PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Zerka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zerka comes to the cage accompanied by mc circulaire. Hammer has chosen Kanye West as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zerka
vs
Hammer

191 cm
22
205 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

190 cm
21
214 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nicolas Zerka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Frank Hammer!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zerka closes the distance and clinches up with Hammer, looking for a takedown. Zerka pushes Hammer against the cage but Hammer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hammer lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hammer.
Hammer lands a jab.
Zerka takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hammer throws a head kick but Zerka moves out of range.
Zerka closes the distance and clinches up with Hammer, looking for a takedown. Zerka pushes Hammer against the cage but Hammer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zerka shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Zerka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zerka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hammer.
Good exchange - Hammer coming out on top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zerka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hammer sprawls well. Hammer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zerka gets slowly back to his feet.
Zerka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hammer but Hammer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hammer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zerka slips a jab and a cross from Hammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zerka.
Hammer manages to get back to half guard.
Hammer works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hammer wants to stand and escape but Zerka is having none of it.
Hammer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Zerka drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hammer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zerka has Hammer in his guard.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Zerka keeps moving.
Hammer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zerka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zerka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Zerka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zerka looking for a sweep. Not yet Zerka, not yet.

Zerka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hammer is aware though and is defending well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hammer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zerka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer throws and elbow that misses. Zerka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hammer's guard. Nice move by Zerka!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hammer keeping full guard, as Zerka tries to pass.

Zerka drops back looking for a leg! Hammer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hammer manages to kick Zerka off! Zerka jumps back into Hammer's guard.
Zerka looking to pass the guard.
Hammer trying to keep a closed guard but Zerka is proving a slippery customer.
Zerka is looking to work some ground and pound but Hammer has wrist control.

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

Zerka postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hammer is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zerka, into his guard.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Zerka keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammer looking to sit in guard and control but Zerka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zerka 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Hammer dominated that round.
That's time! Zerka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hammer lands a glancing blow to the side of Zerka's head.
Hammer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hammer misses with the combination.
Zerka tries for a takedown but Hammer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zerka shoots in and bounces Hammer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zerka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer postures up in Zerka's guard and throws a big left but Zerka blocks it.
Zerka looking for a sweep. Not yet Zerka, not yet.
Hammer trying to control but Zerka is working from the bottom.
Hammer slips nicely into half guard.
Hammer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zerka defending well though.

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 looking to take a break and control but Zerka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hammer with the ground and pound but Zerka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Zerka wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zerka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammer throwing strikes but missing.
Hammer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zerka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerka working a defensive guard here.

Zerka looking for a guillotine here but Hammer defends easily.
Hammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.
Zerka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hammer manages to get himself to full guard.
Zerka trying to control but Hammer is working from the bottom.
Hammer working a defensive guard here.
Zerka trying to control but Hammer is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zerka is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hammer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hammer has escaped and now he's on top!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hammer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frank Hammer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zerka slips a jab and a cross from Hammer.
Hammer misses with the combination.
Hammer misses with a series of wild punches.
Zerka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hammer sprawls well. Hammer wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zerka gets slowly back to his feet.
Hammer swinging wildly here.
Zerka shoots in for a takedown but Hammer shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hammer misses with the combination.
Hammer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zerka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Zerka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zerka shoots for a double leg takedown but Hammer sprawls well. He's pushed Zerka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hammer stalks Zerka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Zerka's face. Zerka staggers backwards, shaken.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zerka blocks a head kick by Hammer.
Hammer's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hammer duly obliges.
Hammer with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hammer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Frank Hammer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hammer lands a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammer lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Zerka falls backwards - clearly groggy! Hammer dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frank Hammer!