PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rickie Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Handi Lias Tamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Handi Lias Tamara has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hammond
vs
Lias Tamara

158 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

163 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite 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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rickie Hammond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Handi Lias Tamara!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lias Tamara connects with a jab.

Lias Tamara has Hammond up against the cage in a clinch.
Hammond wants to break free but Lias Tamara has control.
Hammond goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lias Tamara is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hammond is defending well.

Lias Tamara manages to pull guard.
Hammond postures up in Lias Tamara's guard and throws a big left but Lias Tamara blocks it.
Lias Tamara trying to control the position here.
Lias Tamara is looking to sweep but instead, Hammond has passed into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hammond stands up from half guard.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lias Tamara jumps guard.
Lias Tamara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hammond preventing the sweep.

Lias Tamara working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hammond has passed into half guard!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammond lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lias Tamara wants to control but Hammond is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammond keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Lias Tamara tries to kick Hammond off but Hammond keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Lias Tamara is looking to improve his position.
Lias Tamara keeps trying to improve his position.
Lias Tamara moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond stopping the sweep attempt from Lias Tamara.
Hammond content to stall in guard here.

Hammond stands up and waves to Lias Tamara to follow him.
Lias Tamara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lias Tamara wants it to stay on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lias Tamara or perhaps it was just good defense by Hammond, which made it look bad.
Lias Tamara swats away the attempt to clinch by Hammond.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lias Tamara keeps control of Hammond as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Lias Tamara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lias Tamara rushes Hammond and presses him up against the cage.
Hammond tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hammond has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lias Tamara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lias Tamara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hammond just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rickie Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Handi Lias Tamara.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lias Tamara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hammond avoids it really well and circles away.
Hammond is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Handi Lias Tamara dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lias Tamara rushes Hammond and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Lias Tamara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hammond could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Lias Tamara moves into the clinch successfully.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Lias Tamara pulls guard effortlessly.
Lias Tamara looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hammond puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hammond wants to stand but Lias Tamara has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lias Tamara is trying to stand back up but Hammond is controlling him

Lias Tamara looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Hammond pushes past his half guard into mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammond trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Hammond is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Lias Tamara throws a wild body kick that Hammond sees coming a mile off.
Lias Tamara shoots in for a takedown but Hammond shows good takedown defense.
Hammond throws the kick towards the body but Lias Tamara avoids it.
Lias Tamara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hammond avoids it really well and circles away.
Hammond swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lias Tamara is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Lias Tamara. No joy for Hammond on that attempt.

Hammond gets tackled into the cage by Lias Tamara. Lias Tamara maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammond tries to break free but Lias Tamara pushes him back against the cage.
Lias Tamara looking to slow down the pace here.
Hammond wants to break free but Lias Tamara has control.
Hammond wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hammond is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lias Tamara to keep the fight standing.
Hammond has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lias Tamara avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickie Hammond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammond is trying to force a seperation but Lias Tamara has the dominant position.
Hammond is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lias Tamara pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lias Tamara has Hammond pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hammond manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Hammond gets control of Lias Tamara's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hammond will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lias Tamara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hammond swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hammond working for a triangle but Lias Tamara defends it easily.

Hammond had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lias Tamara defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lias Tamara's guard.

Lias Tamara keeping moving, preventing Hammond from controlling successfully.
Hammond throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Lias Tamara looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hammond passes into side control.
Hammond wants to control but Lias Tamara is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hammond decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lias Tamara to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lias Tamara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rickie Hammond 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hammond manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lias Tamara on his heels. He'll look to pass Lias Tamara's guard now, I'm sure.
Hammond won't allow Lias Tamara to sweep him here.
Lias Tamara managing to control the position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Lias Tamara manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Hammond has Lias Tamara pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lias Tamara manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lias Tamara stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hammond goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lias Tamara prevents it.
Hammond is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lias Tamara unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lias Tamara pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lias Tamara wants to take the fight to the mat but Hammond manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Lias Tamara has Hammond pressed against the cage.
Lias Tamara can't get the takedown.

Lias Tamara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lias Tamara tries for a takedown but Hammond sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rickie Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Handi Lias Tamara.
Lias Tamara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hammond shoots in and gets a takedown into Lias Tamara's guard.
Lias Tamara is looking to stand back up but Hammond counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Lias Tamara.

Hammond is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lias Tamara has his hands clasped together around Hammond's back. He's all about the action.
Lias Tamara is trying to stand.
Lias Tamara trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Hammond manages to pass to mount!
Lias Tamara tries to lock up and control but Hammond gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lias Tamara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hammond controlling the position easily from mount.
Lias Tamara tries to hold on but Hammond pushes him away.
Hammond controlling from mount.

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.
Lias Tamara is looking to improve his position but Hammond isn't that keen on the idea.

Hammond stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Lias Tamara dives in for a single leg takedown but Hammond sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Lias Tamara rushes Hammond and presses him up against the cage.

Lias Tamara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lias Tamara throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lias Tamara shoots in but Hammond avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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 Rickie Hammond.
I think Hammond has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!