PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anibal Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Showtime (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Showtime has chosen Old Toms Hut as his entrance music. Rick Showtime has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hammond
vs
Showtime

216 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anibal Hammond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rick Showtime!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Showtime misses with a double jab
and Hammond counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice uppercut there from Showtime.
Hammond swats away the attempt to clinch by Showtime.
Showtime throws a combination that misses
and Hammond counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Showtime throws a body kick that misses.
Showtime tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hammond defends well and Showtime ends up having to push Hammond into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hammond stalling in the clinch.
Showtime can't break the clinch.
Hammond has Showtime pressed against the cage, preventing Showtime from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hammond lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Showtime backwards.

Hammond has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Showtime uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Showtime from controlling successfully.
Showtime controls from within his opponent's guard.
Showtime prevents Hammond from getting back to his feet.
Hammond will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammond avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Showtime gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Showtime throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hammond counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Showtime!
Showtime sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Showtime preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hammond working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Showtime is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammond throwing shots but Showtime is blocking nicely.
Hammond stops Showtime from getting back to his feet.

Anibal Hammond has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A lazy left from Showtime finds it's target.
The fighters circling - Showtime throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Showtime looks winded!
Showtime misses with a wild combination.

Hammond gets a clinch.

Hammond gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hammond really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hammond is looking for a kimura here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Showtime is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rick Showtime will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Showtime throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rick Showtime is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Showtime tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hammond sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Showtime somewhat.
Showtime tries to clinch up
and Hammond counters with a straight right hand.
Showtime fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Showtime throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Showtime misses with a takedown

and Hammond counters with a single leg into guard. Showtime didn't expect that.
Anibal Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Showtime.
Showtime is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Showtime is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Showtime is breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Rick Showtime has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Showtime misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Showtime looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Showtime slaps away a takedown attempt from Hammond, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Showtime fails in his attempt to clinch.
Showtime misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Showtime misses
and Hammond connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Hammond drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hammond missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammond missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammond trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammond stopping the sweep attempt from Showtime.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rick Showtime was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nice sprawl there from Showtime as Hammond shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Showtime looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Showtime misses with a double jab.
Showtime stuffs the takedown.
Showtime tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hammond manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Showtime misses with a takedown attempt - Hammond sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hammond changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Showtime looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hammond scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond trying to control the position but Showtime is working away.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hammond misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hammond lands some shots froms side control.

Hammond tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammond landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anibal Hammond dominated that second round.
That's time! Hammond's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hammond fails with a takedown attempt.
Showtime throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hammond counters by moving into the clinch.
A short left from Showtime.
Showtime is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hammond swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hammond jumps guard but Showtime stands there with Hammond around his waist. Hammond gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hammond tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anibal Hammond. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hammond manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Showtime controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Showtime from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rick Showtime.
Showtime throws a shot from downtown. Hammond moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Showtime throws a head kick that misses
and Hammond counters with a nice uppercut.
Showtime takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Horrible takedown by Showtime or perhaps it was just good defense by Hammond which made him look bad.
Hammond shoots in for a double leg but Showtime sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Showtime throws a shot to the body.
Showtime changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hammond tries to avoid it but Showtime manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hammond to the ground. Hammond escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Showtime misses with a takedown attempt
and Hammond counters with a straight right hand.

Hammond drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hammond has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Showtime preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammond with a flurry of punches that miss.
Showtime avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Showtime wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hammond manages to pass to side control.
Hammond prevents Showtime from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Showtime tries to get to full guard but Hammond has control of the leg.
Hammond landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hammond thows a huge punch but Showtime dodges it nicely.
Hammond is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anibal Hammond.
I think Hammond has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anibal Hammond!