PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rammsie Hartmann (ranked 2605 p4p, 3968 weight class) and Paddy OBrien (ranked 338 p4p, 465 weight class). Paddy OBrien has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hartmann
vs
OBrien

195 cm
28
180
8 - 5 - 0

177 cm
21
181
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rammsie Hartmann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paddy OBrien!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hartmann moves into the clinch successfully.

Hartmann breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hartmann pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
OBrien tries to clinch up but Hartmann circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Hartmann misses.
Hartmann circles away from the clinch attempt.
OBrien lands a jab.

Hartmann has OBrien up against the cage in a clinch.

Hartmann manages to break the clinch.
OBrien fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hartmann throws a right and a left that OBrien avoids nicely.
Hartmann lands a really nice looking cross but OBrien seems unphased.
Hartmann really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

OBrien takes the fight into the clinch.
Hartmann has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartmann tries a body shot but OBrien blocks it.
I was talking to Hartmann's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Hartmann manages to break the clinch.
Paddy OBrien seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OBrien tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rammsie Hartmann is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
OBrien ducks under a wild hook from Hartmann.
A punch lands to the side of OBrien 's head but he takes it in his stride.

OBrien fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hartmann, pushing him back against the cage.
OBrien with an attempt at a knee that misses.
OBrien is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
OBrien pressing his opponent against the cage.

Hartmann breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hartmann scores with a hook to the body. OBrien takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
OBrien shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hartmann defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann swats away the attempt to clinch by OBrien.
It looked like Hartmann wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hartmann looks to land a left hand but OBrien moved out of range nicely.
OBrien moves to clinch but Hartmann breaks away
and Hartmann counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Hartmann closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into OBrien's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

OBrien is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hartmann is aware though and is defending well.
OBrien is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hartmann is controlling him.
OBrien is trying to keep Hartmann in close.
Hartmann working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann is in close to OBrien's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hartmann throwing strikes but missing.
Hartmann content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hartmann looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Hartmann got a little sloppy there for a moment and OBrien has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hartmann has managed to get both his arms back between OBrien's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OBrien controls Hartmann momentarily but Hartmann frees himself.
Hartmann throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann works over OBrien with some ground and pound from guard.
OBrien is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hartmann with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hartmann trying to control the position from guard on top but OBrien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hartmann content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
OBrien controls Hartmann momentarily but Hartmann frees himself.
Our spies down at at Finnish Elite Sport and Fitness Center inform us that OBrien has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hartmann's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
OBrien trying to keep a closed guard but Hartmann is proving a slippery customer.
Hartmann landing some decent shots from guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rammsie Hartmann dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hartmann darts in and clinches OBrien up against the cage.

Hartmann breaks from the clinch.
OBrien wants to clinch.
OBrien tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
OBrien moves away from the strike by Hartmann.
OBrien tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hartmann paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hartmann fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hartmann has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hartmann breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
OBrien rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hartmann moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
OBrien tries to clinch up but Hartmann circles away and keeps his distance.
Hartmann drops down looking for a counter takedown but OBrien sprawls and moves away.
Hartmann misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OBrien closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hartmann quickly recovers to half guard.
Hartmann tries to kick OBrien off in order to stand up. OBrien Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OBrien is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hartmann knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hartmann looks to move to half guard but instead OBrien has passed into mount! Damn!
Hartmann is squirming around, avoiding OBrien's attempts to control the action.
OBrien looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hartmann is trying to stand.
OBrien looking to control but Hartmann is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hartmann gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann wants to get back to his feet.
OBrien is trying to control. Hartmann wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hartmann on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hartmann tries to get out of the position.
OBrien sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hartmann is looking to escape.
OBrien trying to control the action but Hartmann is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
OBrien tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hartmann manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rammsie Hartmann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
OBrien moves to clinch but Hartmann breaks away
and Hartmann connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
OBrien tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hartmann counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
OBrien with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hartmann counters with a nice uppercut.
OBrien shoots in looking for a takedown. Hartmann tries to sprawl out of it but OBrien keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hartmann manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hartmann is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hartmann throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
OBrien tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hartmann paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hartmann throws a looping overhand right but OBrien ducks down to avoid it.
OBrien throws a head kick but Hartmann moves out of range.
Hartmann slips a jab and a cross from OBrien.
Hartmann half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rammsie Hartmann dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Hartmann there.
OBrien defending well as Hartmann loads up on a big left hand.
Hartmann swinging wildly here.
Hartmann backing away here, and OBrien unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hartmann is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
OBrien tries to close the distance and clinch but Hartmann swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
OBrien misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
OBrien throws a half hearted mid kick.
A slow jab from Hartmann misses its intended target.
OBrien tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Hartmann does no damage.
A telegraphed right hand from Hartmann misses the target.
A little jabbing left from OBrien on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
OBrien fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hartmann throws a big counter combination but OBrien scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
OBrien tries to clinch but Hartmann moves away

and Hartmann counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
OBrien is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartmann is nestled in close to OBrien, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hartmann working over OBrien with some ground and pound. OBrien looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
OBrien trying to hold on to Hartmann's head to control him but Hartmann postures up.
Hartmann prevents OBrien from improving his position.
OBrien has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hartmann is working away from the top position though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hartmann connects with a nice short shot to OBrien's temple.
Hartmann prevents OBrien from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann wants to control but OBrien is keeping him busy.
Hartmann lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hartmann lands a nice short elbow.
Hartmann is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

OBrien looking for submissions off his back.
Hartmann landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hartmann drops an elbow to the side of OBrien's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hartmann connects with a nice short shot to OBrien's temple.
OBrien tries to get to full guard but Hartmann has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
OBrien has hold of Hartmann's hands but Hartmann slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
OBrien is pressing down on Hartmann's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hartmann advances position into side control!
Hartmann working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
OBrien wants to control but Hartmann postures up.
OBrien is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
OBrien tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartmann landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Hartmann in side control lands a decent elbow.
OBrien tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hartmann working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
OBrien is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hartmann connects with a decent elbow.
Hartmann cracks OBrien with a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hartmann looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rammsie Hartmann is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hartmann is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Paddy OBrien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
OBrien throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rammsie Hartmann showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hartmann has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rammsie Hartmann!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Rammsie Hartmann waved his t-shirt featuring Sydney Fight Gear's logo in front of the cameras.