PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Hinds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monkey Work (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Work has chosen Down - On March th saints as his entrance music. The key to victory for James Hinds has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hinds
vs
Work

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

155 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Hinds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Monkey Work!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Hinds. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hinds.
Work closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hinds circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hinds looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James Hinds seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hinds scores with a one two! Work had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Hinds closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Work keeps control of Hinds as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Hinds has Work pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hinds pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Work tumbling to the mat - Hinds dives into Work's guard.
Hinds is fighting to break Work's control of his arms but Work is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hinds has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Work is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Work holds on and takes a little breather.
Hinds has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Work is proving hard to escape from.
Hinds will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Work holds on and takes a little breather.
Hinds trying to stand up but can't free himself from Work's guard.
Hinds is breathing heavily.
Work is pulling down on Hinds's head. It's preventing any offense from Hinds, at least for the moment.

That's two 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.
Hinds wants to stand but Work is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Work has control of Hinds's left arm, preventing Hinds from doing any damage.

Despite being in the dominant position, Monkey Work just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Work tries for a takedown but Hinds sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hinds lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hinds wants to clinch.
Hinds lands with a straight right. Work didn't see that one coming.

Hinds rushes Work and presses him up against the cage.
Hinds lands a body punch in the clinch.
Work wants a takedown but no success here.
James Hinds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monkey Work.
Hinds tries for a takedown. No joy.
Work has Hinds pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hinds manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hinds scores with a shot to the side of Work's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hinds drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hinds breaks from the clinch.
Hinds lands with an uppercut that bounces Work off the cage and back into rage.
Hinds jabs at Work's body.
Hinds lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Work backs up against the cage.
Hinds throws a combination. Work tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hinds wants to clinch up but Work keeps it at a distance.

Hinds forces Work back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hinds dominated that round.
That's time! Hinds's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hinds scores with a crisp jab that stopped Work in his tracks.
James Hinds is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hinds rushes Work and presses him up against the cage.
Hinds has had enough of the clinch but Work keeps him there for the moment.
Hinds scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Work drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hinds pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hinds scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hinds is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hinds closes the distance and clinches.
Work tries to score a body lock takedown but Hinds shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Work goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hinds prevents it.
James Hinds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monkey Work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hinds can't break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hinds wants to get back to striking at distance but Work won't allow it.
Work tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hinds tries to break the clinch but Work is controlling the position.
Work should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

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

Work tries to keep at a distance but Hinds has taken the fight into the clinch.
Come on Hinds - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hinds wants to break the clinch but can't.

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.
Hinds wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hinds is trying to drag Work to the mat but Work just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hinds is looking to control Work's arms but Work gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hinds has his back to the cage.

Hinds breaks from the clinch.
Hinds lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Work backs up against the cage.

Work decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Work with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hinds tries to kick Work off but Work keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Work uses his free foot to push down on Hinds's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hinds.
Work can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hinds is looking to escape.
Work takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hinds is looking to get to half guard.
Work pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Work is landing with some decent strikes but Hinds is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Work trying to control but Hinds is having none of it.
Work controlling from mount.
Hinds wants to get back to his feet.

Work is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Hinds jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Work circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Monkey Work 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!

Work tries for a takedown but Hinds sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hinds.
Work slips a jab and a cross from Hinds.
Hinds connects with a right hand. Work shakes it off.
Hinds lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Work circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hinds looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hinds scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Work is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hinds off and has taken his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Work trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Let's hope that Work has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Hinds rolls, trying to escape but Work keeps control of the position.
Work is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Monkey Work just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Work looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Hinds clinches with his opponent.
Hinds lands a nice knee to the body.
Work is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James Hinds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monkey Work.
Work prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hinds looking for a takedown.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Work has eaten all the pies!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hinds has picked Work up - he's going for a ride! Hinds dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Work gets full guard.
Hinds wants to get up but he can't break Work's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Work wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Work kicks Hinds off and gets to his feet.
Hinds lands an overhand right.
Hinds throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Work showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hinds.
A combination from Hinds does no damage.

Hinds gets caught flat footed, as Work shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Work controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Monkey Work.
I think Work has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Monkey Work!