PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phil Ivey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Hier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hier has chosen Point of No Return as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Ivey
vs
Hier

190 cm
22
188 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil Ivey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenny Hier!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivey fails to land the takedown.
Ivey fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Ivey or perhaps it was just good defense by Hier which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Ivey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivey misses with a takedown attempt - Hier sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ivey throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ivey shoots in and drives through. Hier sprawls well.
Ivey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ivey avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ivey tries a head kick but it misses.
Ivey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ivey throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivey keeps the fight on the outside.
Ivey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hier wants to clinch up but Ivey keeps it at a distance.
Ivey shoots in looking for a takedown. Hier tries to sprawl out of it but Ivey keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hier manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ivey is breathing heavily.

Hier fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ivey, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivey managing to block the knees to the body from Hier.
Hier throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ivey unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hier lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hier unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ivey lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hier trying to land knees to the body.
Hier lands a nice elbow.
Hier tries a knee to the head but Ivey blocks it.
Ivey creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ivey tries to pull guard but Hier holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivey drops back down to his feet.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but Ivey blocks with his arms.
Ivey has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hier is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hier lands an elbow inside that Ivey shrugs off.
Ivey throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hier scores a nice knee to the body.
Ivey avoiding damage as Hier throws knees to the body.
Hier crunches a lovely knee into Ivey's ribcage.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but Ivey blocks with his arms.
Ivey fails to pull guard.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but Ivey blocks with his arms.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but Ivey blocks with his arms.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ivey fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hier landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hier trying to land knees to the body.
Hier gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ivey.
Hier lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ivey manages to break the clinch.

Ivey closes the distance and clinches.
Ivey lands a knee to the head.
Ivey landing knees to the body.

Ivey breaks the clinch.
Ivey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ivey shoots in for a double leg but Hier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ivey swats away the attempt to clinch by Hier.
Ivey clinches but Hier breaks the clinch

and Hier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hier misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ivey.
Ivey tries to pull guard but Hier won't allow it.

Ivey pulls guard.

Ivey working for a triangle but Hier defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Ivey working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hier postures up.
Hier would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ivey is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ivey looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ivey managing to control the position.
Ivey trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kenny Hier will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ivey throws a sloppy head kick and Hier moves out of range easily.
Ivey throws a push kick but Hier slaps the foot to one side.
Ivey tries a head kick but it misses.
Ivey circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ivey circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Hier. No joy for Ivey on that attempt.
Ivey wants to clinch but Hier slips to the side
and Hier counters with a two punch combo.
Ivey shoots in for a takedown but Hier shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hier gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hier tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hier blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hier throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ivey looking to throw knees to the head but Hier is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Ivey.
Hier misses with a knee strike.
Hier takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ivey lands a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hier as Ivey tries to tie him up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivey avoiding damage.
Ivey scores with a knee to the head.
Ivey lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ivey is looking to control Hier's arms but Hier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ivey has his back to the cage.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but Ivey blocks with his arms.
Ivey lands a knee to the head.
Ivey wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Ivey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivey looking to throw knees to the head but Hier is blocking nicely.
Hier tries a knee to the head but Ivey blocks it.
Ivey blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ivey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ivey has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hier avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hier looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ivey misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hier.
Hier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ivey with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hier tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A knee to the head by Ivey.
Ivey blocks an elbow strike from Hier.
Hier takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ivey scores with a knee to the head.
Ivey is looking to control Hier's arms but Hier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ivey has his back to the cage.
Ivey looking to throw knees to the head but Hier is blocking nicely.
Nice elbow from Hier.
Hier using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ivey has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ivey stalling in the clinch.
Ivey misses with a knee to the head.

Ivey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hier tries to clinch up.
Ivey shoots in for a takedown but Hier shows good takedown defense.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knees to the body from Ivey.
Hier landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ivey is trying to stall.
Ivey blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ivey jumps guard and drags Hier to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Ivey escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hier gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivey looking for a guillotine here but Hier defends easily.

Ivey has his foot on Hier's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hier works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ivey controls Hier momentarily but Hier frees himself.

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

Ivey has an active guard here but Hier has managed to pass into half guard.
Ivey wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Ivey dominated that second round.
That's time! Ivey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ivey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ivey lands a high kick!

It looks like Kenny Hier has been cut.
Ivey fails with a takedown attempt.
Ivey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hier misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ivey fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hier stuffs the takedown attempt from Ivey. Ivey gets slowly back to his feet.
Ivey fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Ivey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivey fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivey shoots and misses

and Hier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ivey tries to land knees in the clinch but Hier avoids the damage to the body.
Hier stops a takedown attempt from Ivey.
Hier missing with knees to the body.
Hier connects with a knee to the head.
Hier scores a nice knee to the body.
Ivey stalling in the clinch but Hier improves position.
Hier using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ivey has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hier connects with a knee to the head.
Hier lands a knee to the body.
Hier lands a nice knee to the body.
Ivey misses with a knee strike.
Hier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ivey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ivey is stalling here.

Ivey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ivey scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ivey shoots in but no luck this time.
Ivey shoots in but no luck this time.
Hier tries to clinch up

and Ivey moves into the clinch.
Ivey tries to pull guard but Hier holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivey drops back down to his feet.
Hier managing to block the knees to the body from Ivey.
Ivey using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hier looking to throw knees to the head but Ivey is blocking nicely.
Ivey tries to pull guard but Hier won't allow it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hier as Ivey tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivey displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hier up against the cage.
Ivey with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Ivey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ivey has Hier up against the cage in a clinch.
Ivey scores a nice knee to the body.
Ivey is trying to drag Hier to the mat but Hier just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hier missing with knees to the body.
Ivey unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hier lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ivey using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hier tries a knee to the head but Ivey blocks it.
Hier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Ivey.
Ivey tries to pull guard but Hier holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivey drops back down to his feet.
Ivey tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hier just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ivey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Ivey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hier tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ivey counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ivey.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivey landing knees to the head.
Ivey tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hier just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ivey misses with a knee strike.
Hier scores with a knee to the head.
Ivey tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ivey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hier is pressed up against the cage. Ivey has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hier down to the mat. Hier avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hier avoids the head kick by Ivey.
Ivey finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ivey tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hier moves in looking to clinch but Ivey pushes him off.
Hier wants to clinch up but Ivey keeps it at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Hier as Ivey shoots in.

Hier tries to keep at a distance but Ivey has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ivey throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hier blocks it with crossed arms.
Hier throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hier throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ivey blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivey stalling in the clinch.
Ivey with a knee to the head.
Hier scores with a knee to the head.
Hier landing knees to the head.
Ivey lands a knee to the body.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but Ivey blocks with his arms.
Ivey looking to throw knees to the head but Hier is blocking nicely.
Kenny Hier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ivey using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ivey tries to pull guard but Hier holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivey drops back down to his feet.
Ivey with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ivey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hier trying to land knees to the body.
Hier tries to land a knee to the head but Ivey blocks with his arms.

Ivey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Phil Ivey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ivey shoots in for a takedown but Hier shows good takedown defense.
Ivey fails with an attempt to clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ivey.

Hier closes the distance and clinches.
Hier throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ivey lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ivey tries a knee to the head but Hier blocks it.
Hier tries a knee to the head but Ivey blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Phil Ivey.
I think Ivey 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Ivey!