PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Hoyle (ranked 6121 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Basington (ranked 4115 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Billy Basington enters the cage!

Hoyle
vs
Basington

166 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

161 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aaron Hoyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Basington!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoyle darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Basington trying to hold on to Hoyle's head to control him but Hoyle postures up.
Hoyle trying to mount his opponent but Basington defends it.
Basington lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Basington can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hoyle trying to control from half guard but Basington is working away.
Hoyle trying to pass the guard but Basington defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basington misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Hoyle trying to control the action but Basington is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoyle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Basington controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Basington gets back to full guard.
Hoyle trying to control the position from guard on top but Basington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.

Hoyle scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Basington keeping hold of Hoyle's head, controlling as best he can.
Hoyle trying to control the action but Basington is working from the bottom.
Basington keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Basington moves into full guard.
Hoyle preventing the sweep.
Basington managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basington is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hoyle trying to control the position from guard on top but Basington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Basington is pulling down on Hoyle's head to control his posture.
Hoyle postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hoyle scores with a takedown into Basington's guard.
Hoyle postures up in Basington's guard and throws a big left but Basington blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.
Hoyle trying to control but Basington is working from the bottom.
Basington lands an upkick as Hoyle stands over him.
Hoyle wants to control from the top but Basington keeps moving.
Hoyle looking to pass the guard.
Hoyle looking to sit in guard and control but Basington gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Basington controlling from the top position.

Hoyle is looking for a triangle but Basington pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Hoyle dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hoyle feints and as Basington raises his hands in defense, Hoyle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hoyle takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Basington trying to control the position.
Aaron Hoyle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Basington strikes from his own guard.
Basington throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Basington is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoyle wants to control from the top but Basington keeps moving.
Basington is pulling down on Hoyle's head to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoyle looking to sit in guard and control but Basington gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hoyle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Basington is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hoyle looking to control.
Basington 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.
Basington won't allow Hoyle to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Basington controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hoyle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Basington looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Basington keeping moving, preventing Hoyle from controlling successfully.
Hoyle sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hoyle wants to control from the top but Basington keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hoyle is one step ahead there.
Hoyle being controlled here momentarily.
Hoyle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Basington being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hoyle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Basington's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Hoyle.
Hoyle staying calm.
Basington gets back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hoyle is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Hoyle dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A bone on bone clash there as Hoyle blocks the leg kick.

Hoyle shoots in and bounces Basington off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hoyle preventing the sweep.
Basington throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hoyle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Basington bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hoyle's guard.

Hoyle looking for a sweep. Not yet Hoyle, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoyle wants to hit a switch here but Basington passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hoyle there!
Hoyle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Basington can do to turn this around?
Basington tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basington wants to control the pace but Hoyle is squirming around nicely.
Hoyle wants to control but Basington is having none of it.
Basington lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hoyle hang on?
Basington controlling from mount.
Basington cracks Hoyle with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Basington controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basington lands a big elbow.
Hoyle tries to lock up and control but Basington gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Basington controlling the position easily from mount.
Hoyle is looking to improve his position but Basington isn't that keen on the idea.
Basington controlling from mount.
Hoyle is squirming around, avoiding Basington's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basington controlling his opponent.
Hoyle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Basington controlling the position easily from mount.
Basington punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoyle wants to control but Basington is having none of it.
Basington controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Basington comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hoyle 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 Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Hoyle!