PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Ambrose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Hammer is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ambrose
vs
Hammer

188 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Ambrose!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marco Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ambrose shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hammer defends it nicely.
Hammer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hammer misses with a two punch combination.
Hammer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ambrose.
Horrible takedown by Ambrose or perhaps it was just good defense by Hammer which made him look bad.
Hammer shoots in for a double leg but Ambrose sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ambrose tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hammer was well out of range. Poor timing from Ambrose.
Ambrose stuffs the takedown attempt from Hammer. Hammer gets slowly back to his feet.
Hammer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ambrose swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ambrose tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hammer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ambrose tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hammer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hammer misses with a double jab
and Ambrose counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hammer misses.
Ambrose misses with a body shot.
Hammer lands a jab-cross combination.
Hammer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Marco Hammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hammer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hammer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ambrose moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ambrose goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hammer needs to keep his hands up - Ambrose had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some wild striking there from Hammer.
Ambrose goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hammer stuffs the takedown attempt from Ambrose. Ambrose gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Ambrose. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammer misses with a double jab
and Ambrose makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hammer looks winded!
Ambrose takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hammer circles away quickly and effectively.
Hammer changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ambrose tries to avoid it but Hammer manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ambrose to the ground. Ambrose escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hammer misses with a series of wild punches.
Hammer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ambrose.
Hammer tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ambrose defends well and Hammer ends up having to push Ambrose into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ambrose lands on the inside with an uppercut.

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

Ambrose moves into the clinch successfully.
Ambrose tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ambrose landing knees to the head.

Ambrose's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ambrose misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hammer.
Hammer tries to clinch but Ambrose moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose lands a head kick. Hammer smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hammer throws a right hand that Ambrose ducks under and follows up with a left that Ambrose also avoids with ease.
Ambrose shoots in for a takedown but Hammer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hammer tries to bum rush Ambrose with a series of wild strikes but Ambrose uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hammer defending well as Ambrose loads up on a big left hand.
Ambrose slips a jab and a cross from Hammer.
Ambrose tries to clinch but Hammer is having none of it.
Ambrose tries to clinch there but Hammer circles away.
Ambrose slips a jab and a cross from Hammer.
Ambrose doesn't manage to clinch there - Hammer circles away.
Ambrose throws a series of punches but Hammer avoids them all with ease.
Hammer throws a right hand that Ambrose ducks under and follows up with a left that Ambrose also avoids with ease.
Hammer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hammer wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hammer misses with a two punch combination.
Ambrose goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hammer stalks Ambrose and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ambrose's face. Ambrose staggers backwards, shaken.
Ambrose looks for a takedown but Hammer sprawls well.
Hammer misses with a two punch combination.

Ambrose clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ambrose pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ambrose lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hammer backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hammer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ambrose walks away with a smile on his face. Hammer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ambrose scores with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ambrose misses with a two punch combination.
Hammer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ambrose misses with a series of wild punches.
Hammer shoots in for a takedown but Ambrose shows good takedown defense.
A combination from Hammer does no damage.
Hammer misses with the combination.
Ambrose closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hammer lands with a nice combination. Ambrose backs away looking to recover.
A good leg kick by Ambrose.
Ambrose closes the distance and clinches up with Hammer, looking for a takedown. Ambrose pushes Hammer against the cage but Hammer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hammer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ambrose pinned against the cage. Ambrose gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hammer ducks right into an uppercut from Ambrose.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer stuffs the takedown.
Ambrose is looking to clinch.
Hammer lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ambrose circles away quickly and effectively.
Ambrose throws a head kick that Hammer semi-blocks.
A punch combination from Ambrose misses.
Ambrose keeps the fight on the outside.
Ambrose throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hammer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ambrose avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ambrose fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Ambrose. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Hammer has managed to clinch.
Hammer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ambrose manages to break the clinch.
Hammer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ambrose is fending him off so far but Hammer persists. Nope, Ambrose circles away and we're back to standing.

Ambrose fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hammer, pushing him back against the cage.
Ambrose stops a takedown attempt from Hammer.
Ambrose has Hammer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hammer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ambrose pulls Hammer into guard.
Hammer postures up and lands a big shot to Ambrose's brow.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ambrose is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ambrose avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer postures up.
Hammer is in close to Ambrose's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammer landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ambrose's head.
Hammer advances position into side control!
Ambrose is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hammer lands some shots froms side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer cracks Ambrose with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ambrose is trying to control Hammer's posture but Hammer avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammer lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ambrose down.
Hammer advances to full mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hammer landing strikes from the mount and Ambrose is in trouble!
Hammer connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ambrose is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ambrose takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Hammer 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!

Hammer misses with a two punch combination.
Ambrose lands a two punch combo.
Hammer misses with a wild combination.
Ambrose tries to clinch but Hammer is having none of it.
Ambrose tries to clinch but Hammer moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ambrose is defended easily by Hammer.
Nice sprawl there from Ambrose as Hammer shoots in.
Ambrose fails to land with a series of punches.

Ambrose drives through and clinches with Hammer against the cage.
Ambrose tries to pull guard but Hammer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammer is working for takedown but Ambrose is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hammer goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ambrose prevents it.
James Ambrose has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Hammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ambrose's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hammer throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ambrose lands a high kick!
Hammer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A right-left combo lands from Hammer.
Ambrose shoots in looking for a takedown. Hammer tries to sprawl out of it but Ambrose keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hammer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hammer gets the takedown into side control.
Hammer in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hammer scores with punches from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Hammer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer working the ground and pound.
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!
Ambrose wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Ambrose struggling a bit here.
Hammer in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hammer lands some shots froms side control.
Ambrose wants to control but Hammer postures up.
Hammer lands a nice forearm strike.
Hammer working the ground and pound.
Hammer scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ambrose to see if he's OK.
Hammer creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambrose takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hammer working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ambrose takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ambrose wants to control but Hammer postures up.
Hammer is putting a hurting on Ambrose here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ambrose is trying to control Hammer's posture but Hammer avoids it.
Hammer is looking to take a break and control but Ambrose is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hammer cracks Ambrose with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer working the head and body with strikes.
Ambrose tries to escape but Hammer is in control.
Hammer lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ambrose is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hammer decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Some wild striking there from Hammer.
Hammer misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ambrose looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hammer is fending him off so far but Ambrose persists. Nope, Hammer circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Hammer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hammer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Hammer!
Marco Hammer decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.