PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Ligambi (ranked 3313 p4p, 471 weight class) and Mister Hankey (ranked 1798 p4p, 272 weight class). Mister Hankey will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ligambi
vs
Hankey

175 cm
23
179 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
184 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Good gas tank

Transform Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joseph Ligambi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mister Hankey!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ligambi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hankey lands a jab to Ligambi's midsection.
Joseph Ligambi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hankey defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ligambi.
Ligambi walks into a left hand.

Ligambi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hankey on his heels. He'll look to pass Hankey's guard now, I'm sure.
Ligambi wants to control from the top but Hankey keeps moving.
Ligambi sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ligambi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hankey's head.
Ligambi throwing strikes from guard but Hankey blocks nicely.
Hankey wants to sweep but no luck.
Ligambi stays in close to Hankey's body and controls the position.
Ligambi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hankey is adopting a defensive guard.
Hankey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hankey trying to keep a closed guard but Ligambi is proving a slippery customer.
Hankey has control of Ligambi's left arm, preventing Ligambi from doing any damage.
Hankey lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ligambi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ligambi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ligambi won't allow Hankey to sweep him here.
Ligambi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hankey being controlled here, momentarily.
Hankey looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ligambi wants to pass the guard but Hankey is keeping the position.
Hankey utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hankey wants to sweep but no luck.
Ligambi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hankey looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ligambi content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hankey working a defensive guard here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ligambi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ligambi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hankey swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hankey is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ligambi is refusing to be controlled, as Hankey sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hankey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ligambi wants to get back to full guard.
Hankey looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hankey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ligambi's head.
Ligambi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ligambi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hankey is one step ahead there.
Hankey lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hankey with a nice head shot there.
Hankey engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hankey postures up and lands a big shot to Ligambi's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ligambi is trying to keep Hankey in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mister Hankey 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.

Ligambi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hankey keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good exchange - Hankey coming out on top.
Ligambi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ligambi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hankey defends well and Ligambi ends up having to push Hankey into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Hankey on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Ligambi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hankey gets full guard.
Hankey is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ligambi works over Hankey with some ground and pound from guard.
Ligambi stays in close to Hankey's body and controls the position.
Hankey wants to improve his position but instead Ligambi has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hankey tries to roll over but Ligambi keeps him under control.
Ligambi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ligambi working Hankey over with strikes.
Hankey is looking to control Ligambi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hankey avoid being mounted?
Ligambi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ligambi working Hankey over with strikes.
Ligambi throwing shots but Hankey is blocking nicely.
Hankey tries to roll over but Ligambi keeps him under control.
Hankey moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hankey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ligambi controls the pace.
Ligambi throwing strikes from guard but Hankey blocks nicely.
Ligambi stopping the sweep attempt from Hankey.
Ligambi wants to control from the top but Hankey keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ligambi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hankey wants to sweep here but Ligambi controlling him for the moment.
Hankey trying to keep a closed guard but Ligambi is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligambi throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hankey uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice body punch from Hankey.

Hankey gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hankey manages to pull guard.
Ligambi throws an elbow that misses. Hankey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ligambi's guard. Nice move by Hankey!

Hankey tries to free his leg and advance position but Ligambi is retaining full guard.
Hankey won't allow Ligambi to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hankey's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hankey wants to control from the top but Ligambi keeps moving.
Ligambi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ligambi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hankey's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ligambi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ligambi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ligambi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hankey is pulling down on Ligambi's head. It's preventing any offense from Ligambi, at least for the moment.
Ligambi postures up.
Hankey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ligambi is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ligambi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mister Hankey will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ligambi misses with a takedown
and Hankey counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hankey stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hankey digs a good hook to Ligambi's body.
Joseph Ligambi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ligambi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hankey avoids it really well and circles away.
Ligambi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Ligambi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ligambi walks into a straight right hand from Hankey.
Jab, jab by Hankey - just one landing.
Hankey lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ligambi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hankey is fending him off so far but Ligambi persists. Nope, Hankey circles away and we're back to standing.
Hankey cracks Ligambi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ligambi shoots in and drives through. Hankey sprawls well.
Hankey dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ligambi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hankey counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Hankey pulls guard effortlessly.
We've been hearing that Ligambi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Joseph Ligambi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ligambi is looking to work some ground and pound but Hankey has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ligambi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hankey works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ligambi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hankey wants to control but Ligambi passes easily into half guard.
Hankey is trying to control but can't.
Hankey wants to improve his position but Ligambi is controlling well.
Hankey keeps trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ligambi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ligambi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ligambi not doing much here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hankey manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ligambi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hankey wants to sweep but no luck.
Ligambi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligambi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ligambi won't allow Hankey to sweep him here.
Ligambi trying to control the position from guard on top but Hankey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hankey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ligambi with a poor takedown
and Hankey counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hankey scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hankey misses with a looping right.
Hankey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ligambi shoots for a takedown but Hankey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ligambi is defended easily by Hankey.
Ligambi misses with a takedown attempt
and Hankey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ligambi has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ligambi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Hankey to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Hankey.
Hankey displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ligambi.
Ligambi misses with a takedown
and Hankey counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hankey fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ligambi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hankey lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice uppercut there from Hankey.
Hankey doesn't manage to clinch there - Ligambi circles away.
Hankey lands a nice looking body shot.
Hankey lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hankey lands a nice shot to the body.
Hankey with a jab.
Hankey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ligambi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ligambi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Joseph Ligambi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mister Hankey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ligambi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ligambi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mister Hankey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hankey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mister Hankey!
A victorious Mister Hankey thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.