PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Packer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Honda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Packer
vs
Honda

175 cm
22
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bobby Packer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Honda!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Packer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Honda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Honda tries to clinch up.
No luck for Honda with that takedown attempt.
Packer tries to clinch up.
Honda shoots in looking for a takedown. Packer tries to sprawl out of it but Honda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Packer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Honda has a takedown stuffed.
Bobby Packer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Honda.

Packer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Honda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Packer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Honda is looking to control Packer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Honda avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda is trying to stand back up but Packer is controlling him

Honda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Packer working the head and body with strikes.
Packer could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Packer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Honda has momentary wrist control but Packer slips an elbow through the middle.
Honda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Packer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Honda's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Honda is on top in guard.
Honda looks gassed!
Packer is pulling down on Honda's head. It's preventing any offense from Honda, at least for the moment.

Honda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Honda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honda won't allow Packer to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Honda stands and steps away. Packer gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Packer shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Honda manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Packer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Packer wants to control from the top but Honda keeps moving.
Packer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Honda on the ground.
Packer trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Honda manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Packer wants to sweep here but Honda controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Packer is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Honda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Packer.
Honda shoots and misses

and Packer counters with a single leg into guard. Honda didn't expect that.

Honda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Honda keeping full guard, as Packer tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Packer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Honda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Packer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Packer wants to control from the top but Honda keeps moving.
Packer is in close to Honda's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Honda controls Packer momentarily but Packer frees himself.
Packer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Packer scoring with punches to the head and body.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Packer moves in looking to clinch but Honda pushes him off.
Honda with a poor takedown

and Packer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Packer dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Packer feints and as Honda raises his hands in defense, Packer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Packer trying to control but Honda is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Honda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Packer defends well.
Packer lands a couple of digs.

Packer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Packer landing some decent shots from guard.
Packer looking to pass the guard.
Packer trying to control but Honda is working from the bottom.
Honda is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Honda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Packer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Packer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Packer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Honda misses with a combination

and Packer counters with a shoot takedown. Honda fights it but they end up in guard.
Honda has momentary wrist control but Packer slips an elbow through the middle.

Honda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Packer wants to control from the top but Honda keeps moving.
Packer content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Packer trying to control but Honda is working from the bottom.
Packer scoring with some ground and pound.
Packer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Packer throws a lazy right hand but Honda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Packer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Honda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Packer.
Honda gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Packer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Packer.
Honda keeping moving, preventing Packer from controlling successfully.
Honda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Honda keeping moving, preventing Packer from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Packer landing some decent shots from guard.

Honda has his foot on Packer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Packer works his way back into a safe position though.
Packer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Packer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Packer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Honda is not content to let Packer control the position.
Honda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Packer in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Honda takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Packer scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Honda to see if he's OK.
Packer looks up at the clock and then as Honda takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Packer smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Packer looks up at the clock and then as Honda takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Packer smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Honda wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Honda with a poor takedown

and Packer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Honda's guard.
Packer looking to pass the guard.

Honda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Packer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Packer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Packer trying to control the position from guard on top but Honda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Packer dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Packer tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Honda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Honda.
Honda postures up.
Honda trying to control but Packer is working from the bottom.
Honda pushes down on Packer's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Honda wants to work for an arm triangle but Packer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Honda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Honda is trying to control the action in half guard but Packer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packer landing strikes from the bottom.

Honda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Packer is looking for a sweep. Honda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Packer trying to control here.
Honda passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Packer!
Packer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.

Honda looking for a guillotine from mount but Packer is having none of it.
Packer working to try and regain half guard.
Packer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honda trying to control but Packer is having none of it.
Packer tries to lock up and control but Honda gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Honda looking for a guillotine from mount but Packer is having none of it.
James Honda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Packer tries to hold on but Honda pushes him away.
Bobby Packer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Packer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Honda misses with a head shot.

That's four 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.
Packer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Honda looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Honda looking to secure an arm triangle but Packer defends it well.
Honda thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Packer is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Honda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Packer 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Packer!