PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zak Hilger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Dow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dow has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. On his way into the cage it seems that Zak Hilger has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Zak Hilger seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hilger
vs
Dow

189 cm
18
285 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

184 cm
20
249 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

[IFC] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zak Hilger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Dow!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Eddie Farnsworth and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hilger fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dow looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Hilger is looking to clinch but Dow is avoiding it.
Hilger throws a right and a left that Dow avoids nicely.
Hilger is looking to clinch but Dow is avoiding it.

Dow gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hilger to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hilger trying to control the position from guard on top but Dow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hilger sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hilger's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hilger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zak Hilger.
Hilger cracks the inside of Dow's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dow keeps the fight on the outside.
Dow is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hilger.
Hilger moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like John Dow has been cut.
Hilger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dow swivels and escapes.
Hilger goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hilger.
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!
Hilger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hilger tries to clinch up.
Hilger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dow tries to avoid it but Hilger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dow to the ground. Dow escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hilger connects with a single shot there.
Hilger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dow is fending him off so far but Hilger persists. Nope, Dow circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Hilger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hilger lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Hilger moves into range and clinches up with Dow.
Hilger lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hilger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hilger lands with a right to the head.
Hilger is trying to stall.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Dow has eaten all the pies!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilger lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hilger lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hilger makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hilger trying to stall but Dow improves his position.
Hilger working aggressively here.
Dow blocks the elbow strike.
Dow has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hilger is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Dow is working for takedown but Hilger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dow blocks an elbow strike from Hilger.
Hilger scores with a shot to the side of Dow's head.
Hilger is trying to stall.
A shot in the inside from Hilger.
Dow takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hilger.

Dow has clasped his hands together around Hilger's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Dow throws an elbow but Hilger slips to the side and avoids it well.
The strikes coming from Dow are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilger is not content to let Dow control the position.
Hilger is looking for a sweep.
Dow postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hilger struggling a bit here.
Hilger is not content to let Dow control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.
Hilger struggling a bit here.
Dow in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dow trying to control the position but Hilger is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Hilger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Dow's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hilger scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Dow takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hilger tries to clinch but Dow moves out of range.
No luck for Hilger with that takedown attempt.
Hilger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dow pinned against the cage. Dow gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hilger lands a two punch combo.

Hilger shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hilger content to control rather than advance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hilger passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilger takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hilger wants to control the pace but Dow is squirming around nicely.
Dow is looking to improve his position but Hilger isn't that keen on the idea.

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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zak Hilger wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hilger lands a nice hook to Dow's body. Dow takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hilger is looking to clinch.
Dow stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Hilger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hilger works over Dow's head and body with a nice combination.

Hilger closes the distance and pushes Dow back into the cage.
Hilger is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hilger softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hilger lands an elbow inside that Dow shrugs off.
Hilger looking to slow down the pace here.
Hilger cracks Dow with a nice body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Hilger fails to land.
Hilger lands a body shot in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Hilger.
Hilger is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dow takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hilger softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short left from Hilger.
Hilger working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hilger content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Dow takes a shot to the head.
Hilger stalling in the clinch but Dow improves position.
Dow can't get the takedown.
Hilger is looking to control Dow's arms but Dow gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hilger has his back to the cage.
Hilger throws a head punch that misses.
Dow drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hilger gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hilger misses with some punches.
Hilger trying to stall but Dow improves his position.
Hilger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hilger.
Still in the clinch, Hilger scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hilger throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dows head.
Hilger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dow being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hilger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hilger wants to stall.
Dow is working for takedown but Hilger is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dow has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hilger avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hilger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hilger effectively controlling the action here.
Dow tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hilger pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hilger gets through Dow's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hilger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dow tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hilger dodges an elbow strike from Dow.
Dow goes for a takedown attempt but Hilger pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hilger lands with a hook. Dow tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Dow shoots in and bounces Hilger off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Hilger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Dow'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dow shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hilger as he jumps to the side.
Danga de danga de dang - Hilger scores with a four punch combination!
Hilger getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zak Hilger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good leg kick by Hilger there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zak Hilger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dow fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hilger avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hilger.
Hilger misses with a two punch combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hilger!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hilger tries for a takedown but Dow sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hilger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dow sprawls well. Dow wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hilger gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Hilger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Good leg kick by Hilger there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hilger misses with a two punch combination.
Hilger tries to clinch but Dow moves out of range.
Hilger rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dow moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hilger stalks Dow and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dow's face. Dow staggers backwards, shaken.
Hilger fails with the takedown.
Zak Hilger is winning the standup battle so far.
Hilger throws a series of strikes that have Dow backpedaling.
Dow fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hilger throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dow.
Hilger connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Dow momentarily.

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.
Dow keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hilger throws a right hand that Dow ducks under and follows up with a left that Dow also avoids with ease.
Hilger lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dow's sensitive parts.
Hilger tries to clinch but Dow moves out of range.

Hilger clinches with his opponent.
Dow drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hilger scores with a shoulder strike.
Hilger gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dow.
Hilger lands a hook that snaps the head of Dow backwards.
Hilger has Dow pressed against the cage.
Hilger lands with a short shot to the head.
A short left from Hilger.
Dow tries to land knees in the clinch but Hilger avoids the damage to the body.
Hilger taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Hilger.
Dow fails to pull guard.
Hilger lands an elbow inside that Dow shrugs off.
Hilger comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hilger prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hilger lands with a light punch inside.
Hilger gets through Dow's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dow blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hilger is leaning against Dow and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dow blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Dow has hold of one of Hilger's legs. Hilger is fighting the takedown attempt but Dow gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Hilger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dow is one step ahead there.
Dow trying to control but Hilger is working from the bottom.
John Dow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dow postures up in Hilger's guard and throws a big left but Hilger blocks it.
Hilger pulls Dow in close to his closed guard and prevents Dow from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hilger swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zak Hilger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hilger, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zak Hilger!