PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Przepiorka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malik Hodge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Przepiorka
vs
Hodge

182 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
165 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Piotr Przepiorka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Malik Hodge!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hodge fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hodge gets a double leg takedown into Przepiorka's guard.
Hodge throwing strikes but missing.
Przepiorka keeping moving, preventing Hodge from controlling successfully.
Hodge has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Przepiorka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hodge tries to free his leg and advance position but Przepiorka is retaining full guard.
Przepiorka has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hodge has passed into side control.
Hodge trying to control the action but Przepiorka is working from the bottom.
Przepiorka is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Przepiorka regains half guard.
Przepiorka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Przepiorka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Przepiorka.
Hodge slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Przepiorka tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Hodge wants to lay and pray for a moment but Przepiorka keeps working.
Przepiorka is trying to improve his position.
Przepiorka manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hodge's best efforts.
Przepiorka manages to get to full guard.
Przepiorka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hodge is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Przepiorka has an active guard here but Hodge has managed to pass into half guard.
Przepiorka is staying active underneath Hodge, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hodge not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Przepiorka is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hodge is keen to just control but Przepiorka is a slippery customer.
Przepiorka tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Hodge is going to stand back up.
Przepiorka is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hodge jumps into side control!
Przepiorka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hodge on the ground.
Hodge wants to control but Przepiorka is keeping him busy.
Przepiorka is looking to reverse the position.
Przepiorka gets back to half guard.
Przepiorka is trying to get back to full guard.
It looks like Hodge is going to stand back up.
Przepiorka works his way to full guard. Good work.

Przepiorka has his foot on Hodge's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hodge works his way back into a safe position though.

Przepiorka has an active guard here but Hodge has managed to pass into half guard.
Przepiorka is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Przepiorka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hodge.
Przepiorka wants to get back to full guard.

Hodge is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Przepiorka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hodge.
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!
Przepiorka wants to sweep but Hodge has passed to side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Przepiorka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hodge wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Piotr Przepiorka will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hodge lands a right hook to the body.

Hodge throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Przepiorka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hodge is in Przepiorka's guard.
Hodge pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Przepiorka is keeping the position for now.

Przepiorka is looking for a triangle here but Hodge uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Przepiorka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hodge wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Przepiorka is working hard here to advance position.
Przepiorka striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Hodge trying to control the action but Przepiorka is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Przepiorka manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Przepiorka wants to get back to full guard but Hodge has mounted him!
Hodge controlling from mount.
Przepiorka bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Przepiorka trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hodge manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Przepiorka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hodge showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Przepiorka wants to sweep here but Hodge controlling him for the moment.
Hodge passes into half guard.

Przepiorka looking for submissions off his back.
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!
Hodge trying to pass the guard but Przepiorka defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Przepiorka tries to get to full guard but Hodge has control of the leg.
Hodge tries to stand but can't do so whilst Przepiorka controls his leg.
Hodge not doing much here.
Przepiorka wants to improve his position but Hodge is controlling well.
Przepiorka is refusing to be controlled, as Hodge sits in half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Malik Hodge wasn't active enough on the ground.

Hodge closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Przepiorka quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Przepiorka has a hand on Hodge's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hodge takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Przepiorka tries to reverse the position but Hodge maintains control.
Hodge takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Przepiorka throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Przepiorka holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hodge tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Hodge is working for a guillotine from mount but Przepiorka frees his head quite easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Przepiorka manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malik Hodge 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!

Hodge fakes the leg kick and cracks Przepiorka in the body.
Hodge throws a head kick that half lands.

Hodge gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Hodge has clasped his hands together around Przepiorka's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Przepiorka is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hodge off and has taken his back!
Przepiorka struggling to land strikes to the head as Hodge covers up.

Przepiorka looking for the RNC.
Przepiorka throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Przepiorka cracks Hodge with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Hodge from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Przepiorka somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Hodge is taking damage to the body and head.
Hodge turns into Przepiorka and is now in his guard.
Hodge takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Przepiorka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hodge gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Przepiorka wants to improve his position but instead Hodge has moved into half guard.
Przepiorka wants to improve his position but Hodge is controlling well.
Przepiorka is in trouble now - Hodge has advanced to mount!
Hodge trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hodge thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Hodge working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Przepiorka is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Przepiorka 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.
Przepiorka is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodge controlling the action here.
Przepiorka manages to get to full guard.
Przepiorka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Przepiorka tries to get out of the position.

Przepiorka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Przepiorka looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hodge puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hodge moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Przepiorka.

Hodge stands up and beckons Przepiorka to his feet.
Malik Hodge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hodge shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Przepiorka is trying to defend but Hodge finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hodge is taking a breather. Przepiorka says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Przepiorka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Przepiorka wants to get back to full guard but Hodge has passed into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Przepiorka tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hodge presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

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 Piotr Przepiorka.
I think Przepiorka 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Malik Hodge!