PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rickie Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khabib Makedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Rickie Hammond has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Rickie Hammond seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hammond
vs
Makedov

158 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

153 cm
24
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue 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 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Rickie Hammond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khabib Makedov!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makedov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hammond pinned against the cage. Hammond gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Makedov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hammond counters with a big head kick but Makedov shrugs it off.

Makedov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hammond to the ground. Makedov is now in Hammond's guard.

Hammond manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Makedov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hammond connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rickie Hammond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khabib Makedov.
Makedov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hammond pinned against the cage. Hammond gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hammond closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Makedov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makedov is controlling Hammond's posture.
Makedov wants to hit a switch here but Hammond passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Makedov there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makedov squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Makedov tries to lock up and control but Hammond gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hammond tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

Makedov bucks up and throws Hammond to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Khabib Makedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makedov shoots in for a double leg but Hammond sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hammond tries to counter by clinching up but Makedov breaks away and moves out of range.
Makedov looks winded!
Hammond tries to clinch but Makedov is having none of it.
Makedov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hammond's waist but Hammond gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Makedov off to one side.
Hammond with a poor takedown

and Makedov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hammond could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hammond is pressing down on Makedov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hammond working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Makedov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Makedov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Makedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hammond throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hammond is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hammond working for a triangle but Makedov defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hammond looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Makedov cracks Hammond with a solid left hand.

Hammond is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Makedov is working Hammond over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Makedov cracks Hammond with a solid left hand.

Hammond looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Makedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Makedov works over Hammond with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammond wants to stand and escape but Makedov is having none of it.
Makedov looking to pass the guard.
Makedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammond lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Hammond looking for a sweep. Not yet Hammond, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammond tries to strike from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Makedov from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hammond shoots in for a double leg but Makedov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickie Hammond dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Makedov stuffs the takedown attempt from Hammond. Hammond gets slowly back to his feet.
Makedov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hammond appears to be looking for a big counter.
Makedov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hammond counters with a stiff right hand.

Makedov gets a double leg takedown into Hammond's guard.
Makedov preventing the sweep.
Makedov cracks Hammond with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammond is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hammond looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Makedov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hammond has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Makedov has managed to get both his arms back between Hammond's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Makedov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makedov connects with a couple of short punches.
Makedov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Makedov postures up and lands a big shot to Hammond's brow.
Makedov stays in close to Hammond's body and controls the position.
Let's hope that Makedov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Hammond throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hammond is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Makedov defends well.

Hammond throws his legs up looking for a submission but Makedov uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammond is looking for a sweep.
Makedov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hammond some visible discomfort.
Makedov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hammond taking a bit of punishment here - Makedov scoring with strikes.
Makedov working the head with strikes.
Makedov controls the position from side control.
Hammond throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Hammond is looking for a sweep.
Makedov lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond is trying to get back to half guard.
Makedov cracks Hammond with a big right hand but Hammond just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Makedov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hammond will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Hammond is looking for a sweep.
Hammond takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hammond is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Makedov off and has taken his back!
Makedov looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
I really don't envy Makedov right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond not allowing Makedov to control his hands.
I really don't envy Makedov right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makedov tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Makedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hammond shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Makedov is trying to defend but Hammond finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Makedov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Makedov wants to improve his position but Hammond is controlling well.
Hammond takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammond passes into side control, despite Makedov's attempt to control the position.
Makedov looks to move to half guard but instead Hammond has passed into mount! Damn!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makedov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Makedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hammond trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Makedov tries to lock up and control but Hammond gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Makedov is in all sorts of trouble here.

Hammond looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Hammond stands up from mount. Strange move.

Makedov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hammond to the mat! Hammond manages to get full guard.
Makedov trying to control but Hammond is working from the bottom.

Hammond is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Makedov is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond wants to get back to his feet but Makedov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammond keeping moving, preventing Makedov from controlling successfully.
Makedov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makedov is looking to work some ground and pound but Hammond has wrist control.
Makedov wants to control from the top but Hammond keeps moving.
Makedov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hammond looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hammond has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Makedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hammond trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Makedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Makedov throwing strikes but missing.
Makedov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammond trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Makedov postures up in Hammond's guard and throws a big left but Hammond blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Makedov closes the distance and clinches up with Hammond, looking for a takedown. Makedov pushes Hammond against the cage but Hammond circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Hammond forces Makedov back against the cage and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makedov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hammond avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hammond is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hammond tries for a takedown. No joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickie Hammond showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hammond 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rickie Hammond!