PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ariel Hodge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxxximus Ryhmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maxxximus Ryhmes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hodge
vs
Ryhmes

200 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ariel Hodge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maxxximus Ryhmes!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hodge misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ryhmes throws a body kick that misses.
Hodge misses with a takedown

and Ryhmes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Hodge looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hodge looking to control.
Ryhmes looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ryhmes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryhmes trying to control but Hodge is working from the bottom.

Hodge has an active guard here but Ryhmes has managed to pass into half guard.
Hodge wants to improve his position but Ryhmes is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodge is trying to escape back to his feet but Ryhmes uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Hodge tries to buck Ryhmes off but Ryhmes is having none of it.
Hodge wants to control but Ryhmes postures up.
Ryhmes gets to mount! Hodge was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ryhmes is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hodge to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hodge shrugs it off.
Hodge swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodge tries to lock up and control but Ryhmes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hodge tries to buck Ryhmes off but he can't manage it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryhmes wants to control the pace but Hodge is squirming around nicely.
Ryhmes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hodge haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ryhmes looks winded!
Hodge is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Ryhmes controlling the pace for now.
Ryhmes wants to control the pace but Hodge is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryhmes with good strikes from the mount here!
Hodge tries to reverse the position but Ryhmes maintains control.
Hodge trying to punch from the bottom. They're landing but they're really not going to hurt Ryhmes.
Ryhmes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ryhmes lands with some strikes.
Hodge is trying to stand up.
Ryhmes prevents Hodge from getting the reversal.
Hodge swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hodge throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Ryhmes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Ryhmes is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hodge is surviving well by controlling Ryhmes's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hodge tries to lock up and control but Ryhmes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ryhmes blocks Hodge's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hodge regains half guard.

Hodge manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ryhmes keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Ryhmes wants to break free but Hodge has control.
Hodge is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ryhmes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ryhmes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hodge thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ryhmes if he has to take too many more of those.
Hodge fails with the takedown
and Ryhmes counters with a three punch combo that has Hodge backing up. Hodge nods at Ryhmes to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxxximus Ryhmes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maxxximus Ryhmes's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hodge lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hodge shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ryhmes sprawls well. Ryhmes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hodge gets slowly back to his feet.

Hodge gets tackled into the cage by Ryhmes. Ryhmes maintains the clinch.

Hodge gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ryhmes regains guard.

Ryhmes is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ryhmes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ryhmes has Hodge pressed against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hodge has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ryhmes after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryhmes fails to pull guard.
Ryhmes is breathing heavily.
Ryhmes is pressed up against the cage. Hodge has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ryhmes down to the mat. Ryhmes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hodge stuffs the takedown attempt from Ryhmes. Ryhmes gets slowly back to his feet.

Hodge clinches up against the cage.
Ryhmes is trying to pull guard but Hodge turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Hodge breaks from the clinch.
Ryhmes fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodge lands a high kick!

Ryhmes rushes Hodge and presses him up against the cage.
Hodge has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ryhmes after a bit of a struggle.
Hodge drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryhmes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hodge breaks the clinch.

Ryhmes drives through with a takedown into Hodge's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Hodge pushes Ryhmes off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hodge throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ryhmes's waist but Ryhmes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hodge off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryhmes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hodge gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hodge drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ryhmes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hodge is trying to pull guard but Ryhmes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ryhmes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hodge just stands there and leans against the cage.

Ryhmes breaks from the clinch.
Hodge shoots in looking for a takedown. Ryhmes tries to sprawl out of it but Hodge keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ryhmes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ryhmes as he jumps to the side.

Ryhmes drives through with a takedown into Hodge's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Hodge kicks Ryhmes off and gets to his feet.
Hodge shoots in for a takedown but Ryhmes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maxxximus Ryhmes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hodge displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ryhmes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hodge.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Hodge dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Maxxximus Ryhmes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hodge has managed to clinch.
Hodge is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stalling in the clinch from Hodge.

Ryhmes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hodge throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ariel Hodge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ryhmes clinches.

Ryhmes manages to break the clinch.
Ryhmes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hodge pushes Ryhmes up against the cage in a clinch.
Ryhmes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ryhmes prevents the takedown attempt.
Hodge is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ryhmes is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodge is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hodge breaks the clinch.

Ryhmes has managed to clinch.
Hodge wants a takedown but no success here.
Ryhmes wants to break free but Hodge has control.
Ryhmes tries to pull guard but Hodge forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ryhmes tries to pull guard but Hodge holds him up against the cage and eventually Ryhmes drops back down to his feet.
Ryhmes jumps guard but Hodge stands there with Ryhmes around his waist. Ryhmes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hodge is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ryhmes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hodge jumps guard.
Ryhmes trying to control the position from guard on top but Hodge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hodge is looking to stand up but Ryhmes isn't so interested in that idea.
Hodge utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hodge looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hodge not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hodge trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hodge is looking for a triangle but Ryhmes pushes his legs off easily.
Ryhmes trying to control the position from guard on top but Hodge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hodge lands with a thumping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Ryhmes.
Ariel Hodge is winning the standup battle so far.
Hodge lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ryhmes takes a step back to recover.

Hodge closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Ryhmes manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Hodge finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
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!
Ryhmes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hodge counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ryhmes misses with a two punch combination.
Ryhmes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hodge but Hodge pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hodge gets the takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ariel Hodge.
I think Hodge has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ariel Hodge!