PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rinto Hartanto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cooper Hilgers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hartanto
vs
Hilgers

185 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rinto Hartanto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cooper Hilgers!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Ron Honeybunn and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hartanto just misses with a punch to the body.

Hilgers dives in and scores a takedown into Hartanto's guard.
Hilgers wants to control from the top but Hartanto keeps moving.
Hilgers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hartanto keeping moving, preventing Hilgers from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hartanto is looking for a triangle but Hilgers pushes his legs off easily.
Hartanto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hilgers on the ground.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilgers is looking to regain half guard here but Hartanto keeps moving and retains side control.
Hilgers manages to get back to half guard.

Hilgers looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hartanto perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hilgers is looking for a sweep. Hartanto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
Hartanto tries to stand and escape but Hilgers is controlling the position.
We've been hearing that Hartanto has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hartanto trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hilgers actively working from the bottom here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hartanto has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
It looks like Hartanto is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hilgers looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hilgers on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hilgers looks winded!
A big left from Hartanto misses.
Hilgers slips a jab from Hartanto.
Hilgers drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hartanto defends it well.
Hilgers looks for a takedown but Hartanto sprawls well.
Hartanto throws a head kick that misses.
Hartanto lunges at Hilgers with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hilgers's hand.
Hartanto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hilgers changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hilgers shoots in looking for a takedown but Hartanto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hilgers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hartanto lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hartanto clobbers Hilgers with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartanto misses with a head kick.
Hartanto missing with a left hand there. Hilgers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hartanto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hilgers looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hilgers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hartanto defends well and Hilgers ends up having to push Hartanto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hartanto appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rinto Hartanto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cooper Hilgers.
Hartanto lands with a straight right. Hilgers didn't see that one coming.
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!
Hartanto digs a good hook to Hilgers's body.
Hartanto lands with an overhand left.

Hartanto gets the takedown into side control.
Hartanto connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hilgers some visible discomfort.

Hartanto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The referee asks Hartanto politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hartanto prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rinto Hartanto dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hartanto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hilgers takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hilgers misses with a takedown attempt - Hartanto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hartanto tries to counter with a takedown but Hilgers is quick to defend against it.
Hilgers shoots in but Hartanto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hilgers has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hilgers there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hartanto lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cooper Hilgers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hartanto lands with a cross.
Hilgers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hartanto's waist but Hartanto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hilgers off to one side.
Rinto Hartanto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cooper Hilgers.
Hilgers is breathing heavily.
Hilgers with a poor takedown
and Hartanto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Hilgers gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hartanto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hartanto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hilgers can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilgers being controlled here, momentarily.

Hilgers has an active guard here but Hartanto has managed to pass into half guard.
Hartanto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Hilgers with the active half guard here but Hartanto passes nicely into side control.
Hilgers on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartanto in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Hartanto wants to stand but Hilgers is controlling his arm.
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.

Hartanto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hilgers has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hartanto but great work by Hilgers.
Hartanto is looking to reverse the position.

Hilgers tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hartanto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hartanto is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hilgers is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilgers controlling the position from side mount.
I wouldn't like to be where Hartanto is right now.
Hartanto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hartanto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hilgers asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rinto Hartanto dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hilgers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hartanto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hartanto connects with a right hand. Hilgers shakes it off.
Hilgers blocks a head kick by Hartanto.
No joy there for Hartanto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hilgers with a poor takedown
and Hartanto makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hilgers closes the distance and clinches up with Hartanto, looking for a takedown. Hilgers pushes Hartanto against the cage but Hartanto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rinto Hartanto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cooper Hilgers.
Hartanto lands a slapping body shot.
Hartanto thuds his right hand into Hilgers's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hartanto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hartanto lands an overhand right.
Hilgers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hartanto lunges at Hilgers with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hilgers's hand.
Jab from Hartanto.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hilgers shoots in for a double leg but Hartanto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartanto lands with a straight right. Hilgers didn't see that one coming.
Hartanto scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hartanto with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hartanto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hilgers doesn't seem bothered though.
Nice shot by Hartanto.
Hartanto lands with a cross.
Hartanto jabs Hilgers to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Good exchange - Hartanto coming out on top.
Rinto Hartanto is winning the standup battle so far.
Hartanto scores with the left hand. Hilgers knows he should have avoided that one.
Hartanto lands with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hartanto tests Hilgers's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hartanto lands with a hook. Hilgers tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hilgers has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilgers takes one to the chin there.
Hilgers shoots in but Hartanto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hartanto getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hartanto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice cross by Hartanto.
Hartanto scores with a sloppy right hand. Hilgers should have avoided that one.
Hilgers gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hartanto.
Hartanto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice shot by Hartanto.
Hartanto moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartanto scores with a jab to the body.
Hartanto scores with a hook to the body. Hilgers takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hilgers moves forwards but Hartanto connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rinto Hartanto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
No luck for Hilgers with that takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Hartanto.
A jab lands there for Hartanto.
Hartanto lands a jab to the head.
Hartanto lands a slapping body shot.
Hilgers takes a kick to the side of the head.
Good standup being displayed there by Hartanto as he connects with a hook.
The crowd cheers as Hartanto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hilgers doesn't seem phased though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hartanto is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hartanto scores with a nice head shot.
Hartanto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hilgers takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A jab from Hartanto finds it's way through Hilgers's defenses.
Hartanto scores with a punch to the head.
Hilgers has his takedown stuffed
and Hartanto counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Hartanto. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hartanto.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hartanto jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Hartanto scores with a takedown into Hilgers's guard.
Cooper Hilgers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hartanto controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rinto Hartanto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hartanto 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:26
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rinto Hartanto!
Our winner, Rinto Hartanto, 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.