PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucius Hodge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hodge
vs
Brown

155 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lucius Hodge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Boris Brown!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ben Watson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brown slips a jab and a cross from Hodge.
Hodge shoots in for a double leg but Brown sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That kick from Brown tenderised Hodge's leg. Hodge is trying to keep his angry face on.
Brown is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Brown avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hodge moves into the clinch.
Brown throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hodges head.
Nice body punch from Hodge.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hodge's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brown defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hodge.

Hodge forces Brown back against the cage and clinches.
Hodge could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hodge is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Brown gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucius Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brown manages to break the clinch.
Hodge misses with a takedown

and Brown counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Brown looking to throw knees to the head but Hodge is blocking nicely.
Hodge misses with a hook from the clinch.

Brown's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hodge wants to clinch
and Brown counters with a nice body shot.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hodge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brown scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodge misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Brown clobbers Hodge with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Lucius Hodge has been cut.
Hodge takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Brown scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hodge sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hodge misses with a takedown attempt
and Brown counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hodge is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodge keeps the fight on the outside.
Brown looks to land a combination but Hodge avoids it well.
Brown doesn't manage to clinch there - Hodge circles away.
Brown misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sloppy strikes from Brown. Those never looked like landing.

Brown gets a double leg takedown into Hodge's guard.
Hodge is trying to keep Brown in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge wants to sweep here but Brown controlling him for the moment.

Hodge scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Brown misses.
Brown throws a head kick but Hodge moves out of range.
Brown tries to clinch up but Hodge circles away and keeps his distance.
Hodge is looking to counter the offense by Brown and move into the clinch.
Brown circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hodge takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Brown dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucius Hodge's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hodge tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brown sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hodge somewhat.
Brown throws a series of punches but Hodge avoids them all with ease.

Brown fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hodge, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hodge has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Brown uses from the top position.
Brown has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hodge looking to control.
Brown trying to control but Hodge is working from the bottom.
Hodge wants to stand and escape but Brown is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodge keeping moving, preventing Brown from controlling successfully.
Hodge might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hodge is trying to control the position but Brown postures up.
Hodge working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brown.
Hodge manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Brown manages to get himself to full guard.

Hodge postures up in Brown's guard and throws a big left but Brown blocks it.
Brown working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hodge.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brown has momentary wrist control but Hodge slips an elbow through the middle.
Hodge throws an elbow that misses. Brown uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hodge's guard. Nice move by Brown!

Hodge trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hodge controls Brown momentarily but Brown frees himself.
Hodge trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodge throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Brown tries to stand but Hodge is controlling from the bottom.
Hodge is trying to keep Brown in close.
Brown wants to stand but Hodge has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hodge controls Brown momentarily but Brown frees himself.
Brown won't allow Hodge to sweep him here.
Hodge lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Brown wants to stand up but Hodge is controlling him.
Brown preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lucius Hodge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brown is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodge working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brown's head.
Hodge is looking to work some ground and pound but Brown has wrist control.
Hodge postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hodge scoring with some ground and pound.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Sydney inform us that Brown has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Brown working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hodge.
Brown avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hodge working some strikes from top position.
Hodge makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Brown preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hodge makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hodge with a nice head shot there.
Hodge lands a couple of elbows.
Hodge with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hodge is in close to Brown's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hodge postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Brown utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hodge scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hodge landing with the ground and pound.
Hodge loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucius Hodge dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lucius Hodge's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Hodge shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brown misses with a combination
and Hodge makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The fighters circling - Brown throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hodge checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hodge closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Brown breaks the clinch.
Hodge shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Brown pinned against the cage. Brown gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodge shoots in looking for a takedown but Brown manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hodge's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucius Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hodge goes for a double leg but Brown avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Brown continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hodge closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Brown did well to prevent Hodge getting side control.

Hodge is working for a submission of some sort.
Hodge with the ground and pound but Brown uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodge throws an elbow that misses. Brown uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hodge's guard. Nice move by Brown!

Brown trying to control the position from guard on top but Hodge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hodge looking for a sweep. Not yet Hodge, not yet.
Hodge trying to keep a closed guard but Brown is proving a slippery customer.
Hodge is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Brown is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Brown works over Hodge with some ground and pound from guard.
Hodge controls Brown momentarily but Brown frees himself.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hodge swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hodge seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Brown stopping the sweep attempt from Hodge.
Brown stands up over Hodge, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hodge working a defensive guard here.
Brown is working Hodge over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hodge working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brown accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hodge punching from the bottom.
Hodge looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Brown gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge is doing well to control the position and prevent Brown from advancing to side control.
Hodge wants to control but Brown is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Brown really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hodge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Brown wants to stand up but Hodge is controlling the position.
Hodge manages to get to full guard.
Brown postures up in Hodge's guard and throws a big left but Hodge blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hodge controls Brown momentarily but Brown frees himself.
Hodge looking for a sweep. Not yet Hodge, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Brown comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Brown has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Brown!