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
hammer sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
hammer lands with some strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
hammer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
hammer scores with a couple of good head shots there.
hammer scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Giroux?
hammer landing punches.
Giroux tries to lock up and control but hammer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
hammer landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hammer connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Giroux taking shots to the head.
Giroux sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Giroux has hold of hammer's hands but hammer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
hammer lands strikes from half guard.
hammer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Giroux wants to get back to full guard.
Giroux blocking the ground and pound attempt from hammer.
hammer working over Giroux with some ground and pound. Giroux looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
hammer slips a nice elbow through Giroux's hands, connecting with Giroux's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giroux is trying to stand back up but hammer is controlling him
hammer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Giroux looks like he's trying to stand up.
hammer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
hammer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Giroux taking some punishment here, with hammer in his half guard.
hammer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
hammer working Giroux over with strikes.
Nice strikes from hammer there.
hammer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Giroux fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck with that takedown attempt from hammer.
Giroux throws a right hand that hammer ducks under and follows up with a left that hammer also avoids with ease.
Giroux connects with a single shot there.
hammer staying out of range there.
Giroux pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Giroux rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but hammer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Giroux gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows hammer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
hammer postures up in Giroux's guard and throws a big left but Giroux blocks it.
hammer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Giroux's head.
hammer is looking to work some ground and pound but Giroux has wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hammer with a flurry of punches that miss.
hammer stands up over Giroux, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Giroux preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
hammer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
hammer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Giroux working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from hammer.
hammer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
hammer stands up over Giroux, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
hammer postures up in Giroux's guard and throws a big left but Giroux blocks it.
hammer throws a big right hand that misses.
hammer scoring with punches to the head and body.
Giroux really doesn't want to stay on the ground with hammer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
hammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Giroux is looking to stand up but hammer isn't so interested in that idea.
Giroux preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
hammer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
hammer with a nice head shot there.
Giroux wants to stand up but hammer is controlling him.

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

hammer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
hammer scores with a couple of good head shots there.
hammer is landing with some decent strikes but Giroux is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Giroux is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hammer has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Giroux's face.
hammer lands with some strikes.
Giroux wants to get back to his feet.
hammer has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Giroux's face.
hammer scoring with strikes but Giroux is staying in there.
hammer is landing with some decent strikes but Giroux is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
hammer working the ground and pound effectively.
hammer is in the full mount, landing strikes.
hammer working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
hammer is in the full mount, landing strikes.
hammer lands with some strikes.
hammer unloading with bombs!
Giroux wants to try and get back to his feet.
Giroux is in a horrible position here. hammer smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
hammer with good strikes from the mount here!
hammer lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
hammer punching from mount but Giroux doing a good job of avoiding damage.
hammer punishing his opponent with strikes.
Maxime Giroux 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 lands with some strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
john hammer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for hammer, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

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