PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Albert Hofmann (ranked 2600 p4p, 2760 weight class) and Watson Hargreaves (ranked 325 p4p, 342 weight class). Hofmann's entrance music is The Wizard. A fine choice. Watson Hargreaves acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hofmann
vs
Hargreaves

180 cm
20
180
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
170
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Albert Hofmann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Watson Hargreaves!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hofmann fails with the takedown
enabling Hargreaves to counter with a crisp jab.

Hargreaves darts in and clinches Hofmann up against the cage.
Hargreaves is looking to break free of the clinch but Hofmann has double underhooks.
Hargreaves dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hargreaves lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hargreaves is trying to break the clinch but Hofmann has him pressed against the cage.
Hargreaves lands a hook that snaps the head of Hofmann backwards.
Hargreaves stops a takedown attempt from Hofmann.
Hargreaves is pressed up against the cage. Hofmann has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hargreaves down to the mat. Hargreaves avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Hofmann. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hofmann changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hargreaves tries to avoid it but Hofmann manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hargreaves to the ground. Hargreaves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hofmann has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hargreaves after a bit of a struggle.

Hargreaves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hargreaves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hargreaves prevents the takedown attempt.
Hofmann drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hargreaves gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hargreaves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hofmann tries for a takedown but Hargreaves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hargreaves throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Watson Hargreaves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hofmann takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hargreaves slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hofmann takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hargreaves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hargreaves wants it to stay on the feet.
Hargreaves scores with a shot to the body.
Hargreaves throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hofmann closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hargreaves circles away.
Hargreaves closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Albert Hofmann has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hargreaves throws a head kick that misses.

Hargreaves has closed the distance and engaged Hofmann in a clinch.

Hargreaves manages to break the clinch.

Hargreaves moves into the clinch successfully.
Hargreaves looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hargreaves tries to work over Hofmann's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hargreaves tries to land knees in the clinch but Hofmann avoids the damage to the body.

Hargreaves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hargreaves cracks Hofmann with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hofmann circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hofmann tries to counter with a takedown but Hargreaves is quick to defend against it.

Hargreaves gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hofmann blocks a body shot from Hargreaves.
Hofmann is working for takedown but Hargreaves is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hargreaves gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hofmann.

Hargreaves manages to break the clinch.
Hofmann shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hargreaves defends it nicely.

Hargreaves clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hargreaves is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hofmann wants a takedown but no success here.
Hofmann drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hargreaves scores with a hook to the body.

Hargreaves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hargreaves looks to score with a jab to the body but Hofmann is just out of range.
Hargreaves throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hofmann.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hofmann.
Hofmann shoots and misses
and Hargreaves counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hargreaves lands an overhand right.

Hargreaves forces Hofmann back against the cage and clinches.
Hofmann is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hargreaves is defending well.
Hargreaves scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hargreaves looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Hargreaves manages to break the clinch.
Hofmann is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Hargreaves lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hofmann on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Hofmann looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hargreaves!
An elbow from Hofmann crashes against the mat.
Hargreaves is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hargreaves wants to control but Hofmann postures up.
Hargreaves is looking for a sweep.
Hargreaves can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hargreaves gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Watson Hargreaves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Albert Hofmann's cut.
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.

Hargreaves throws a body kick that misses

and Hofmann counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hofmann.
Hofmann trying to control but Hargreaves is working from the bottom.
Hargreaves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hofmann keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hargreaves's head.
Hofmann working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hofmann looking to sit in guard and control but Hargreaves gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hargreaves trying to control but Hofmann is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hargreaves trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hofmann's guard.
Hofmann preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hargreaves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hofmann swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hofmann looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hofmann working a defensive guard here.
Hofmann has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hargreaves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hofmann swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hargreaves preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.
Hargreaves is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hargreaves missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hargreaves wants to pass the guard but Hofmann is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hofmann misses with a takedown attempt
and Hargreaves counters with a straight right hand.
Hofmann looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hargreaves is fending him off so far but Hofmann persists. Nope, Hargreaves circles away and we're back to standing.
Hargreaves swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Hofmann fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hargreaves to the ground. Hofmann is now in Hargreaves's guard.

Hargreaves manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Hargreaves as Hofmann shoots in.
Hargreaves wants to counter with a clinch but Hofmann pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Hofmann. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hargreaves misses with a head kick.
Hofmann chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hargreaves can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hargreaves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hargreaves throws a jab but it's blocked by Hofmann.
Hofmann tries to counter with a takedown but Hargreaves is quick to defend against it.
Hargreaves lands with an overhand left.
Hargreaves lands a jab to the nose.
Hargreaves scores with a shot to the body.
Hofmann moves out of range of the strikes.
Hargreaves throws a head kick that misses

and Hofmann counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hofmann not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hofmann working over Hargreaves with some ground and pound. Hargreaves looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hofmann thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hargreaves wants to control but Hofmann is keeping busy.
Hargreaves is trying to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hargreaves can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hofmann lands a nice short elbow.
Albert Hofmann overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hofmann looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hargreaves is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hofmann scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hargreaves manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hofmann throws a big right hand that misses.
Hofmann throws an elbow that misses. Hargreaves uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hofmann's guard. Nice move by Hargreaves!

Hofmann keeping moving, preventing Hargreaves from controlling successfully.
Hargreaves controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Watson Hargreaves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Albert Hofmann's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hargreaves closes the distance and clinches.
Hofmann is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Hargreaves breaks from the clinch.
Hargreaves looks to clinch

and Hofmann counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Hargreaves manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hargreaves scores with the left hand. Hofmann knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice sprawl there from Hargreaves as Hofmann shoots in.
It seemed like Hargreaves was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Hofmann scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hargreaves is trying to escape back to his feet but Hofmann uses the scramble to pass into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hargreaves is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hargreaves wants to control but Hofmann postures up.
Hofmann working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hofmann working the head and body with strikes.
Hofmann is looking to take a break and control but Hargreaves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Hofmann are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hargreaves taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hargreaves parries the strikes from Hofmann easily there. Hofmann is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hargreaves to escape.
Hargreaves is trying to get back to his feet.
Hofmann tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hargreaves taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hargreaves is trying to work for a sweep but Hofmann has mounted him!
Hofmann landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Hofmann.
Hofmann raining down shots from the mount!
Hargreaves tries to hold on but Hofmann postures up.
Hargreaves is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Hargreaves regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hargreaves is trying to stand up here but Hofmann is controlling him well.
Hofmann lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hofmann takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann is thwarting Hargreaves's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Hofmann seems content to control.
Hargreaves tries to kick Hofmann off but Hofmann keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hofmann thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Albert Hofmann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hofmann lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hofmann slips a nice elbow through Hargreaves's hands, connecting with Hargreaves's forehead.
Hargreaves tries to get to full guard but Hofmann has control of the leg.
Hargreaves wants to control but Hofmann is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hargreaves tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Hofmann manages to move to mount!
Hofmann working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hofmann raining down shots from the mount!
Watson Hargreaves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hofmann lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Hargreaves is rocked!
Hargreaves wants to control but Hofmann is having none of it.
Hofmann landing strikes from the mount.
Hargreaves is still in real trouble! Can Hofmann finish him?
Hargreaves is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hofmann postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Hargreaves bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Hofmann and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Albert Hofmann!
During a confident post fight interview, Albert Hofmann thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.