PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fritz Hobbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James McGrath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGrath has chosen The Ghost as his entrance music. The key to victory for Fritz Hobbs has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hobbs
vs
McGrath

174 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

198 cm
18
178 lbs
1 - 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 middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fritz Hobbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James McGrath!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGrath fails with a takedown attempt.
McGrath is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

McGrath clinches up with Hobbs and pushes him back against the cage.

McGrath manages to pull guard.
Hobbs is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hobbs wanted to stand there but McGrath had control of the position.
Hobbs lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hobbs gets to his feet - McGrath follows without any prompting.

Hobbs rushes McGrath and presses him up against the cage.

McGrath drags the fight down to the ground.
Hobbs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hobbs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hobbs is looking to stand up but McGrath won't let him.

Hobbs gets to his feet - McGrath follows without any prompting.

McGrath closes the distance and clinches.
McGrath looks winded!
Hobbs is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
McGrath pushes off an throws an elbow but Hobbs leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGrath lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hobbs kicks off McGrath and gets to his feet.
Hobbs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hobbs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hobbs wants it to stay on the feet.

Hobbs clinches up with McGrath and pushes him back against the cage.
McGrath prevents the takedown attempt.
McGrath jumps guard but Hobbs stands there with McGrath around his waist. McGrath gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fritz Hobbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James McGrath.
McGrath tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hobbs smiles and moves away.

Hobbs rushes McGrath and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGrath prevents the takedown attempt.

Hobbs has picked McGrath up - he's going for a ride! Hobbs dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
McGrath is trying to control but Hobbs manages to pass to mount!
McGrath slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hobbs missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McGrath wants to control but Hobbs is keeping busy.
McGrath is staying active underneath Hobbs, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hobbs is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrath is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGrath avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hobbs.
Hobbs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hobbs decides to return to a standing position.
McGrath shoots in but Hobbs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hobbs throwing a counter right hand but McGrath manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McGrath stuffs the takedown attempt from Hobbs. Hobbs gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Hobbs as McGrath shoots in.
Hobbs defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McGrath.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Hobbs rushes McGrath and presses him up against the cage.
McGrath has Hobbs pushed against the cage.
McGrath tries to pull guard but Hobbs holds him up against the cage and eventually McGrath drops back down to his feet.
Fritz Hobbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James McGrath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hobbs pulls McGrath into guard.
McGrath is breathing heavily.
Hobbs tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hobbs not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McGrath wants to control from the top but Hobbs keeps moving.

Hobbs working for a triangle but McGrath defends it easily.
Hobbs looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGrath is one step ahead there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's two 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.

Hobbs looking for a guillotine here but McGrath defends easily.
McGrath is looking to stand up but Hobbs won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McGrath swinging wildly here.
Hobbs thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs dives in for a single leg takedown but McGrath sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

McGrath clinches up against the cage.
Hobbs has McGrath pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McGrath manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McGrath leaning his opponent against the cage.
McGrath wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hobbs has him pressed against the cage.
Hobbs is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McGrath to keep the fight standing.
Hobbs is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McGrath pulls him back up using the underhooks.

McGrath jumps guard and drags Hobbs to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrath throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hobbs has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McGrath is proving hard to escape from.
McGrath wants to sweep but no luck.
McGrath throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
McGrath pulls Hobbs in close to prevent any damage.
Hobbs trying to control but McGrath is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hobbs trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James McGrath will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hobbs fails in his attempt to clinch.

McGrath instigates a clinch.
Hobbs prevents the takedown attempt.
McGrath trying to stall but Hobbs improves his position.
Hobbs wants a takedown but no success here.
Hobbs prevents a takedown attempt there.
McGrath taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice elbow from Hobbs.
McGrath prevents the takedown attempt.
Hobbs wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fritz Hobbs. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGrath is trying to force a seperation but Hobbs has the dominant position.
McGrath takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McGrath has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hobbs is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hobbs has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McGrath after a bit of a struggle.
Hobbs is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hobbs fails to pull guard.

Hobbs lands a takedown into guard.
McGrath is trying to keep Hobbs in close.
McGrath wants to control the position but Hobbs says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hobbs lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hobbs tries to stand but can't do so whilst McGrath controls his leg.
Hobbs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGrath can do to turn this around?
Hobbs looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
McGrath wants to get back to full guard.
McGrath is looking to control Hobbs's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McGrath avoid being mounted?

Hobbs stands up out of the half guard.

McGrath tries to keep at a distance but Hobbs has taken the fight into the clinch.
McGrath gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hobbs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hobbs decides to pull guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hobbs holds on and takes a little breather.

Hobbs has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. McGrath has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
McGrath tries to score a body lock takedown but Hobbs shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Fritz Hobbs has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hobbs has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McGrath avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
McGrath stops a takedown attempt from Hobbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from McGrath.
McGrath tries to pull guard but Hobbs forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Hobbs drags the fight down to the ground.
Hobbs looking for a sweep. Not yet Hobbs, not yet.
Hobbs is working hard here to advance position.

McGrath stands up and waves to Hobbs to follow him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGrath throws a body punch but Hobbs moves out of range.
James McGrath is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGrath with a poor takedown
and Hobbs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fritz Hobbs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hobbs 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fritz Hobbs!
James McGrath spoke after the fight, saying 'Damn it!'.