PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Buttons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hogan
vs
Buttons

218 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mathew Hogan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam Buttons!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Buttons misses.

Hogan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buttons tries to get to full guard but Hogan has control of the leg.
Hogan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Buttons's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buttons is pressing down on Hogan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Buttons wants to sweep but no luck.
Hogan with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buttons working a defensive guard but Hogan manages to pass into side control anyway.
Buttons tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hogan presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Hogan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Buttons turns into him and now he's in Hogan's guard.
Buttons must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buttons trying to control the position from guard on top but Hogan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Buttons postures up and lands a big shot to Hogan's brow.

Hogan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Buttons is aware though and is defending well.
Buttons pushes down on Hogan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Buttons is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hogan.

Hogan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Buttons is aware though and is defending well.

Hogan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Buttons is aware though and is defending well.
Hogan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hogan keeping moving, preventing Buttons from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hogan is on top in guard.

Buttons pulls Hogan in close to his closed guard and prevents Hogan from doing any damage or advancing position.
Buttons wants to stand up but Hogan is controlling 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.
Hogan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Buttons trying to keep a closed guard but Hogan is proving a slippery customer.
Buttons lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hogan throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hogan enables Buttons to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hogan manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Buttons throws an elbow that misses. Hogan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Buttons's guard. Nice move by Hogan!

Buttons wants to stand and escape but Hogan is having none of it.
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 Mathew Hogan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hogan has a takedown stuffed.
A head kick misses from Buttons.
Hogan seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Buttons changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hogan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Buttons stands up.
Buttons throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hogan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Buttons as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Buttons shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Hogan is rocked!
Buttons looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hogan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Oh Hogan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buttons perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Hogan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hogan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Buttons decides to stand up.

Buttons clinches up with Hogan and pushes him back against the cage.
Buttons jerks Hogan's head down, straight into the path of a devastating knee! Hogan drops to the floor in a crumpled heap! Buttons goes to throw a finishing haymaker but pulls out - good sportsmanship from Buttons because Hogan was completely out of it. That was a nice finish - just the right level of brutality to send everyone home happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Sam Buttons!