PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Todd Packer (ranked 1095 p4p, 1477 weight class) and Raphael Hide (ranked 140 p4p, 188 weight class). Hide is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Nightwish. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Packer
vs
Hide

177 cm
34
190
17 - 8 - 0

178 cm
26
186
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sydney Fight Gear (London Rebirth)
Core Combat

Urban Fighter

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Todd Packer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Hide!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Packer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hide avoids the body shot from Packer.
Hide has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Packer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A shot to the body from Packer misses
and Hide connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hide takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Packer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Hide misses the target.
Packer tests Hide's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hide looks to land a combination. Packer sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hide throws a series of punches but Packer avoids them all with ease.
Packer misses with a low kick.
Hide wants to counter the offense by Packer and move into the clinch position.

Hide closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Packer misses with some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hide is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Packer is defending well for now.
Hide blocks the elbow strike.
Hide fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Hide.
Packer lands a right hand.
Hide blocking some punches.
I was talking to Packer's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Packer lands a damaging elbow.
Hide struggles to land a body shot inside as Packer controls his hands.
Hide using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Packer has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Packer.
Still in the clinch, Packer scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hide swings wildly with an uppercut but Packer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hide trying to land knees to the body.
Hide effectively controlling the action here.
Nice body punch from Hide.
Packer lands with a left to the head.
Packer lands an elbow inside that Hide shrugs off.
Packer throws a head punch that misses.
Hide is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Packer wants a takedown but no success here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hide lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hide looking for a takedown.
Packer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hide lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hide blocks a body shot from Packer.
Hide tries a body shot but Packer blocks it.
Hide lands a left hand.
Hide blocks an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Packer throws an elbow but misses.
Hide effectively controlling the action here.
Hide misses with a punch on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Packer just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hide's brow.
Packer throws a punch but it's blocked by Hide.
Hide landing knees to the head.

It looks like Todd Packer has been cut.
Hide on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hide avoids a wild elbow strike from Packer.
Hide blocks an elbow strike.
Hide throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Packer blocks it with crossed arms.
Hide is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Packer is defending well for now.
Nice elbow from Packer.
Hide tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Packer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hide scores with a hook to the body.
Hide dodges an elbow strike from Packer.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Packer just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hide's brow.
Hide can't find room to land a body shot as Packer controls the action.
Hide lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Still in the clinch, Hide scores with a nice short uppercut.
Packer stops a takedown attempt from Hide.
Hide throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Packer blocks it with crossed arms.
A short right from Packer.
Packer lands an elbow inside that Hide shrugs off.
Packer looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hide tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Packer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Packer takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hide goes for a takedown in the clinch but Packer prevents it.
Todd Packer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Hide.
Hide tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Packer avoids it.
Hide cracks Packer with a nice body shot.
Hide takes an elbow to the forehead.
Still in the clinch, Hide scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hide misses with a body punch.
Packer lands with a right to the head.
Hide looking to stall.
Hide connects with a knee to the head.
Packer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hides head.
Packer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Packer blocks an uppercut.
Hide misses with some punches.
Packer is pressed up against the cage. Hide has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Packer down to the mat. Packer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Packer thows a body kick. Hide tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hide tries to clinch but Packer moves out of range.
Packer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hide tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hide is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Packer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Packer misses the body punch
and Packer takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Packer misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Todd Packer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Todd Packer's cut.
That's time! Packer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Packer moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hide lands a slapping body shot.
Packer tries to land a front kick but Hide steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Hide clinches with his opponent.
Hide is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Packer is defending well for now.
Packer prevents a body shot from Hide.
Raphael Hide seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Packer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Packer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hide's elbow.
Packer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Packer tries to land knees in the clinch but Hide avoids the damage to the body.
A shot in the inside from Hide.
A short left from Packer.
Hide blocks an elbow strike.
Packer scores with a knee to the head.
Packer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hide.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hide taking a breather.
Packer lands a nice elbow.
Packer lands a nice elbow.
Hide scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packer lands with a left to the head.
Packer lands a knee to the body.
Packer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hide's elbow.
Packer throws a punch but it's blocked by Hide.
Hide tries a knee to the head but Packer blocks it.
Packer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hide is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hide leaning against his opponent.
Hide takes an elbow to the temple.
Packer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Hide is rocked!
Hide's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hide is still on wobbly legs! Can Packer finish him?
Packer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hide is defending well for now.
Packer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Packer scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Packer just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hide's brow.
Hide misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Packer.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hide blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Packer blocks an uppercut.
Packer lands a shoulder strike.
Hide takes a knee to the side of the body.
Packer is leaning against Hide and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hide is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Packer lands an elbow that stopped Hide in his tracks for a moment.
Packer lands an elbow inside.
Packer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hide can do to turn this around?
Packer lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Packer crunches a lovely knee into Hide's ribcage.
Packer lands with a left to the head.
Packer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Packer throws a big uppercut that drops Hide! More strikes from Packer and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Hide lies dazed against the cage as Packer celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Todd Packer!