PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Scooter Ham (ranked 1041 p4p, 2116 weight class) and Arthur King (ranked 138 p4p, 258 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ham
vs
King

186 cm
24
191
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
190
13 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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Conviction

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scooter Ham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Arthur King!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ham on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ham misses with a lunging right hand
and King counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ham takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ham throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
King shoots in and drives through. Ham sprawls well.

King shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
King scoring with strikes to the body and head.
King wants to control but Ham is keeping him busy.
King might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ham haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King is looking for a kimura but Ham is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for King to get the leverage.
King thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
King missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
King throwing shots but Ham is blocking nicely.
King trying to advance position but Ham counters by regaining guard.
King throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Ham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and King jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
King chips away with some ground and pound.
King pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ham is keeping the position for now.
King is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
King throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
King trying to control but Ham is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ham misses with a low kick as King jumps back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ham bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And Ham counters with a quick kick to the body but King blocks it.
King misses with a takedown
and Ham counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've been told by Ham's head coaches at GWad's Playpen that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
King walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
King staying out of range there.
King shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ham counters with a stiff right hand.
Scooter Ham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur King.
Ham looks for the body kick but King saw that one coming.
Ham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ham misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ham avoids the body shot from King.
King ducks under a wild hook from Ham.

Ham gets caught flat footed, as King shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
King wants to pass the guard but Ham is keeping the position.
Ham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King.
King with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
King trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ham manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's five minutes gone in the round.

King looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
King looking to control.
King looking for a sweep. Not yet King, not yet.

King is looking for a triangle but Ham pushes his legs off easily.
King working a defensive guard here.
King has control of Ham's left arm, preventing Ham from doing any damage.

That's six 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.
King is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ham is stalling in the full guard.
King controls Ham momentarily but Ham frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
King stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ham ducks down and throws a hook to the body but King moves away.
Ham misses with a leg kick.
King ducks under a wild hook from Ham.
Ham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but King manages to avoid it.
King throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ham counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A lazy left from Ham finds it's target.
King swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
King misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ham counters with an inside leg kick.
King fails with the takedown.
A swing and a miss from King.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ham misses the shot to the body.
King with the counter takedown but Ham avoids it easily.
King throws a poor cross that misses
and King takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but King circles away quickly and effectively.
King darts in looking for a takedown but Ham gets double underhooks and turns King into the cage.
Ham misses with a hook.

King closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ham quickly recovers to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
King not landing any meaningful shots this time.
King is trying to control the action in half guard but Ham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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. King connects with a nice short shot to Ham's temple.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ham regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ham trying to control the position here.
King throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
King with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ham keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arthur King will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice body punch from Ham.
King looks to score with a jab to the body but Ham is just out of range.
Ham throws a body shot but no joy.
King closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ham circles away.
King fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ham throws a hook to the side of King's head but King sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from King! But no joy.
King misses with a takedown
and Ham counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Scooter Ham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur King.
No luck for King with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ham scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
King throws a jab but it's blocked by Ham.
Ham thinks about countering with a body kick.
King throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ham's waist but Ham gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing King off to one side.
Ham is looking to counter with a body kick.
King doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ham connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
King looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ham throws a solid leg kick but King takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ham.
King goes for a double leg but Ham avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ham continues to drive forward.
King fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ham feinted there with a counter leg kick.
King misses with a hook
and Ham counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ham slips under a jab from King.
Ham pivots, looking for a leg kick but King is out of range and Ham settles back down.
Scooter Ham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
King is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ham.
Ham throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ham misses with a straight left.
Scooter Ham is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ham throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

King feints and as Ham raises his hands in defense, King changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
King wants to control from the top but Ham keeps moving.
King makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
King passes Ham's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
King thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ham'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. King connects with a nice short shot to Ham's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ham wants to get back to full guard.
King missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ham trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
King scores with a couple of good head shots there.
King pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ham is working to get back to half guard.
King controlling from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King with good strikes from the mount here!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
King lands a couple of good shots and Ham has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
King cracks Ham with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Ham from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Ham looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
King throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Ham!

Ham fending off the submission attempt from King.
King is working the ground and pound. Can Ham escape?

That's six minutes gone in the round.

King looking to break Ham's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ham remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise King will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
King has good solid back control here.
Ham has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from King.
Ham avoids the strikes from King.

King is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ham knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ham for a finish.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ham has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from King.
Ham is trying to break free.

Ham defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of King's arms.
King connects with a big shot to the side of Ham's head.

Ham defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Oooh a big shot gets through from King. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ham is in bad spot here.
King missing with punches from the back.
Ham covering up well under a series of strikes from King.
Ham rolls, trying to escape but King keeps control of the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
King lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Ham.
King gets his hands free as Ham looks to control.
King trying to control momentarily.

Ham fending off the submission attempt from King.
Well, with King on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Ham is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

King is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ham knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ham for a finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ham gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
King won't allow Ham to sweep him here.
King working some strikes from top position.
King wants to control from the top but Ham keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells King's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ham is trying to control the position but King postures up.

King thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King.
Ham has his hands on King's head, controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ham waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract King.
Arthur King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King moves into range and connects with a jab.
King has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice uppercut there from Ham.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King blocks a jab.
King tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
King cracks a nice hook into Ham's ribs.
King gets cracked there but stands up to it.
King swings for the body but Ham moves out of range.
King chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ham can pounce on him.
King swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ham connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
King ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ham moves away.
Nice shot lands for King.
King closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ham circles away.
Ham is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ham misses with an uppercut.
And King tries to counter it with a takedown but Ham pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King closes the distance and clinches up with Ham, looking for a takedown. King pushes Ham against the cage but Ham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ham is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by King.
King misses with a takedown attempt
and Ham counters with a nice leg kick.
Scooter Ham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur King.
King takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ham lands a jab to the head.

King scores with a takedown into Ham's guard.
Ham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
King wants to control from the top but Ham keeps moving.
King cracks Ham with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
King lands a couple of digs.
Ham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King.
King working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

King drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ham dives on top into guard.

Ham showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
King looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

King looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

King looking for a guillotine here but Ham defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now King is on top in guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
King throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
King working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
King lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ham has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but King has passed into side control.
King lands a nice forearm strike.
Ham is not content to let King control the position.
Ham tries to bench press King off him but King keeps the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ham keeps King under control for a moment.
Ham tries to improve position but can't.
Ham is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but King is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Scooter Ham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
King tries to control but Ham wriggling away.
Ham keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Arthur King is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
King content just to control the position here.
King's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
King trying to control but he's not successful this time.
King controlling the pace for now.
King has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ham is wriggling around trying to escape.
King sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
More stalling from King.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got King winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur King!
During a confident post fight interview, Arthur King thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.