PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Hetfield (ranked 3851 p4p, 177 weight class) and Karl Max (ranked 20468 p4p, 254 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hetfield
vs
Max

170 cm
33
145 lbs
9 - 12 - 1

170 cm
27
147 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

$10 Trap Queen Aesthetics

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 9 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, James Hetfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Karl Max!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Max tries to close the distance and clinch but Hetfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hetfield.
Max tries to buck Hetfield off but Hetfield is having none of it.
Hetfield in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Max can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hetfield takes a little break here. Max wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Max is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hetfield is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hetfield takes a little break here. Max wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Max tries to control but Hetfield manages to take his back.
Hetfield is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Max is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Hetfield off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Hetfield cracks Max with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Max from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield biding his time, controlling Max.
Max tries to roll but Hetfield sticks to his back.
Hetfield throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Max trying to get back to his feet but Hetfield is in full control for now.
Hetfield is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Max is trying to remain composed but Hetfield is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Max trying to control the position but Hetfield manages to sink in the hooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hetfield has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Max's body.
Hetfield lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Max is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Hetfield.
We've been hearing good reports from Hetfield's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Max trying to control the hands but Hetfield breaks the grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hetfield dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hetfield drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hetfield controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Max has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hetfield has passed into side control.
Max tries to bench press Hetfield off him but Hetfield keeps the position.
Hetfield taking a breather here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Max is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hetfield moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Max wants to control but Hetfield postures up.
Max is looking to regain half guard here but Hetfield keeps moving and retains side control.
Max looking for a sweep but Hetfield has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Max blocking the ground and pound.
Hetfield controlling the position easily from mount.
Hetfield's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Max wants to control but Hetfield is having none of it.
Max is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hetfield tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max is trying desperately to improve position.
Hetfield controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Max takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hetfield misses with a head shot.
Max is looking to improve his position but Hetfield isn't that keen on the idea.
James Hetfield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hetfield landing strikes from the mount and Max is in trouble!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hetfield controlling the pace for now.
Max tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hetfield dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Max looks to score with a jab to the body but Hetfield is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Hetfield tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Max tries to clinch there but Hetfield circles away.
Max fails with a takedown attempt.
Max dodges the punch combination from Hetfield.
Max darts in looking for a takedown but Hetfield gets double underhooks and turns Max into the cage.
Hetfield throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Max's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Hetfield dives in looking to finish as Max flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Hetfield's strikes! Hetfield is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Max's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Max was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Hetfield!
Our winner, James Hetfield, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.