PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kook Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hammer Fire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Connor
vs
Fire

188 cm
26
196 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kook Connor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hammer Fire!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fire moves into range and clinches up with Connor.
Come on Fire - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Connor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fire is defending well for now.
Fire landing knees to the head.
Fire lands with a light punch inside.
Fire misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Connor.
Fire wants to break the clinch but can't.
Connor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Connor misses with a knee to the head.
Connor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fire.
Fire avoiding damage as Connor throws knees to the body.
Fire with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fire crunches a lovely knee into Connor's ribcage.
Connor is trying to break free.
Fire lands a body shot.
A knee to the head by Connor.
Connor tries a knee to the head but Fire blocks it.
Fire trying to land knees to the body.
Fire avoids the elbow strike from Connor, against the cage.
Connor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Still in the clinch, Fire scores with a nice short uppercut.
Connor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fire avoids it.
Connor is breathing heavily.
Connor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fire has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Connor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fire landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire scores with a shot to the side of Connor's head.
Fire tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Connor avoids it.
Connor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fire is defending well for now.
Fire is looking to break free of the clinch but Connor has double underhooks.
Fire missing with knees to the body.
Fire utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fire is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Connor blocks an elbow strike from Fire.
Fire working Connor over with knees to the body.
Connor tries to break the clinch but Fire is controlling the position.
Fire unloads a knee to the mid-section. Connor lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Fire tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fire slowing the pace effectively.
Fire lands a good knee to the midsection. Connor won't want to take too many of those.
Fire tries to land knees in the clinch but Connor avoids the damage to the body.

Fire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fire throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fire cracks the inside of Connor's front leg.

Connor gets tackled into the cage by Fire. Fire maintains the clinch.
Fire lands a body punch.
Fire trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire lands an uppercut.
Fire has Connor pressed against the cage.
Fire is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Connor is defending well for now.
Connor keeps control of Fire as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fire throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Connor blocks it with crossed arms.

Fire breaks the clinch.

Fire drives through and clinches with Connor against the cage.
Fire tries to stall but Connor uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fire lands with a short shot to the head.
Fire looking to throw knees to the head but Connor is blocking nicely.

Fire breaks from the clinch.
Fire scores with a sloppy right hand. Connor should have avoided that one.

Fire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Connor's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fire lands an elbow inside.
Fire managing to block the knees to the body from Connor.
Connor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fire is defending well for now.
Fire wants to get back to striking at distance but Connor won't allow it.
Connor tries a knee to the head but Fire blocks it.
Connor working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fire.
Connor tries to stall but Fire uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Connor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Fire breaks the clinch.
Fire is looking to slow Connor down with leg kicks.
Connor slips a jab and a cross from Fire.
Fire swinging wildly here.
Connor wants to clinch up but Fire keeps it at a distance.

Fire gets a clinch.
Connor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Connor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fire is defending well for now.

Fire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fire. Connor shrugs it off though.
Fire tries a head kick but it misses.
Fire digs a good body shot into Connor's ribs.

Fire moves into the clinch.
Connor trying to land knees to the body.
Connor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fire tries to land a knee to the head but Connor blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fire avoiding damage as Connor throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Fire.
Fire wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fire unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fire is trying to stall.
Fire digs a right hand into Connor's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Connor's gas tank.
Fire lands a nice shot to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short left from Fire.

Fire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fire lands a jab to the head.
Connor closes the distance but Fire moves to the side

and Fire moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Fire takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fire breaks the clinch.
Kook Connor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fire lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Connor takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fire fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fire misses with a head kick.
Connor closes the distance but Fire moves to the side
and Fire counters with a leg kick.
Fire lands with a shot to the body.
Fire will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Connor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fire moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Fire misses.
A solid body kick from Fire.
Fire works over Connor's head and body with a nice combination.
Fire shoots in but Connor avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fire scores with a jab to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fire.
Connor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Connor wants it to stay on the feet.

Fire clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Connor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Fire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fire stuns Connor with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Fire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fire tries to break free but Connor pushes him back against the cage.
Connor missing with knees to the body.
Fire tries to land knees in the clinch but Connor avoids the damage to the body.
Connor missing with knees to the body.
Fire is trying to force a seperation but Connor has the dominant position.
Connor has had enough of the clinch but Fire keeps him there for the moment.
Fire unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Connor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fire content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Fire trying to land knees to the body.
Hammer Fire seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fire tries to stall but Connor uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Connor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fire.
Fire missing with knees to the body.
Fire is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Connor is defending well for now.
Fire missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Connor or not.

Fire manages to break the clinch.
Fire works the jab nicely.

Connor tries to keep at a distance but Fire has taken the fight into the clinch.
Connor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fire.
Fire has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fire throws an elbow but misses.
Connor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Connor blocks the elbow strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Fire.
Connor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fire avoids it.

Fire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fire throws a combination. Connor tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Connor looks to clinch
and Fire counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick by Connor misses
and Fire counters with a three punch combo that has Connor backing up. Connor nods at Fire to acknowledge the strikes.
Fire lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Connor circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Fire.
Connor takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Connor backs up against the cage.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fire.
Connor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fire throws a sloppy head kick and Connor moves out of range easily.
Fire ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hammer Fire is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fire moves into the clinch successfully.
Connor misses with a knee to the head.
Fire crunches a lovely knee into Connor's ribcage.

Fire breaks the clinch.
Connor pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Fire has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fire misses with a knee strike.
Connor taking a breather.
Fire is looking to break free of the clinch but Connor has double underhooks.
Fire looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fire scores a nice knee to the body.
Fire scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fire connects with a nasty looking knee right to Connor's face.
Fire stalling the fight.
Connor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fire lands an elbow inside that Connor shrugs off.
Connor wants to get back to striking at distance but Fire won't allow it.
Fire avoiding damage as Connor throws knees to the body.
Connor managing to block the knees to the body from Fire.
Fire wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Connor has him pressed against the cage.
Fire with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Connor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fire comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Connor can't break the clinch.
Fire trying to land knees to the body.
Fire gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Fire.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fire avoids a wild elbow strike from Connor.
Fire tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Connor avoids it.
Connor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fire landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Fire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hammer Fire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Connor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fire fails to land the takedown.
Hammer Fire seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fire dives in and grabs Connor's left leg, looking for a takedown. Connor pushes down on Fire's head and hops out.

Fire closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fire working Connor over with knees to the body.
Connor taking a breather.
Fire lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Connor scores with a knee to the head.

Fire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Fire drives through and clinches with Connor against the cage.
Fire tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Connor avoids it.
Connor managing to block the knees to the body from Fire.
Connor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Connor tries to land knees in the clinch but Fire avoids the damage to the body.
Fire landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fire content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Fire tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Connor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Connor is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fire.
Connor avoiding damage.
Connor avoids the elbow strike from Fire, against the cage.
Connor managing to block the knees to the body from Fire.
Fire working Connor over with knees to the body.
Fire displaying some good clinch control by pressing Connor up against the cage.
Fire working hard to break the clinch.
A short right from Connor on the inside.
Connor misses with some punches.

Fire breaks the clinch.
Fire throws a nice inside leg kick.

Fire closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fire misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Connor.
Connor trying to land knees to the body.
Connor avoiding damage as Fire throws knees to the body.
Connor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two 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.

Fire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fire has taken the fight to the clinch.

Fire breaks from the clinch.

Fire pushes Connor up against the cage in a clinch.
Fire keeps control of Connor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Connor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fire avoids it.
Fire lands a left hand that snaps the head of Connor backwards.
Fire throws an elbow but it misses.

Fire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Some wild striking there from Fire.

Fire gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fire lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Connor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Connor tries to keep at a distance but Fire has taken the fight into the clinch.
Connor working Fire over with knees to the body.
Fire lands a hook that snaps the head of Connor backwards.
Connor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire is trying to maintain a safe position but Connor gets an underhook and turns Fire into the cage.
Connor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fire is defending well for now.

Fire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Fire.
Fire closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fire lands a jab.

Fire moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fire.
Fire tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Connor avoids it.
Fire blocking some punches.
Fire is looking to break free of the clinch but Connor has double underhooks.
Fire tries to land knees in the clinch but Connor avoids the damage to the body.
Fire managing to block the knees to the body from Connor.
Connor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Connor blocks an elbow strike from Fire.
Connor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fire lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Connor struggles to land a body shot inside as Fire controls his hands.
Kook Connor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fire can't break the clinch.
Fire tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fire is leaning against Connor and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Fire breaks from the clinch.
Connor throws a lazy body kick

and Fire counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fire lands a knee to the head.
Connor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fire blocks it with crossed arms.
Fire scores with a shot to the side of Connor's head.
Connor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fire avoids it.

Fire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fire feints and then cracks Connor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Connor down.
A nice combination there by Fire.

Fire darts in and clinches Connor up against the cage.
Connor misses with some punches.
Fire pushes Connor back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fire lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Fire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Fire closes the distance and clinches.
Hammer Fire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Connor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hammer Fire comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fire 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 25:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 25:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hammer Fire!