PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Drunken Hermit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Love (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Hermit
vs
Love

165 cm
27
165 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

171 cm
21
168 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Drunken Hermit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ari Love!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hermit shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Love darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Love scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd cheers as Love lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hermit doesn't seem phased though.
We've been told by Hermit's head coaches at Nonprofit Vegas Elite $50 ($1000 value) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hermit misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Love misses with a few strikes there.
Love's corner calls for a 1-2. Love obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Love lands with a nice combination. Hermit backs away looking to recover.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hermit.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drunken Hermit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Love showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hermit.
Love scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hermit stuffs the takedown.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Love has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Hermit fails with the takedown.
Love paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hermit closes this distance looking for a takedown but Love circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by Love as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hermit has time to react.
The fighters circle momentarily. Love darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A shot to the liver by Love. Beautiful body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hermit.
Hermit takes one to the chin there.
Love cracks Hermit with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hermit shoots for a takedown but Love saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hermit shoots in for a double leg but Love sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Love smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hermit shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Love sprawls well. Love wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hermit gets slowly back to his feet.
Jab from Love.
Hermit shoots in for a takedown but Love shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Love cracks Hermit with a good jab.
Hermit on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Love lands with a hook. Hermit tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermit takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fighters circle momentarily. Love darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Hermit scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Love tries to buck Hermit off but Hermit is having none of it.
Hermit sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Love is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hermit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Love keeps working.

Hermit goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Love rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Hermit's guard! Nice work there by Love!
Love pushing down on Hermit's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Love trying to pass the guard but Hermit defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love trying to control the action but Hermit is working from the bottom.
Love tries to pass to full mount but Hermit defends it.
Hermit trying to control here.
Love wants to stand but Hermit has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Hermit is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
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.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hermit is trying to control but can't.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hermit tries to get to full guard but Love has control of the leg.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hermit shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Love sprawls well. Love wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hermit gets slowly back to his feet.
Love lands a really nice looking cross but Hermit seems unphased.

Hermit looking to score a takedown here. Love is defending well but Hermit drives through and ends up in Love's guard.

Love has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hermit is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Love dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice shot lands for Love.
Love moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Love closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hermit circles away.
Hermit fails with a takedown attempt.
Hermit takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hermit takes one to the chin there.
Hermit tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Love swivels and escapes.
A punch lands to the side of Hermit 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hermit shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Love counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drunken Hermit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Love.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Love is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hermit is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Love decides to stand and escape the position.
Donk. Love catches Hermit right on the button with a cross.
Hermit with a poor takedown
and Love counters with a three punch combo that has Hermit backing up. Hermit nods at Love to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice jab there from Love.
Ari Love seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Love scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hermit looks for a takedown but Love sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice shot by Love.

Love closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hermit tries to roll over but Love keeps him under control.
Love works his way into full mount!
Love has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Love is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Hermit fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hermit shoots in and drives through. Love sprawls well.
Love scores with a nice strike.
Love clobbers Hermit with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Love throws a series of punches but Hermit avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hermit.
Love lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Love lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermit moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hermit shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Love sprawls well. Love wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hermit gets slowly back to his feet.
Love listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Love misses with a series of wild punches.
Love throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Hermit drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hermit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Love swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hermit lands a couple of elbows.
Love utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermit won't allow Love to get back to his feet.
Love working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hermit.
Love looking to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hermit looking to sit in guard and control but Love gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Love must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hermit looking for a sweep. Not yet Hermit, not yet.
Love throws a big right hand that misses.
Love trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hermit looking for a sweep. Not yet Hermit, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Love showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hermit fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hermit takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Love jabs Hermit to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hermit fails to land the takedown.
Hermit leaves Love with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No joy there for Love, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hermit shoots in looking for a takedown but Love manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hermit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drunken Hermit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hermit takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hermit takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Love scores with a jab to the jaw.
Love might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hermit shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Love pinned against the cage. Love gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hermit is trying hard to land a takedown here. Love sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hermit decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ari Love has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hermit is looking for a kimura but Love is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hermit to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love moves into full guard.
Hermit tries to free his leg and advance position but Love is retaining full guard.
Hermit stops Love from standing up.
Hermit trying to control but Love is working from the bottom.
Hermit in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.

Love closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hermit did well to prevent Love getting side control.
Love wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hermit keeps working.
Hermit wants to control but Love is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Love in particular looking to stall.
Hermit wants to control but Love is keeping busy.
Love tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hermit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love is keen to just control but Hermit is a slippery customer.
Love tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Love lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Love scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Love with a jab.
Love lands a jab.
Love moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ari Love is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Love scores with a one two! Hermit had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hermit shoots in and drives through. Love sprawls well.
Love fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Love lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Love scores with a sloppy right hand. Hermit should have avoided that one.
Love shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hermit eats them both and turns towards Love to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Hermit is trying hard to land a takedown here. Love sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Drunken Hermit is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Love ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Drunken Hermit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Love throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Love scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Love lands with an overhand left.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hermit.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hermit drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hermit is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Love to keep the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Love comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Love 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Love!