PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephon Shruve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Hammond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammond has chosen Afterlife as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shruve
vs
Hammond

210 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
213 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stephon Shruve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Hammond!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammond loads up on a big right hand but Shruve slips the punch.
Shruve shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hammond looks to score with a jab to the body but Shruve is just out of range.
Hammond tries a head kick but it misses.
Hammond misses with a hook.
Hammond swats away the attempt to clinch by Shruve.
Hammond throws a looping overhand right but Shruve ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shruve swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hammond tries to close the distance and clinch but Shruve swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shruve misses with a few strikes there.
Hammond tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shruve fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hammond throws a looping overhand right but Shruve ducks down to avoid it.
Hammond doesn't manage to clinch there - Shruve circles away.
Hammond misses with a head kick.
Hammond misses with a looping left.
Hammond tries to close the distance and clinch but Shruve swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hammond thows a body shot but no joy.
Hammond fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shruve manages to avoid it.
Hammond moves in looking to clinch but Shruve pushes him off.
Hammond thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hammond jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hammond throws a head kick but Shruve moves out of range.

Hammond fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shruve, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Hammond.

It looks like Stephon Shruve has been cut.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shruve defending well as Hammond loads up on a big left hand.
Shruve on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hammond tries to clinch but Shruve is having none of it.
John Hammond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shruve moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hammond throws a head kick that misses.
Shruve looks for a takedown but Hammond sprawls well.
No luck for Shruve with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephon Shruve. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammond avoids the head kick by Shruve.
Hammond throws a head kick but Shruve moves out of range.
Shruve tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shruve shoots in for a takedown but Hammond shows good takedown defense.
Shruve looks to land a combination but Hammond avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hammond dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stephon Shruve's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shruve closes the distance and clinches up with Hammond, looking for a takedown. Shruve pushes Hammond against the cage but Hammond circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hammond tries to clinch but Shruve is having none of it.
Hammond doesn't manage to clinch there - Shruve circles away.
Shruve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hammond.
Hammond connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shruve throws a body kick that misses.
Shruve really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shruve fails to land with a series of punches.
Shruve throws a nice looking combination but Hammond bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shruve looks to land a combination. Hammond sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Shruve tries to clinch
and Shruve takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shruve avoids the body shot from Hammond.

Hammond clinches up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hammond.
Shruve tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hammond just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shruve tries to pull guard but Hammond won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephon Shruve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shruve takes an elbow to the temple.
Shruve tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Hammond.
Hammond lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Hammond escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shruve fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shruve fails with the takedown.
Shruve has his takedown stuffed
and Hammond counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hammond takes the fight into the clinch.

Hammond manages to break the clinch.
Hammond just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond is looking to clinch but Shruve is avoiding it.
Shruve closes the distance but Hammond moves to the side

and Hammond holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Hammond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hammond takes a swing at Shruve's ribcage but misses.
Shruve moves out of range as Hammond strikes.

Hammond clinches up against the cage.
Shruve is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

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

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.
Hammond throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shruve counters with a left and a right that stings Hammond.
Hammond slips a jab and a cross from Shruve.
Shruve circles away from the clinch attempt.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Shruve. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Shruve fails with the takedown.
Shruve swats away the attempt to clinch by Hammond.
Shruve doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hammond holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hammond showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Stephon Shruve's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shruve is looking to land body kicks.
Shruve misses with a two punch combination.
Hammond is looking to clinch.
Shruve doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Hammond counter with a right hand.
Hammond throws a head kick that misses.
Shruve swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hammond is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shruve keeps the fight on the outside.
Shruve fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Shruve, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shruve lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hammond wants to clinch up but Shruve keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shruve throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shruve throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hammond counters with a lovely straight right hand!
John Hammond is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hammond throws a head kick but Shruve moves out of range.
Hammond jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shruve blocks a head kick by Hammond.
Shruve throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
John Hammond seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hammond throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shruve counters with a two punch combo.
Hammond takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammond swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shruve makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hammond tries to clinch but Shruve moves out of range.
Hammond blocks a head kick by Shruve.
John Hammond is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hammond blocks the body kick.
Shruve throws a head kick but Hammond moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shruve looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hammond tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four 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.
Shruve misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shruve lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stephon Shruve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shruve fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephon Shruve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hammond tries to clinch up.
Hammond tries to clinch but Shruve is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Hammond comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hammond 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Hammond!