PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hulk Hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ding Xueliang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hogan
vs
Xueliang

200 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
247 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hulk Hogan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ding Xueliang!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xueliang clinches up with Hogan and pushes him back against the cage.

Hogan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hogan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Xueliang is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Xueliang is pulling down on Hogan's head. It's preventing any offense from Hogan, at least for the moment.
Hogan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hogan throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hogan throws a big right hand that misses.
Xueliang looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hogan is one step ahead there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan wants to control from the top but Xueliang keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Xueliang's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Xueliang's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Xueliang drives through and clinches with Hogan against the cage.

Hogan jumps guard.
Xueliang wants to pass the guard but Hogan is keeping the position.
Hogan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xueliang throws an elbow that misses. Hogan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Xueliang's guard. Nice move by Hogan!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hogan trying to control but Xueliang is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogan looking to pass the guard.
Xueliang can't keep his opponent in guard - Hogan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Xueliang is refusing to be controlled, as Hogan sits in half guard.
Xueliang wants to get back to full guard.
Xueliang is refusing to be controlled, as Hogan sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogan misses with a head shot. Xueliang uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hogan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Xueliang keeping moving, preventing Hogan from controlling successfully.

Xueliang throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Xueliang not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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.
Hogan trying to control the position from guard on top but Xueliang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hogan pushes Xueliang up against the cage in a clinch.
Xueliang wants a takedown.
Hogan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Xueliang walks away with a smile on his face. Hogan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hogan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ding Xueliang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xueliang misses with a wild combination.
Xueliang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hogan shoots in looking for a takedown but Xueliang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hogan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hogan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hulk Hogan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hogan fails with the takedown

and Xueliang counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Xueliang.
Xueliang fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hogan stalling in the clinch but Xueliang improves position.
Hogan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hogan misses with a knee to the head.
Hogan tries to pull guard but Xueliang won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hulk Hogan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hogan tries for a takedown. No joy.

Hogan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hogan misses with a hook
and Xueliang counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xueliang leaves Hogan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xueliang stalling.

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

Hogan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Xueliang to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hogan is looking to stand up but Xueliang isn't so interested in that idea.
Hogan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hogan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Xueliang got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hogan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Xueliang has managed to get both his arms back between Hogan's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Xueliang decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hogan, up you get!
Hogan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Xueliang sprawls well. Xueliang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hogan gets slowly back to his feet.
Hogan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Xueliang as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Xueliang slaps away a takedown attempt from Hogan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Xueliang steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hogan.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hogan.
Hulk Hogan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogan is looking to clinch.
Hogan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Xueliang is fending him off so far but Hogan persists. Nope, Xueliang circles away and we're back to standing.
Xueliang misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Xueliang should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Xueliang closes the distance and clinches.
Hogan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Xueliang is trying to trip Hogan. He has hold of a leg but Hogan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Xueliang persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Xueliang pushes down on Hogan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Xueliang not doing much here.
Xueliang passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hogan!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogan tries to lock up and control but Xueliang gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hogan taking shots to the head.
Hogan regains half guard.
Hogan punching from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hogan is trying to get back to full guard.
Xueliang content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ding Xueliang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hogan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Xueliang sprawls well. Xueliang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hogan gets slowly back to his feet.
Xueliang shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hogan as he jumps to the side.
Xueliang tries for a takedown but Hogan circles away easily
and Hogan counters with a left and a right that stings Xueliang.
Hogan swings for the body but Xueliang moves out of range.
Hogan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xueliang stuffs the takedown attempt from Hogan. Hogan gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hulk Hogan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xueliang moves out of range of the body kick.
As Hogan backs off Xueliang throws a huge counter combo but Hogan manages to avoid it all.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Xueliang has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hogan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hogan throws a series of punches but Xueliang avoids them all with ease.
Xueliang throws a counter combo.

Hogan clinches up with Xueliang and pushes him back against the cage.

Xueliang breaks from the clinch.
Hogan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Xueliang circles away.
Xueliang slaps away a takedown attempt from Hogan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hogan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Xueliang closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Xueliang lands in his opponent's guard.
Hogan wants to sweep here but Xueliang controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hogan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hogan wants to control the position but Xueliang says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Xueliang takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hogan trying to control here.
Hogan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hogan is defending against the submission attempts here by Xueliang.
Xueliang is looking to advance position but Hogan won't allow it.

Xueliang is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hogan sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four 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.
Xueliang seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hogan wants to control but Xueliang is keeping busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hogan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Xueliang scores with a hook.

Hogan has managed to clinch.
Xueliang tries for a takedown but Hogan manages to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ding Xueliang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Xueliang has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ding Xueliang!