PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between The Hermit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Method Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Hermit
vs
Man

166 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
147 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, The Hermit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Method Man!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Man misses with a head kick.
Man tries to clinch but Hermit is having none of it.
Man is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Man misses with a wild body shot.
Hermit misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hermit.
Hermit is looking to clinch but Man is avoiding it.
As Hermit backs off Man throws a huge counter combo but Hermit manages to avoid it all.
Hermit fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Man avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hermit circles away.
Hermit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Man shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hermit as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermit shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Man as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Hermit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Man tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hermit defends well and Man ends up having to push Hermit into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Hermit moves into the clinch.

Hermit is trying to trip Man. He has hold of a leg but Man is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hermit persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hermit is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Man is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hermit looking to sit in guard and control but Man gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hermit wants to control the position but Man says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man wants to pass the guard but Hermit is defending well.
Man trying to control the action but Hermit is working from the bottom.
Hermit trying to control from the bottom.
Man is trying to control the action in half guard but Hermit is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hermit on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hermit tries to get out of the position.
Hermit is trying is best to control the position here.
Hermit wants to control the action here but instead Man manages to pass to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermit tries to hold on but Man postures up.
Hermit is working to get back to half guard.
Man sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hermit is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Man throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Man trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hermit avoids a series of strikes thrown by Man.
Hermit is trying to escape the mount.
Hermit wants to control but Man is having none of it.
Man controlling the pace for now.

Man is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hermit has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Man content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Method Man dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Man looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hermit is fending him off so far but Man persists. Nope, Hermit circles away and we're back to standing.
Hermit looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Man is fending him off so far but Hermit persists. Nope, Man circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Man looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hermit throws a quick counter head kick but Man was just out of range.
Man shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hermit pinned against the cage. Hermit gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hermit is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Man's half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man is looking to escape.
Man is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hermit tries to stand but can't do so whilst Man controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Man manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hermit wanted to stand there but Man had control of the position.
Method Man has got the better of the ground game so far.
Man looking to control.
Hermit throws a big elbow that misses.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hermit is looking to work some ground and pound but Man has wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hermit tries for a takedown but Man sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hermit fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Hermit. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A head kick by Hermit misses
and Man counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hermit has a takedown stuffed.

Man gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hermit prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hermit tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Man smiles and moves away.

Hermit takes the fight into the clinch.

Hermit escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hermit closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Man quickly recovers to half guard.
Hermit prevents Man from standing back up.

Man is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hermit pulls his head out easily.
Man gets full guard.
Hermit looking to pass the guard.

Man has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hermit is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Man is looking for a takedown.

Hermit's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermit dips to his left and cracks Man with an uppercut!
Man throws a body kick that misses.
Man doesn't manage to clinch there - Hermit circles away.
Hermit shoots in but no luck this time.
Hermit shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Man but Man pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Hermit closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hermit lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hermit is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Hermit dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hermit tries to clinch but Man moves out of range.
Man changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Man shoots in and drives through. Hermit sprawls well.
Hermit tries to clinch
and Man counters with a left to the body.
Method Man seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck for Man with that takedown attempt.
Hermit throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Man fails with a takedown attempt.
The Hermit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Method Man.
Hermit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Man swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man moves out of range as Hermit throws a body kick.
Man is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Hermit clinches up against the cage.
Man drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hermit gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Man jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hermit walks away with a smile on his face. Man gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermit throws a wild body kick that Man sees coming a mile off.
No luck for Man with that takedown attempt.
Hermit looks to land a body kick but Man moved away.
Hermit defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Man.
Man takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hermit throws a combination. Man tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Man fails with an attempt to clinch.
Man defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hermit.
Man changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hermit tries to avoid it but Man manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hermit to the ground. Hermit escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hermit tries to clinch up but Man circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man goes for a double leg but Hermit avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hermit continues to drive forward.
Hermit misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Man throws a right hand that Hermit ducks under and follows up with a left that Hermit also avoids with ease.
Man fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sloppy strikes from Hermit. Those never looked like landing.
Man stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Man wants it to stay on the feet.
Hermit cracks Man with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hermit changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Man tries to avoid it but Hermit manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Man to the ground. Man escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Man misses with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Man as Hermit shoots in.
It seemed like Man was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Man shoots in for a takedown but Hermit shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Hermit. No joy for Man on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man blocks the body kick.
Hermit scores with a nice strike.

Hermit scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hermit throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hermit tries to stand but Man is controlling his head.
Hermit postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Hermit tries for a kimura but Man is defending well.
Hermit trying to control the position but Man is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermit creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Hermit working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hermit tries to get to his feet but Man is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Hermit in his guard.
Hermit knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Man on the ground.
Man can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hermit controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Hermit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hermit 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Hermit!
During a confident post fight interview, The Hermit thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.