PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Hemp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Conlon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Conlon will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hemp
vs
Conlon

183 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Hemp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Conlon!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conlon dives in for a single leg takedown but Hemp sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Conlon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hemp circles away.

Oooooh!!! Hemp has knocked Conlon down with a huge combo! Hemp steps away and waves a wobbly Conlon back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Hemp throws a combination that misses

and Conlon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hemp's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Conlon tries to free his leg and advance position but Hemp is retaining full guard.

Conlon drops back looking for a leg! Hemp is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hemp manages to kick Conlon off! Conlon jumps back into Hemp's guard.

Hemp is looking for a triangle but Conlon pushes his legs off easily.

Conlon drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hemp manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Conlon has Hemp in his guard.

Hemp has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hemp avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Conlon is looking for a triangle but Hemp pushes his legs off easily.
Conlon keeping moving, preventing Hemp from controlling successfully.

Conlon is looking for a triangle here but Hemp uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Conlon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hemp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Conlon is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hemp pulls his head out easily.

Hemp is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Conlon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hemp.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Conlon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hemp is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hemp missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Conlon is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hemp pulls his head out easily.
Hemp prevents Conlon from improving his position.

Conlon actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hemp wants to stand up but Conlon is controlling the position.

Conlon actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conlon is not content to let Hemp control the position.
Conlon is pressing down on Hemp's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Conlon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hemp gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Conlon has a closed guard, preventing Hemp from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hemp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've been told by Hemp's head coaches at Cozad MMA Las Vegas that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Conlon blocks a head kick by Hemp.
Conlon's coach down at Black Hand Vegas was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Conlon's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hemp doesn't manage to clinch there - Conlon circles away.
Hemp tries for a takedown but Conlon circles away easily

and Conlon counters with a takedown into side control.

Conlon is trying to get an arm triangle but Hemp is defending well.
Hemp sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hemp pushes Conlon off looking to stand but Conlon dives back in and keeps control.
Hemp is trying to control but can't.
Hemp tries to get to full guard but Conlon has control of the leg.
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 Brandon Hemp will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Conlon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hemp misses with a low kick.

Conlon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hemp manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hemp 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.
Hemp is trying to keep Conlon in close.
Tommy Conlon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Conlon pushes down on Hemp's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Conlon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hemp is just riding it out for now. Conlon eventually gives up the hold.
Hemp is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hemp is trying to get back to full guard.
Hemp is trying to stand.

Conlon is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hemp moves into full guard.

Conlon drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hemp looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hemp looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hemp!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conlon is looking for a sweep.
Hemp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Conlon keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hemp throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hemp misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Conlon regains half guard.
Hemp wants to stand up but Conlon has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Hemp is keen to just control but Conlon is a slippery customer.

Conlon actively working from the bottom here.

Conlon looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Conlon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Conlon actively working from the bottom here.
Conlon is breathing heavily.

Conlon actively working from the bottom here.

Conlon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hemp is looking to advance position but Conlon won't allow it.
Conlon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Conlon looking for submissions off his back.
Conlon is trying to get back to full guard.

Conlon looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Conlon actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Conlon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Conlon takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Brandon Hemp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Hemp.
Conlon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hemp's waist but Hemp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Conlon off to one side.
Hemp doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Conlon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Conlon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hemp swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hemp trying to control the position but Conlon is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conlon tries to buck Hemp off but Hemp is having none of it.
Conlon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hemp is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Conlon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Conlon manages to get back to half guard.
Hemp trying to control the pace.

Conlon is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hemp pulls his head out easily.
Hemp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Conlon's head.

Conlon looking for submissions off his back.

Conlon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hemp tries to pass to full mount but Conlon defends it.
Hemp knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Conlon on the ground.

Conlon is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Hemp is tapping! Great win for Conlon!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Tommy Conlon!
Our winner, Tommy Conlon, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.