PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Billings (ranked 2634 p4p, 2772 weight class) and Cole Hotman (ranked 257 p4p, 273 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Billings
vs
Hotman

175 cm
25
159
3 - 5 - 0

170 cm
25
155
4 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Billings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Cole Hotman!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hotman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Billings.
Hotman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Billings is out of range.
Hotman throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hotman.
Billings misses with a wild body shot.
Hotman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hotman fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Billings has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've been informed that Hotman has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Hotman throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Billings scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hotman doesn't seem bothered though.
Hotman tried to score with a low kick but Billings checks it.
Billings was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hotman thumps Billings with a low kick.
Hotman misses with a low kick.
Hotman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billings throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hotman tries to land a leg kick but Billings saw it coming and moves away.
Billings throws a hook but Hotman blocks it.
Hotman tries to land a leg kick but Billings saw it coming and moves away.
Billings takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hotman lands a leg kick that knocks Billings off balance momentarily.
Hotman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Billings counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Billings pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Billings fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hotman manages to avoid it.
Billings takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hotman lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Billings throws a looping overhand right but Hotman ducks down to avoid it.
Billings has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Panda Sprawl n Brawl in the buildup to the fight.
Billings moves out of range as Hotman throws a body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Billings blocks the leg kick.
Hotman looks to land a body kick but Billings moved away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hotman.
Cole Hotman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hotman slips a jab from Billings.
Hotman is looking to chop away at Billings's legs.
Hotman lands a leg kick that knocks Billings off balance momentarily.
Billings throws a big shot that misses.
Hotman throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Billings on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billings throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Billings on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hotman. Hotman obviously looking to wear him down.
Billings swings for the body but Hotman moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Hotman.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hotman is looking to score with low kicks.
Hotman turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hotman swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Billings jabs Hotman to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hotman throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Billings.
Both fighters circling a little - Hotman finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hotman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A clash of legs there as Billings blocks the low kick.
Billings looks to throw the jab but Hotman is out of range.
Hotman tries to work over Billings's front leg with a kick but Billings checks it.
Billings misses the shot to the body.
Hotman ducks under a wild hook from Billings.
Billings is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Billings misses with an uppercut.
Hotman does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hotman throws a solid leg kick but Billings takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hotman.
Billings jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hotman with a nice calf kick.
Hotman with a nice calf kick.
Billings misses with a wild body shot.
Hotman throws a head kick that misses.
Hotman slips a straight right by Billings.
Hotman misses with a kick to the body
letting Billings counter with a right hand.
Billings lands a lovely overhand right.
Billings blocks a leg kick.
Billings takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hotman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Billings was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hotman chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billings misses with a looping left.
Hotman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Billings waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hotman.
Hotman throws a low kick but Billings avoids it.
Hotman does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hotman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Billings.
Billings stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hotman.
Billings throws a hook to the side of Hotman's head but Hotman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hotman tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Billings is able to avoid easily.
Billings is looking to counter punch.
Billings takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hotman will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hotman takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hotman misses with a low kick.
Billings misses with a straight right.
Billings jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Hotman dominated that round.
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.

A nice leg kick lands there from Hotman.
Hotman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Billings tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hotman was well out of range. Poor timing from Billings.
Billings chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hotman can pounce on him.
Hotman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hotman connects with a solid leg kick.
Billings blocks a head kick by Hotman.
Hotman throws a leg kick but Billings sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hotman. That's going to slow Billings down.
Hotman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Billings counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hotman throws a leg kick which misses Billings's front leg but catches the back leg as Billings tries to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hotman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hotman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A counter left hand to the body from Billings misses its target.
Hotman fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Billings might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Billings misses with a body shot.
Hotman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hotman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billings fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hotman manages to avoid it.
Hotman thows a leg kick but Billings checks it
and Billings counters with a nice body shot.
Hotman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Billings thuds his right hand into Hotman's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A head kick misses from Hotman.
An attempted straight right counter from Billings misses the target.
Hotman misses with a leg kick.
Billings was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hotman connects with a solid leg kick.
Hotman moves out of range as Billings strikes.
Hotman is looking to slow Billings down with leg kicks.
Hotman fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Billings checks it well.
Hotman tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Billings is able to avoid easily.
Hotman tries to work over Billings's front leg with a kick but Billings checks it.
Billings with a nice cross.
Billings lands a body shot.
Billings misses with a looping left.
Hotman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Billings finds it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hotman tries to land a leg kick but Billings saw it coming and moves away.
Hotman misses with a low kick.
Billings appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hotman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Billings.
Hotman throws a push kick but Billings slaps the foot to one side.
Billings fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hotman manages to avoid it.
Hotman pivots, looking for a leg kick but Billings is out of range and Hotman settles back down.
Hotman misses with a low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hotman.
Billings ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hotman moves away.
Billings missing with a left hand there. Hotman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Billings waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hotman.
Hotman needs to keep his hands up - Billings had a free shot at his head there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hotman. That's going to slow Billings down.
Billings throws a hook to the side of Hotman's head but Hotman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billings misses the jab.
Hotman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Billings takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Billings scores with a decent looking hook.
Hotman feints and then cracks Billings's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Billings down.
Hotman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hotman throws a leg kick that misses.
Cole Hotman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hotman.
Hotman throws a front kick aimed at Billings's knee but Billings avoids it well.
Hotman tries to land a leg kick but Billings saw it coming and moves away.
Hotman needs to keep his hands up - Billings had a free shot at his head there.
Hotman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hotman fakes the leg kick and cracks Billings in the body.
A low kick lands for Hotman.
Billings swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billings throws an overhand right that lands on Hotman's shoulder, as Hotman tries to avoid the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Billings throws a body punch but Hotman moves out of range.
Hotman is looking to chop away at Billings's legs.
Hotman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Billings.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Billings on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hotman throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hotman tries to land a front kick but Billings steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hotman. That's going to slow Billings down.
Billings throws a body punch but Hotman moves out of range.
Hotman throws a nice inside leg kick.
A low kick from Hotman misses
and Billings cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Billings swings for the body but Hotman moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Billings checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hotman misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick from Hotman misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cole Hotman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Hotman misses with a low kick.
Billings blocks a leg kick.
A quick step to the side and Billings tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Billings jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Billings moves out of range of the leg kick from Hotman.
Hotman throws a leg kick
and Billings counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hotman throws out a leg kick but Billings moves out of range and Hotman only half commits.
Hotman throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Hotman throws a low kick but Billings moves out of range easily.
Billings was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hotman lands a leg kick that knocks Billings off balance momentarily.
Hotman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Billings on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hotman tries a head kick but it misses.
Billings just misses with a punch to the body.
Hotman is looking to slow Billings down with leg kicks.
Billings lands a jab to Hotman's midsection.
Hotman moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hotman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A counter left hand to the body from Billings misses its target.
Hotman lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hotman is looking to slow Billings down with leg kicks.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hotman.
Billings lands a nice looking body shot.
Hotman throws a head kick that misses
and Billings counters with a nice uppercut.
A left lands for Billings.
Hotman tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Billings is able to avoid easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hotman.
A looping hook to the body misses from Billings. Hotman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Billings takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Billings avoids the head kick by Hotman.
Billings throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hotman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Billings throws a big shot that misses.
Hotman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mark Billings has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cole Hotman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billings swings widly with a right hand
and Hotman counters with a solid body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hotman defending well as Billings loads up on a big left hand.
Hotman tries a quick counter leg kick but Billings is wise to it.
Billings ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hotman moves away.
Billings checks the leg kick nicely there.
Billings will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hotman lands with a thumping leg kick.
Billings takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Billings checks a leg kick.
Good exchange - Billings coming out on top.
A clash of legs there as Billings blocks the low kick.
Billings cracks Hotman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hotman pivots, looking for a leg kick but Billings is out of range and Hotman settles back down.
Billings tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
An inside leg kick lands from Hotman.
Hotman turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotman throws a head kick but Billings moves out of range.
Billings walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hotman.
Hotman throws a leg kick that misses.
Hotman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Billings waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hotman.
Hotman only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hotman throws a sloppy head kick and Billings moves out of range easily.
Billings moves out of range of the leg kick from Hotman.
Billings was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hotman tries to land a front kick but Billings steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hotman throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hotman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Billings checks a low kick from Hotman.
Billings swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A big right from Billings misses.
Hotman throws a body kick that misses.
Billings throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hotman connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hotman feints and then cracks Billings's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Billings down.
Hotman lands a leg kick that knocks Billings off balance momentarily.
Billings fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Billings misses with a straight left.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hotman moves out of range of the strikes.
Billings misses with a straight right.
Billings throws a hook but Hotman blocks it.
Billings scores with a sloppy right hand. Hotman should have avoided that one.

Hotman is rocked!
Hotman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Good leg kick by Hotman.
That kick from Hotman tenderised Billings's leg. Billings is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hotman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Billings.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hotman.
Hotman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Billings.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Hotman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hotman 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Hotman!
In his post fight interview, Cole Hotman started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.