PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hank Hankerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clubber Lang (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.

Hankerson
vs
Lang

195 cm
26
195 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hank Hankerson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Clubber Lang!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hankerson throws a series of punches but Lang moves out of range.
Lang throws a push kick but Hankerson slaps the foot to one side.

Hankerson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hankerson controlling from the top position.
Lang wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hankerson content to stall in guard here.

Lang looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hankerson passes into side control.
Lang is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang is looking to reverse the position.

Hankerson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lang to his feet.
Hankerson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lang is fending him off so far but Hankerson persists. Nope, Lang circles away and we're back to standing.
Hankerson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hankerson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lang!
Hankerson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lang is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hankerson decides to stand back up.
Hankerson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hankerson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lang sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hankerson somewhat.

Hankerson closes the distance and pushes Lang back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hankerson is looking to control Lang's arms but Lang gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hankerson has his back to the cage.

Hankerson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lang shoots in for a takedown but Hankerson shows good takedown defense.

Hankerson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hankerson showed some decent athleticism there.
Lang is not content to let Hankerson control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hankerson slows the pace down in half guard.

Lang looking for submissions off his back.
Hankerson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hankerson in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hank Hankerson just wasn't active enough.
Lang fails to land with a series of punches.

Hankerson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lang looking to sit in guard and control but Hankerson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lang is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hankerson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hankerson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Hankerson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hankerson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lang was covering up waiting for the punch and Hankerson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lang wants to get back to his feet but Hankerson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lang keeping moving, preventing Hankerson from controlling successfully.
Hankerson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lang throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hankerson controls the pace.

Hank Hankerson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lang fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lang blocks a head kick by Hankerson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hankerson.
Hankerson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lang feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Lang postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hankerson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lang, into his guard.
Lang trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hankerson throwing strikes but missing.
Lang looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hankerson is one step ahead there.
Lang trying to control the position.
Hankerson stays in close to Lang's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hankerson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Lang looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hankerson controls from within his opponent's guard.

Lang is looking for a triangle but Hankerson pushes his legs off easily.

Hankerson stands up and waves to Lang to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hankerson throws a head kick that Lang semi-blocks.
Lang blocks a head kick by Hankerson.
Hankerson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lang defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hankerson.
No joy there for Lang, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lang tries to clinch but Hankerson moves out of range.

Lang tries to keep at a distance but Hankerson has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hankerson is defending well for now.

Hankerson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hankerson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Hankerson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Lang looks for a takedown but Hankerson sprawls well.
Hankerson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hankerson.
Hankerson shoots in and drives through. Lang sprawls well.
Hank Hankerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lang throws a lazy right hand but Hankerson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lang takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Lang moves into the clinch successfully.
Hankerson tries to land knees in the clinch but Lang avoids the damage to the body.
Hankerson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lang pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Hankerson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hankerson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hankerson tries to clinch up.
No luck for Lang with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hankerson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lang counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lang looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hankerson!
Hankerson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lang.
Lang tries to stand but Hankerson is controlling his head.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Hankerson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lang seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Hankerson pushes Lang off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang moves in looking to clinch but Hankerson pushes him off.

Hankerson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lang's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lang wants to get back to his feet but Hankerson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lang wants to sweep but no luck.
Lang looking to control.
Hankerson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hank Hankerson.
Hankerson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lang as he avoids it easily.
Hankerson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hankerson wants it to stay on the feet.
Lang throws a leg kick that misses.
Lang tries to clinch up but Hankerson circles away and keeps his distance.
Lang looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hankerson is fending him off so far but Lang persists. Nope, Hankerson circles away and we're back to standing.

Hankerson shoots in and gets a takedown into Lang's guard.
Hankerson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hankerson wants to stand but Lang has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hankerson wants to control from the top but Lang keeps moving.
Hankerson wants to stand but Lang has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

We're going to have a standup here because Hank Hankerson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hankerson misses with a takedown

and Lang counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hankerson lands an elbow that stopped Lang in his tracks for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lang is trying to pull guard but Hankerson has him pressed against the cage.
Lang tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lang looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Hankerson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hankerson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Erwin scores the fight for Hank Hankerson!
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight for Hank Hankerson!
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Hank Hankerson!

Hank Hankerson wins by unanimous decision!
Hank Hankerson bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.