PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John NasEeke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

NasEeke
vs
Hodges

168 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
21
146 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John NasEeke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Hodges!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Hodges as NasEeke shoots in.
NasEeke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hodges manages to avoid it.
NasEeke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hodges circles away.
Hodges throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
NasEeke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hodges swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John NasEeke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hodges keeps the fight on the outside.

Hodges darts in and clinches NasEeke up against the cage.
NasEeke goes for a takedown attempt but Hodges pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hodges throws an uppercut from half a mile away. NasEeke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
NasEeke knocks Hodges to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Hodges is rocked!

It looks like James Hodges has been cut.
Hodges takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hodges is still on wobbly legs! Can NasEeke finish him?
Sloppy strikes there by NasEeke.
NasEeke landing strikes.
NasEeke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hodges keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NasEeke working the ground and pound.
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Hodges is not content to let NasEeke control the position.

NasEeke looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hodges seems to have recovered his senses.
NasEeke is looking to take a break and control but Hodges is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
NasEeke has knee on belly and moves into mount.
NasEeke is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hodges tries to get back to half guard but can't.
NasEeke lands a big shot there that rocks Hodges but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hodges gets back to half guard.
Hodges makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hodges.
Hodges looking for a sweep. Not yet Hodges, not yet.
NasEeke trying to control the position from guard on top but Hodges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hodges throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Hodges throws his legs up looking for a submission but NasEeke uses it to pass to side control.
NasEeke tries to stand but Hodges is controlling his head.
Hodges manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges trying to control but NasEeke postures up.
Hodges is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Hodges is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hodges blocking the ground and pound attempt from NasEeke.
NasEeke seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hodges does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hodges regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from NasEeke.
NasEeke trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hodges's guard.
NasEeke wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.

Hodges has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but NasEeke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
NasEeke fails with a takedown attempt.
NasEeke looks to clinch

and Hodges counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hodges.
NasEeke has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hodges is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
NasEeke tries to pull guard but Hodges won't allow it.
NasEeke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hodges pulls his leg out and moves away.

NasEeke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hodges is refusing to be controlled, as NasEeke sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John NasEeke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Hodges's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

NasEeke fails with an attempt to clinch.

NasEeke clinches.
NasEeke jumps guard but Hodges stands there with NasEeke around his waist. NasEeke gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
NasEeke has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hodges avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

NasEeke breaks the clinch.
Hodges throws a right and a left that both miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from NasEeke.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John NasEeke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hodges stuffs the takedown attempt from NasEeke. NasEeke gets slowly back to his feet.
John NasEeke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hodges throws a right and a left that NasEeke avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
NasEeke looking to land some kicks to the body here.
NasEeke throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Hodges scores with a four punch combination!
NasEeke misses with a low kick.
Hodges circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hodges, right into the meat.
NasEeke darts in trying to clinch
and Hodges makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Hodges gets a clinch.

Hodges lands a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hodges stands and throws NasEeke's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hodges lands some shots froms side control.

Hodges looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hodges swings around for an armbar but NasEeke sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hodges's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges keeping full guard, as NasEeke tries to pass.
NasEeke trying to control but Hodges is working from the bottom.
NasEeke wants to stand but Hodges has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
NasEeke thows a big elbow that misses.
NasEeke has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
NasEeke wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.

Hodges is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
NasEeke wants to control from the top but Hodges keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
NasEeke misses with a takedown

and Hodges counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
NasEeke is looking to control Hodges's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can NasEeke avoid being mounted?
NasEeke is pressing down on Hodges's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
NasEeke is trying to control the position but Hodges postures up.
NasEeke wants to sweep here but Hodges controlling him for the moment.

NasEeke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hodges is standing up over NasEeke. NasEeke looks to escape but Hodges dives into side control.
NasEeke is trying to get back to his feet.
NasEeke is not content to let Hodges control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NasEeke regains half guard.
NasEeke tries to roll over but Hodges keeps him under control.

Hodges is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
NasEeke trying to control from the bottom.
NasEeke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
NasEeke is looking to clinch but Hodges is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hodges showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Hodges's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hodges looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hodges is thwarting NasEeke's attempts to control the position.

NasEeke has one foot on Hodges's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hodges circles away from the clinch attempt.
NasEeke wants to clinch
and Hodges cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
No joy there for NasEeke, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

NasEeke moves into the clinch.
NasEeke wants to get back to striking at distance but Hodges won't allow it.
NasEeke wants to break free but Hodges has control.
NasEeke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hodges pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
NasEeke tries to score with a low kick but Hodges moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges circles away from the clinch attempt.
NasEeke fails to land the takedown.
A combination from Hodges does no damage.
NasEeke shoots and misses
and Hodges counters with a nice low kick that buckles NasEeke's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John NasEeke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hodges thuds a left hand into NasEeke's body.
NasEeke wants to clinch

and Hodges counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
NasEeke wants to control but Hodges is keeping busy.
NasEeke manages to get to full guard.
NasEeke trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NasEeke wants to stand up but Hodges is controlling him.
NasEeke will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
NasEeke lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hodges!
NasEeke is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hodges can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
NasEeke wants to control the pace but Hodges is squirming around nicely.
Hodges sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
NasEeke stalling away here and it's allowed Hodges to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
NasEeke throws a strike but Hodges rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges wants to pass the guard but NasEeke is keeping the position.
James Hodges has got the better of the ground game so far.

NasEeke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
NasEeke can't keep his opponent in guard - Hodges advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hodges is keen to just control but NasEeke is a slippery customer.
NasEeke gets full guard.
Hodges won't allow NasEeke to get back to his feet.
NasEeke looking to control.
NasEeke wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
NasEeke seems keen to control Hodges's posture.
Hodges postures up.
NasEeke is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because NasEeke is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

NasEeke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hodges, pushing him back against the cage.
NasEeke tries for a takedown but Hodges manages to get underhooks.
NasEeke goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hodges prevents it.
NasEeke tries to score a body lock takedown but Hodges shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
NasEeke wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

NasEeke jumps guard.
Hodges trying to control but NasEeke is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hodges comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hodges has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hodges!