PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nils Holgersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holgersson comes to the cage accompanied by Theme. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ben Hogan was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Holgersson
vs
Hogan

169 cm
28
157 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

175 cm
31
162 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nils Holgersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Hogan!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hogan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Holgersson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hogan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Holgersson doesn't seem bothered though.
Holgersson lands a jab to the nose.

Holgersson feints and as Hogan raises his hands in defense, Holgersson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hogan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Holgersson working for a triangle but Hogan defends it easily.
Holgersson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Holgersson working for a triangle but Hogan defends it easily.

Holgersson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holgersson looking for a guillotine here but Hogan defends easily.

Holgersson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hogan defends well.
Hogan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hogan postures up.

Holgersson has his foot on Hogan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hogan works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hogan preventing the sweep.
Holgersson working a defensive guard here.

Holgersson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hogan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hogan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Holgersson looking to control.
Hogan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Holgersson is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hogan misses with a looping right.
Holgersson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hogan's sensitive parts.
Holgersson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hogan lands a jab to the nose.
Hogan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Holgersson. That did some damage!

Holgersson gets a double leg takedown into Hogan's guard.
Holgersson looking to sit in guard and control but Hogan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Holgersson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hogan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hogan stopping the sweep attempt from Holgersson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holgersson has his foot on Hogan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hogan works his way back into a safe position though.

Holgersson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Holgersson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hogan controls the pace.
Holgersson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hogan tries to stand but Holgersson is controlling from the bottom.
Holgersson controls Hogan momentarily but Hogan frees himself.

Holgersson has his foot on Hogan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hogan works his way back into a safe position though.

Hogan stands up from Holgersson's guard - Hogan perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holgersson throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Hogan to counter with a crisp jab.
Holgersson goes for a double leg but Hogan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hogan continues to drive forward.
Holgersson staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Hogan dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hogan misses with an uppercut.
Holgersson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hogan's head.
Hogan lands a nice shot that snaps Holgersson's head back.
Hogan misses with a low kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Holgersson.
Hogan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Holgersson attempts a counter takedown but Hogan avoids it well and moves away.
Holgersson shoots in for a double leg but Hogan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hogan connects with a solid leg kick.
Holgersson throws a wild body kick that Hogan sees coming a mile off.
Holgersson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hogan's waist but Hogan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Holgersson off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nils Holgersson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson misses with a low kick.
Hogan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Holgersson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A head kick misses from Holgersson.
Holgersson ducks under a wild hook from Hogan.
Hogan blocks a head kick by Holgersson.
Holgersson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Holgersson throws a jab when Hogan was well out of range.
Hogan cracks the inside of Holgersson's front leg.
A lazy body kick from Holgersson
and Hogan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hogan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson misses with a head kick.
As Holgersson backs off Hogan throws a huge counter combo but Holgersson manages to avoid it all.
Hogan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Holgersson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Holgersson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Holgersson tries to move into range but Hogan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hogan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Holgersson under the eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hogan moves out of range as Holgersson throws a body kick.
Hogan unleashes a big counter combination but Holgersson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A head kick misses from Holgersson.
Hogan let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Holgersson needs to keep his hands up - Hogan had a free shot at his head there.
No luck for Holgersson with that takedown attempt.
Hogan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Holgersson.
Ben Hogan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson moves away from the strike by Hogan.
Holgersson shoots for a double leg takedown but Hogan sprawls well. He's pushed Holgersson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hogan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Holgersson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hogan but Hogan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hogan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Holgersson ducks under a wild hook from Hogan.
Hogan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hogan misses with a looping right.
Holgersson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hogan sprawls and moves away.

Holgersson closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hogan tries to throw a body punch but Holgersson avoids it by throwing Hogan back against the cage.
Hogan lands a nice uppercut.
Holgersson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hogan blocks it with crossed arms.
Holgersson looking for a takedown.
Holgersson leaning against his opponent.
Hogan lands with a short shot to the head.
Hogan misses with an elbow over the top.
Hogan lands an elbow that stopped Holgersson in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Nils Holgersson has been cut.
Hogan lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hogan pushes Holgersson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Holgersson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hogan smiles and moves away.
Hogan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Holgersson.
Holgersson throws out a leg kick but Hogan moves out of range and Holgersson only half commits.
Holgersson slips a straight right by Hogan.
Hogan throws a leg kick which misses Holgersson's front leg but catches the back leg as Holgersson tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Hogan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nils Holgersson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Holgersson has a takedown stuffed.
Ben Hogan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hogan misses with an uppercut.
Hogan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Holgersson darts in looking for a takedown but Hogan gets double underhooks and turns Holgersson into the cage.
Hogan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Holgersson shoots in but Hogan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nils Holgersson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holgersson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hogan sprawls well. Hogan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Holgersson gets slowly back to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Holgersson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan is looking to slow Holgersson down with leg kicks.
Hogan throws out a powerful jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hogan, right into the meat.
Nice defenses there by Holgersson.
Holgersson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hogan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hogan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Holgersson is looking to score with low kicks.
Hogan throws out a counter right but Holgersson avoids it with no problem.
Good leg kick by Hogan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hogan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hogan misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hogan scores with a sloppy right hand. Holgersson should have avoided that one.
Holgersson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hogan.
Holgersson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hogan.
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!
Hogan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hogan misses the jab.
Hogan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Holgersson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hogan misses with a few strikes there.
Holgersson tries to counter with a takedown but Hogan is quick to defend against it.
Holgersson throws a sloppy head kick and Hogan moves out of range easily.
Holgersson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson tries for a takedown but Hogan circles away easily
and Hogan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Holgersson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Holgersson misses with the body kick
and Hogan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big right from Hogan misses.
Nils Holgersson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holgersson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hogan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hogan.
Holgersson looks for the body kick but Hogan saw that one coming.
Holgersson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Holgersson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hogan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Holgersson somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Holgersson.
Ben Hogan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holgersson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hogan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hogan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hogan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holgersson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Holgersson goes for a double leg but Hogan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hogan continues to drive forward.
Holgersson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hogan can pounce on him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Hogan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hogan 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Hogan!
Ben Hogan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Nils Holgersson was interviewed post fight and said 'Fyfan!'.