PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Buffel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Hofmann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Buffel
vs
Hofmann

170 cm
28
133 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

177 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Buffel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Todd Hofmann!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hofmann throws the kick towards the body but Buffel avoids it.
It looked like Buffel wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Hofmann takes the fight into the clinch.
Hofmann drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Buffel avoiding damage as Hofmann throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hofmann controlling the action here for a moment.

Hofmann breaks the clinch.
Hofmann is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hofmann fails with the takedown

and Buffel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hofmann won't be happy with that.

Buffel tries for a kimura but Hofmann is defending well.
Buffel lands some shots froms side control.
Buffel wants to control but Hofmann is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here.
Hofmann really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Buffel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buffel trying to control the action but Hofmann is working from the bottom.
Buffel tries to stand but Hofmann is controlling his head.
Hofmann gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Buffel not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buffel is looking to take a break and control but Hofmann is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hofmann wants to get back to his feet.
Hofmann is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Buffel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Buffel trying to control the action but Hofmann is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buffel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hofmann is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hofmann is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hofmann.
Buffel is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hofmann.
Thomas Buffel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Hofmann.
Hofmann shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Buffel as he avoids it easily.
Buffel appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hofmann fails with a takedown attempt.

Hofmann closes the distance and pushes Buffel back into the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hofmann has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Buffel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
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 Thomas Buffel will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hofmann tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Buffel throws a quick counter head kick but Hofmann was just out of range.
Hofmann throws a low kick, looking for Buffel's leg but Buffel calmly moves out of range.
Buffel half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thomas Buffel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hofmann has his takedown stuffed
and Buffel counters with a nice uppercut.
Hofmann fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Buffel checks it well.

Hofmann shoots in and gets a takedown into Buffel's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Buffel pulls Hofmann in close to prevent any damage.

Buffel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hofmann passes into half guard.
Buffel trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Hofmann.
Buffel is looking to improve his position.

Buffel looking for submissions off his back.
Hofmann wants to take a breather but Buffel is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Buffel gets full guard.
Thomas Buffel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Buffel is looking to stand up but Hofmann isn't so interested in that idea.
Buffel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Buffel passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hofmann!
Buffel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hofmann is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buffel has hold of Hofmann's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hofmann manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Buffel tries to control but Hofmann wriggling away.
Hofmann is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Buffel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hofmann tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Buffel is trying to take his opponent's back.
Hofmann is looking to get to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hofmann can do anything to dispel that myth.
Buffel throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hofmann because Buffel loaded up on that one.
Hofmann tries to hold on but Buffel postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Buffel is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hofmann to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hofmann shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Buffel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Hofmann.
Buffel wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hofmann throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Buffel's waist but Buffel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hofmann off to one side.
Hofmann throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Buffel appears to be looking for a big counter.

Hofmann shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Buffel is trying to defend but Hofmann finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Buffel regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buffel has Hofmann pulled in close to control his posture.
Hofmann won't allow Buffel to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buffel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hofmann manages to get himself to full guard.

Hofmann has a closed guard, preventing Buffel from standing up.
Buffel tries to free his leg and advance position but Hofmann is retaining full guard.
Buffel looking to sit in guard and control but Hofmann gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hofmann controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hofmann must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Buffel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann scoring with some ground and pound.
Buffel throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Buffel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hofmann trying to control the position from guard on top but Buffel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Buffel looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buffel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hofmann is one step ahead there.
Buffel trying to control the position.
Buffel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Buffel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hofmann shoots in but Buffel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thomas Buffel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Hofmann.

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.
Hofmann tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Buffel swivels and escapes.
Hofmann misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Buffel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hofmann.

Hofmann gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Todd Hofmann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Buffel gets underhooks to prevent Hofmann's takedown attempt.

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 Thomas Buffel.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Buffel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Buffel!