PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marius Hercules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Champion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hercules
vs
Champion

169 cm
25
131 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marius Hercules!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joao Champion!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Champion throws a series of punches but Hercules moves out of range.

Hercules darts in and clinches Champion up against the cage.
Champion blocking some punches.
Hercules stalling in the clinch but Champion improves position.
Champion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hercules is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A head punch on the inside from Hercules fails to land.
Champion prevents a body shot from Hercules.
Hercules tries a body shot but Champion blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Champion blocking some punches.
Champion has Hercules pushed against the cage.
Hercules misses with the head strike.
Champion blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Hercules as the two fighters clinch.
Champion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Champion effectively controlling the action here.
Champion has Hercules pressed against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Champion's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Hercules tries a body shot but Champion blocks it.
Champion working hard to break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hercules.
Champion looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hercules misses with a body punch.
Champion blocks a body shot from Hercules.
Hercules fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hercules controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Champion letting Hercules take a breather here.

Hercules escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Champion ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab lands there for Hercules.
Champion pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hercules.
Hercules misses with a double jab
and Champion counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hercules misses with the combination.
Hercules throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Champion lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Marius Hercules seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hercules fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hercules fails with an attempt to clinch.
Champion takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hercules misses with an uppercut
and Champion counters with a nice uppercut.
Hercules misses with a hook. Champion ducked under it nicely.
Champion looks to throw the jab but Hercules is out of range.
Champion throws a jab when Hercules was well out of range.
Hercules uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Champion.
Champion staying out of range there.
Champion let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Champion throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Champion scores with a decent looking hook.
Champion misses with an uppercut.
Champion keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hercules.
A little jabbing left from Champion on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hercules throws a looping overhand right but Champion ducks down to avoid it.
Hercules has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hercules there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hercules fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hercules swinging wildly here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big left from Champion misses.
Hercules throws a shot from downtown. Champion moves away and avoids it.
Champion slips under a jab from Hercules.
Champion uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hercules.
Champion defending well as Hercules loads up on a big left hand.
Champion throws out a counter right but Hercules avoids it with no problem.
Hercules slips a straight right by Champion.
Champion moves out of range as Hercules strikes.
Champion misses the jab.
Champion circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hercules lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Champion circles away quickly and effectively.
Champion looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Champion ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hercules is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Champion cracks Hercules with an open hand slap.
Hercules takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hercules fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Champion manages to avoid it.
Champion now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Champion slips under a jab from Hercules.
Champion looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hercules misses with a wild combination.
Hercules ducks under a wild hook from Champion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hercules swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Champion.
Hercules misses with a body shot.
Champion is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hercules.
Hercules throws a shot from downtown. Champion moves away and avoids it.
Champion swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Champion connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hercules. Hercules circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hercules has closed the distance and engaged Champion in a clinch.
Hercules goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hercules can't find room to land a body shot as Champion controls the action.
Hercules can't find room to land a body shot as Champion controls the action.
Hercules can't find room to land a body shot as Champion controls the action.
Hercules throws a punch but it's blocked by Champion.
Champion blocks a body shot from Hercules.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hercules.
Champion is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hercules lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hercules can't find room to land a body shot as Champion controls the action.
Hercules tries a body shot but Champion blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hercules stalling in the clinch.
Hercules is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Champion can do to turn this around?
Hercules doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Champion prevents a body shot from Hercules.
Champion is stalling here.
Hercules works on Champion's body with a couple of short punches.
Marius Hercules has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Hercules breaks the clinch.
Champion misses the jab.
Champion uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hercules.
Hercules throws a jab but it's blocked by Champion.
Champion defending well as Hercules loads up on a big left hand.
Champion is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hercules with a body shot.
Champion walks into a jab.
Hercules swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hercules throws a hook to the side of Champion's head but Champion sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Champion waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hercules.
Hercules wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hercules rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Champion counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hercules thinking.
Hercules is looking to clinch.
Hercules thows a left - swing and a miss!
Champion avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hercules lands a really nice looking cross but Champion seems unphased.
Sloppy strikes from Champion. Those never looked like landing.
It looked like Hercules wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Champion uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hercules.
Hercules swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Champion misses with a double jab.
Champion swats away the attempt to clinch by Hercules.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Champion scores with a decent looking hook.
Hercules is looking to clinch but Champion is avoiding it.
Hercules throws a left and a right that both miss
and Champion counters with a stiff right hand.
Hercules throws a jab when Champion was well out of range.
Hercules looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Champion throws out a counter right but Hercules avoids it with no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Champion tries to move into range but Hercules moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hercules takes a swing at Champion's ribcage but misses.
Hercules misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hercules thows a left - swing and a miss!
Champion looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A telegraphed right hand from Hercules misses the target.
Champion looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hercules misses with a wild body shot.
Hercules tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marius Hercules dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Champion misses with a straight right.
No joy there for Hercules, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hercules uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Champion.
An attempted straight right counter from Hercules misses the target.
Hercules misses the jab.
Good exchange - Hercules coming out on top.
A swing and a miss from Hercules.
Champion is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Champion wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Champion throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hercules sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Hercules misses its intended target.
Champion throws a looping overhand right but Hercules ducks down to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Champion.
Hercules swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hercules throws out a loose jab but Champion uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hercules throws an overhand right that lands on Champion's shoulder, as Champion tries to avoid the shot.
Hercules moves out of range as Champion strikes.
Hercules throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Champion counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hercules tries to close the distance and clinch up but Champion swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Champion needs to keep his hands up - Hercules had a free shot at his head there.
Hercules missing with a left hand there. Champion was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hercules throws a shot to the body.
Hercules looks to land a right hand but Champion moved out of range.
Hercules waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Champion.
Hercules misses with an uppercut
enabling Champion to counter with a crisp jab.
Hercules scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hercules throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hercules takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hercules ducks under a wild hook from Champion.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Champion on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Champion works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Hercules scores with a four punch combination!
Champion keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hercules.
Champion looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Champion misses with a hook
and Champion takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hercules throws a jab but it's blocked by Champion.
Hercules throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Champion sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Champion throws a lazy right hand but Hercules sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hercules throws a big counter combination but Champion scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Champion misses with a straight left.
Hercules keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Champion tries to get set, Hercules tries to push him back and clinch up but Champion manages to avoid the attempt.
Hercules throws a jab but it's blocked by Champion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champion misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hercules.
Hercules tries to counter by clinching up but Champion breaks away and moves out of range.
Hercules tries to clinch there but Champion circles away.
Hercules lands a jab to the nose.
Champion misses with a straight left.
Champion bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hercules waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Champion.
Hercules misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Champion was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hercules connects with a jab.
Hercules misses with an uppercut. Champion saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Champion! But no joy.
Champion ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hercules moves away.

Hercules has Champion up against the cage in a clinch.
Champion blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hercules misses with a hook from the clinch.
Champion is trying to break free.
Hercules stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hercules tries to work over Champion's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joao Champion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Champion prevents a body shot from Hercules.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Come on Hercules - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Hercules pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hercules ducks under a wild hook from Champion.
Champion rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hercules moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marius Hercules showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hercules 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marius Hercules!