PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Miska Wuopio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Hammer is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Wuopio
vs
Hammer

188 cm
25
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
27
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 Hilo, Miska Wuopio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dan Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wuopio clinches.

Hammer pulls Wuopio into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Wuopio drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hammer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Wuopio has Hammer in his guard.
Wuopio keeping full guard, as Hammer tries to pass.

Hammer decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Wuopio, up you get!

Hammer moves into the clinch.
Wuopio tries to pull guard but Hammer holds him up against the cage and eventually Wuopio drops back down to his feet.
Wuopio is trying to pull guard but Hammer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wuopio is trying to pull guard but Hammer has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miska Wuopio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hammer is trying to trip Wuopio. He has hold of a leg but Wuopio is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hammer persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hammer has gone for a leg lock! Wuopio slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hammer's guard.
Hammer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Wuopio from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wuopio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wuopio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hammer is keeping the position for now.
Hammer managing to control the position.
Wuopio pushes down on Hammer's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wuopio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hammer defends it well.
Wuopio misses with a head shot. Hammer uses the momentum to regain guard.

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

Wuopio had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hammer defends it easily.

Hammer stands up and waves to Wuopio to follow him.
Dan Hammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wuopio tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wuopio tries to clinch up

and Hammer counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wuopio!

Hammer get's back to his feet.

Hammer shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hammer showed some decent athleticism there.

Wuopio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hammer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wuopio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hammer.

Hammer is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hammer decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Hammer is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wuopio takes a swing at Hammer's ribcage but misses.
Wuopio tries to clinch up but Hammer circles away and keeps his distance.
Wuopio connects with a right hand. Hammer shakes it off.

Hammer moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Wuopio.

Hammer ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hammer no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Wuopio is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hammer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hammer has escaped and now he's on top!

Hammer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hammer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Wuopio escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hammer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hammer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Wuopio looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Wuopio looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Wuopio!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hammer dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hammer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wuopio was well out of range. Poor timing from Hammer.
Hammer slips a straight right by Wuopio.
Wuopio takes a swing at Hammer's ribcage but misses.
Wuopio misses with a wild body shot.
Wuopio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wuopio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hammer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Wuopio on his heels. He'll look to pass Wuopio's guard now, I'm sure.

Wuopio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hammer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hammer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hammer decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hammer moves out of range of the strikes.
Miska Wuopio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wuopio looks to land a right hand but Hammer moved out of range.
Wuopio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Hammer rushes Wuopio and presses him up against the cage.
Wuopio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hammer smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hammer rushes Wuopio and presses him up against the cage.
Wuopio is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hammer pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Hammer works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Hammer postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Wuopio is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hammer, into his guard.
Hammer is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Wuopio won't allow Hammer to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammer keeping full guard, as Wuopio tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wuopio trying to control the position from guard on top but Hammer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wuopio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammer is controlling Wuopio's posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Wuopio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wuopio tries to clinch up.
Wuopio rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hammer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hammer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wuopio is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hammer to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miska Wuopio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wuopio tries to pull guard but Hammer holds him up against the cage and eventually Wuopio drops back down to his feet.
Wuopio jumps guard but Hammer turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wuopio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wuopio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hammer misses with a hook to the ribs.

Hammer pulls guard.
Wuopio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hammer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wuopio wants to control from the top but Hammer keeps moving.

Hammer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wuopio throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wuopio looking to sit in guard and control but Hammer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wuopio looking for a guillotine here but Hammer defends easily.
Hammer preventing the sweep.

Hammer drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hammer jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wuopio is working an open guard so Hammer takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hammer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Hammer is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wuopio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Hammer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wuopio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hammer manages to avoid it.
Wuopio swings for the body but Hammer moves out of range.

Hammer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wuopio's half guard.

Wuopio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hammer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wuopio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hammer.

Hammer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wuopio defends it well.
Wuopio is looking to escape.

Hammer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wuopio has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer prevents Wuopio from improving his position.

Wuopio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wuopio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wuopio.

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

Hammer forces Wuopio back against the cage and clinches.
Wuopio jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hammer walks away with a smile on his face. Wuopio gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hammer throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Wuopio was covering up waiting for the punch and Hammer finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Wuopio has his foot on Hammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hammer works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wuopio controls Hammer momentarily but Hammer frees himself.
Hammer passes into half guard.

That's two 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!

Wuopio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hammer is trying to work for a kimura but Wuopio is defending well.

Wuopio looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hammer passes to full mount!

Hammer is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Hammer closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hammer has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wuopio is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hammer stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Hammer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Wuopio quickly recovers to half guard.

Hammer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wuopio defends it well.

Hammer gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Wuopio wants to clinch.
Wuopio scores with a one two! Hammer had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Hammer moves into the clinch.
Wuopio can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wuopio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hammer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
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!

Hammer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hammer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Hammer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wuopio has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hammer tries for a kimura but Wuopio is defending well.
Dan Hammer has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wuopio tries to bench press Hammer off him but Hammer keeps the position.
Miska Wuopio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Hammer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Hammer has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Hammer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hammer 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Hammer!
Dan Hammer tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.