PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hershel Hasselhoff (ranked 2736 p4p, 321 weight class) and Rafael Winger (ranked 3260 p4p, 364 weight class). Winger has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Hershel Hasselhoff has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hasselhoff
vs
Winger

180 cm
30
175 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

185 cm
36
186 lbs
20 - 15 - 2

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Trashy Bar (158+q / 30$)

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hershel Hasselhoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Rafael Winger!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Winger misses with a body kick.
Hasselhoff takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hasselhoff looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Winger clinches up against the cage.
Winger is working Hasselhoff over against the cage.
Hasselhoff tries for a takedown but Winger manages to get underhooks.
Winger with a knee to the head.
Winger scores with a knee to the head.
A short right from Winger.
Hasselhoff is trying to pull guard but Winger turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Winger lands an uppercut.
Winger connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hasselhoff's face.

It looks like Hershel Hasselhoff has been cut.
Winger with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hasselhoff looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hershel Hasselhoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hasselhoff is breathing heavily.
Hasselhoff is working for takedown but Winger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Winger scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Winger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasselhoff has Winger pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Winger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Winger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Winger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Winger lands a knee to the body.
Hasselhoff tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short uppercut from Winger.
Winger crunches a lovely knee into Hasselhoff's ribcage.
Winger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Winger with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Winger landing knees to the head.
Hasselhoff tries to score a body lock takedown but Winger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winger lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Winger crunches a lovely knee into Hasselhoff's ribcage.
Winger landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Winger unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hasselhoff lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Winger lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winger lands a knee to the head.
Winger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hasselhoff is trying to drag Winger to the mat but Winger just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Winger landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Winger.
Winger pushes Hasselhoff back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hasselhoff tries to pull guard but Winger holds him up against the cage and eventually Hasselhoff drops back down to his feet.
Hasselhoff fails to pull guard.
Winger crunches a lovely knee into Hasselhoff's ribcage.
Winger with a knee to the head.
Winger with a knee to the head.

Hasselhoff is rocked!
A knee to the head by Winger.
Oh Hasselhoff is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasselhoff takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hasselhoff jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Winger walks away with a smile on his face. Hasselhoff gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hasselhoff seems to have got his legs back now.
Hasselhoff avoids the head kick by Winger.
Winger throws a head kick but Hasselhoff moves out of range.
Hasselhoff defending well as Winger loads up on a big left hand.
Winger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hasselhoff moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Winger. Those never looked like landing.
Winger misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hasselhoff half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hasselhoff.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Winger can't do much from the bottom here.
Winger tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hasselhoff is trying to get an arm triangle but Winger is defending well.
Winger is trying to control Hasselhoff's posture but Hasselhoff avoids it.
Winger regains half guard.

Winger is defending against the submission attempts here by Hasselhoff.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hasselhoff is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Winger slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Winger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hershel Hasselhoff's cut.
That's time! Hasselhoff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Winger closes the distance and pushes Hasselhoff back into the cage.
Winger lands a knee to the body.
Hasselhoff tries to pull guard but Winger holds him up against the cage and eventually Hasselhoff drops back down to his feet.
A knee to the head by Winger.
Hasselhoff is working for takedown but Winger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Winger lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hasselhoff backwards.
Winger landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Winger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winger prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hershel Hasselhoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hasselhoff takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Winger scores with a knee to the head.
Winger connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hasselhoff's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Winger lands with a light punch inside.
Winger is pressed up against the cage. Hasselhoff has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Winger down to the mat. Winger avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Winger moves into the clinch.
Winger with a knee to the head.
Winger working Hasselhoff over with knees to the body.
Winger with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hasselhoff is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Winger pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hasselhoff takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hasselhoff is looking for a takedown.
Winger connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hasselhoff's face.
Hasselhoff tries to score a body lock takedown but Winger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Winger scores a nice knee to the body.
Winger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Winger gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hasselhoff.
Rafael Winger seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winger lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Winger scores with a knee to the head.
Winger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Winger.
Hasselhoff is working for takedown but Winger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Winger throws a knee to the head but misses.
Winger prevents a takedown attempt there.
Winger crunches a lovely knee into Hasselhoff's ribcage.
Hasselhoff is trying to drag Winger to the mat but Winger just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hasselhoff takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winger lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hasselhoff backwards.
Winger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hasselhoff takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hasselhoff wants a takedown but no success here.
A knee to the head by Winger.
Winger scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hasselhoff tries for a takedown. No joy.
Winger lands a right hand.
Winger working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Winger gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hasselhoff.
Winger with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Winger scores with a shot to the side of Hasselhoff's head.
Hasselhoff has Winger pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Winger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Winger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hasselhoff is working for takedown but Winger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Winger lands a knee to the head.
Winger utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hasselhoff takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hasselhoff is trying to pull guard but Winger turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hasselhoff drops down looking for an ankle pick but Winger pulls his leg out and moves away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Winger, as that shot connected.

Winger gets a clinch.
Winger scores with a knee to the head.
Hasselhoff wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Winger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hershel Hasselhoff's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Winger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hasselhoff tries to counter with a takedown but Winger is quick to defend against it.
Winger throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Hasselhoff counters with a single leg into guard. Winger didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Winger is on top in guard.

Hasselhoff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Winger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Winger connects with a couple of short punches.
Hasselhoff keeping moving, preventing Winger from controlling successfully.

Hasselhoff working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Winger doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Winger manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winger works over Hasselhoff with some ground and pound from guard.
Winger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hasselhoff is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hasselhoff is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hasselhoff has an active guard here but Winger has managed to pass into half guard.
Winger scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Winger keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Winger is nestled in close to Hasselhoff, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Winger is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hasselhoff defends it well.
Well, if Winger is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Hasselhoff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winger is trying to control. Hasselhoff wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Winger working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Hasselhoff is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Winger pulls his head out easily.
Winger lands with a punch from half guard.

Winger is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hasselhoff is not content to let Winger control the position.
Winger is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Winger lands a nice short elbow.

Hasselhoff is defending against the submission attempts here by Winger.
Hasselhoff has hold of Winger's hands but Winger slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Winger wants to pass the guard but Hasselhoff is defending well.

Hasselhoff looking for submissions off his back.
Winger lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Hasselhoff looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Winger is looking to advance position but Hasselhoff won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winger seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hasselhoff on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Winger lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Winger frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hasselhoff is looking to improve his position but Winger isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hershel Hasselhoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Winger cracks Hasselhoff with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Winger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Winger has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Winger!
Rafael Winger took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, AmpUp Nutrition ($200/160q) - Laundry 15% for their support in the buildup to the fight.