PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Project EX (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). EX's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Distillers - City of Angels. Hogan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Faint - The Geeks Were Right. Paul Hogan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

EX
vs
Hogan

160 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big right hand

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Project EX!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Hogan!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Dean Styles and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hogan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hogan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nice body punch from Hogan.
EX lands a nice shot to the body.
Hogan throws a jab when EX was well out of range.

EX is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hogan's half guard.

EX is working for a kimura but Hogan is defending it quite comfortably.

Hogan is defending against the submission attempts here by EX.

That's one minute gone in the round.

EX is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

EX seems to be working for a kimura but Hogan defends the submission attempt.
Hogan trying to hold on to EX's head to control him but EX postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

EX is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hogan is trying to control but can't.
EX wants to take a breather but Hogan is having none of it.
Hogan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. EX is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

EX is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

EX is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hogan is just riding it out for now. EX eventually gives up the hold.
EX wants to control but Hogan is keeping him busy.

EX is looking for a kimura but Hogan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for EX to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
EX wants to take a breather but Hogan is having none of it.
EX is breathing heavily.
Hogan wants to control but EX is keeping busy.
EX trying to control from half guard but Hogan is working away.

EX is looking for a kimura but Hogan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for EX to get the leverage.
Hogan wants to control but EX is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

EX is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hogan defends it well.

EX is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hogan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time EX.
Hogan trying to control but EX postures up.
EX is trying to control. Hogan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
EX not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hogan wants to control but EX is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
EX trying to control from half guard but Hogan is working away.
EX thows a huge punch but Hogan dodges it nicely.

EX is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
EX wants to free his trapped foot but Hogan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hogan wants to control but EX is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hogan tries to kick EX off but EX keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Project EX dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters circling - Hogan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

EX closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

EX is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hogan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hogan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
EX is looking to control Hogan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can EX avoid being mounted?
EX is trying to stand back up but Hogan is controlling him
Hogan is thwarting EX's attempts to control the position.
Hogan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Hogan there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
EX taking some punishment here, with Hogan in his half guard.
Hogan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
EX knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hogan on the ground.

EX looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hogan winds up and cracks EX with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hogan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hogan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
EX on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
EX wants to control but Hogan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hogan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hogan working EX over with strikes.
Hogan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
EX is trying to control but can't.
Hogan is trying to control. EX wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

EX looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hogan working the head and body with strikes.
EX is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hogan scores with a couple of nice shots.
EX is not content to let Hogan control the position.
Hogan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hogan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
EX on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

EX looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogan working over EX with some ground and pound. EX looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
EX flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

EX actively working from the bottom here.
EX is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hogan scores with a couple of nice shots.

EX is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hogan pulls his head out easily.
Hogan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hogan is keen to just control but EX is a slippery customer.
Hogan drops an elbow to the side of EX's head.
Hogan is thwarting EX's attempts to control the position.

EX looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
EX trying to control but Hogan postures up.
EX is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hogan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hogan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
EX is trying to get back to full guard.
Hogan drops an elbow to the side of EX's head.

EX looking for submissions off his back.
Hogan passes to side control.
Hogan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear EX down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Hogan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

EX fails with a takedown attempt.
EX has a takedown stuffed.
EX fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Project EX. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hogan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. EX manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hogan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
EX takes a shot right to the bread basket.

EX bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

EX tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no EX has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hogan manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hogan is trying to maintain the position but EX is very close to passing his half guard.

EX is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hogan still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hogan has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Hogan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hogan lands a nice forearm strike.
You can see the frustration on EX's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hogan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
EX tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear EX down.
Hogan lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hogan cracks EX with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hogan landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
EX is trying to improve his position.
Hogan lands a decent elbow from side control.
EX taking a bit of punishment here - Hogan scoring with strikes.
Hogan lands a few punches from side control.
Hogan is working EX over with some ground and pound from side control.
EX takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hogan lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
EX struggling a bit here.
Hogan scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at EX to see if he's OK.
EX is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hogan has just dragged him back down to the mat.
EX on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if EX tries to get out of the position.
Hogan cracks EX with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hogan trying to control the action but EX is working from the bottom.
Hogan in side control lands a decent elbow.
EX throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Hogan working away.
EX is trying to get back to half guard.
EX struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Hogan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hogan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Paul Hogan!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Paul Hogan!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Paul Hogan!

Paul Hogan wins by unanimous decision!