PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Afro Samurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans Hoffman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Samurai
vs
Hoffman

180 cm
21
265 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

203 cm
25
264 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Afro Samurai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hans Hoffman!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samurai misses with a takedown attempt

and Hoffman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Hoffman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hoffman keeps the fight on the outside.

Hoffman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hoffman showed some decent athleticism there.
Hoffman is trying to control. Samurai wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Samurai trying to control from the bottom.

Hoffman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Samurai tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Samurai trying to control from the bottom.
Samurai is not content to let Hoffman control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoffman stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Samurai to get to his feet.

Hoffman closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Samurai quickly recovers to half guard.
Samurai wants to control but Hoffman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Samurai is in trouble now - Hoffman has advanced to mount!
Hoffman with a couple of short strikes.
Hoffman controlling from the full mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Samurai wants to control but Hoffman is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samurai is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hoffman working the ground and pound effectively.
Hoffman with good strikes from the mount here!
Hoffman trying to control but Samurai is having none of it.
Samurai in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Samurai tries to lock up and control but Hoffman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman unloading with bombs!
Samurai takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hoffman tries to control but Samurai wriggling away.
Samurai knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hoffman on the ground.
Samurai throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hoffman content just to control the position here.
Samurai throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hoffman. What's that going to do exactly?
Hoffman wants to control the pace but Samurai is squirming around nicely.
Hoffman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samurai tries to hold on but Hoffman pushes him away.
Hoffman looking to control but Samurai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Samurai swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hoffman looking to control but Samurai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samurai wants to hold on but Hoffman pushes him away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Samurai tries to control the position but Hoffman now has his back.
Samurai has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Hoffman is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hoffman darts in and clinches Samurai up against the cage.

Samurai wants the takedown. Hoffman is fighting it off but Samurai persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hoffman's guard against the cage.
Hoffman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Samurai is one step ahead there.
Samurai postures up.
Samurai postures up in Hoffman's guard and throws a big left but Hoffman blocks it.
Hoffman looking to control.
Hoffman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Samurai's guard.
Samurai throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hans Hoffman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Samurai keeping full guard, as Hoffman tries to pass.

Hoffman gets to his feet - Samurai follows without any prompting.
Afro Samurai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samurai wants to clinch.
Samurai shoots in for a takedown but Hoffman shows good takedown defense.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hoffman.
Samurai shoots in looking for a takedown but Hoffman manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Samurai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Hoffman closes the distance and clinches.
Samurai has Hoffman pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hoffman manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Afro Samurai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hoffman manages to break the clinch.

Hoffman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Samurai tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Hoffman has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman looking to control but Samurai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hoffman landing punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoffman looking to control but Samurai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Samurai wants to hold on but Hoffman pushes him away.
Hoffman tries to control but Samurai wriggling away.

Hoffman looking for a guillotine from mount but Samurai is having none of it.
Samurai prevents Hoffman from taking his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samurai swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hoffman wants to control the pace but Samurai is squirming around nicely.
Samurai sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hoffman prevents Samurai from improving his position.
Samurai is staying active underneath Hoffman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Samurai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hoffman is working away from the top position though.
Hoffman trying to control from Samurai's half guard. Samurai has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hoffman postures up.

Samurai has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hoffman is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Samurai.
Samurai is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samurai seems a little lost for a moment, as Hoffman dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Hoffman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Samurai has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hoffman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Samurai blocks it with crossed arms.
Samurai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hoffman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hoffman circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hoffman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Hoffman stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hoffman throws a right and a left that Samurai avoids nicely.
Samurai fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Samurai tries to sprawl but Hoffman drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoffman is keen to just control but Samurai is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Samurai trying to control here.
Hoffman is pressing down on Samurai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Samurai is holding on for now.
Samurai flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Hoffman decides to stand up.

Hoffman 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.
Hoffman is looking to take a break and control but Samurai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Samurai is trying to control Hoffman's posture but Hoffman avoids it.
Samurai might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Samurai tries to escape but Hoffman is in control.
Samurai tries to bench press Hoffman off him but Hoffman keeps the position.

Hoffman goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Samurai has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hoffman but great work by Samurai.
Samurai working away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Samurai throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hoffman is trying to control Samurai's posture but Samurai avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samurai looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hoffman is avoiding damage well.
Hoffman is looking for a sweep.
Hoffman stops Samurai from passing to mount.
Samurai tries to score with some ground and pound. Hoffman controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hoffman dodges the ground and pound from Samurai.
Samurai postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hoffman is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Samurai.
Samurai throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Samurai creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hoffman sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Samurai looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hoffman defending against the ground and pound.
Hoffman is looking for a sweep.
Hoffman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoffman struggling a bit here.
Hoffman is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Hoffman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hoffman 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hans Hoffman!