PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucius Hodge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Cunnington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Cunnington will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hodge
vs
Cunnington

155 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 5 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Cunnington!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Darius Henderson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunnington lands the left hand.
Hodge could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cunnington throws a series of punches but Hodge avoids them all with ease.
Cunnington misses with a combination

and Hodge counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hodge.

Hodge breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hodge takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cunnington scores with a nice strike.

Hodge closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hodge lands in his opponent's guard.
Cunnington is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hodge is controlling him.

Hodge stands up and waves to Cunnington to follow him.
Cunnington connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunnington fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cunnington scores with a punch to the head.

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

Hodge looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cunnington trying to control from the bottom.
Cunnington avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hodge.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hodge wants to work for an arm triangle but Cunnington is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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

Hodge is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Hodge is looking for a kimura but Cunnington is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hodge to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hodge seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunnington is trying to stand.

Hodge decides to return to a standing position.

Hodge clinches.

Hodge gets control of Cunnington's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hodge will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cunnington stopping the sweep attempt from Hodge.
Cunnington wants to stand but Hodge has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cunnington throwing strikes but missing.
Cunnington trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cunnington trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hodge's guard.
Hodge wants to sweep here but Cunnington controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge tries to strike from the bottom.
Hodge is trying to control the position but Cunnington postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A right-left combo lands from Cunnington.

It looks like Lucius Hodge has been cut.
Ben Cunnington is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cunnington fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cunnington jabs at Hodge's body.
Cunnington scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hodge fails with a takedown attempt.
Ben Cunnington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hodge is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cunnington connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Cunnington will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucius Hodge's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cunnington lands with an uppercut that bounces Hodge off the cage and back into range.
Cunnington scores with a nice strike.
Cunnington bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hodge's head backwards.

Hodge shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Hodge stands and steps away. Cunnington gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jab by Cunnington.
Ben Cunnington seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cunnington misses with a double jab

and Hodge counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Hodge decides to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hodge working a defensive guard here.
Cunnington preventing the sweep.
Cunnington stands up out of Hodge's guard for a moment - Hodge manages to land a nice upkick.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunnington cracks Hodge with an open hand slap.
Cunnington misses with a series of wild punches.
Cunnington gets in close and tags Hodge with a short punch that almost sends Hodge to the mat! Oh Hodge is in big trouble! He turns his back on Cunnington, trying to create some distance but Cunnington rushes him, striking wildly and Hodge goes down! The referee tackles Cunnington into the cage to end the fight! Cunnington is one violent man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ben Cunnington!