PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Adolph Hodge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hodge
vs
Sanders

154 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adolph Hodge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Barry Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Sanders prevents a takedown attempt there.

Sanders manages to break the clinch.
Sanders goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hodge throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hodge takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Sanders bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hodge really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hodge is trying to control Sanders's posture but Sanders avoids it.
Hodge is looking for a sweep.
Sloppy strikes there by Sanders.
Hodge struggling a bit here.
Hodge sneaks back into half guard.
Hodge really is a fat lump.
Hodge holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodge wants to get back to his feet.
Hodge trying to control from the bottom.
Hodge tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hodge trying to control from the bottom.
Sanders controlling the action here.
Sanders prevents Hodge from improving his position.
Sanders scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hodge punching from the bottom.
Hodge tries to get to full guard but Sanders has control of the leg.
Hodge trying to control from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Sanders there.
Sanders is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Hodge kicks Sanders off and gets back to his feet.

Sanders dives in and scores a takedown into Hodge's guard.
Hodge is breathing heavily.
Hodge has control of Sanders's left arm, preventing Sanders from doing any damage.
Hodge is trying to control the position but Sanders postures up.
Sanders is stalling in the full guard.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Hodge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodge bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanders's guard.

Hodge missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hodge accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hodge gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hodge shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanders manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hodge's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sanders lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hodge tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanders scores with a three punch combo!
Sloppy strikes from Sanders. Those never looked like landing.
Hodge is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hodge shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanders pinned against the cage. Sanders gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adolph Hodge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanders connects with a solid leg kick.
Sanders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanders just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHodge.
Sanders scores with a jab to the body.
Hodge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanders tries to avoid it but Hodge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanders to the ground. Sanders escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Sanders dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hodge shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanders tries to sprawl out of it but Hodge keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanders manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanders throws a right hand that Hodge ducks under and follows up with a left that Hodge also avoids with ease.
It looked like Hodge was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sanders.
Hodge tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sanders defends well and Hodge ends up having to push Sanders into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barry Sanders seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Hodge goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanders prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adolph Hodge. 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.
Hodge is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanders gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hodge is looking for a takedown.
Hodge is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sanders is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hodge fails to land the takedown.
Sanders tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hodge defends well and Sanders ends up having to push Hodge into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Sanders decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanders slips a nice elbow through Hodge's hands, connecting with Hodge's forehead.
Hodge is looking to control Sanders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hodge avoid being mounted?
Sanders is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hodge wants to control but Sanders is keeping busy.
Sanders working over Hodge with some ground and pound. Hodge looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodge is looking for a sweep. Sanders is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barry Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hodge wants to control but Sanders is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Hodge looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hodge is trying to control but can't.
Sanders lands with a punch from half guard.
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 but can't.
Sanders is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodge is looking to improve his position.
Sanders wants to pass the guard but Hodge is defending well.
Sanders scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sanders slips a nice elbow through Hodge's hands, connecting with Hodge's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanders looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hodge punching from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders stops a takedown attempt from Hodge.

Sanders's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sanders, as that shot connected.
Hodge looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sanders!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hodge shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanders defends it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Sanders's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Sanders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hodge tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sanders lands with a nice combination. Hodge backs away looking to recover.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sanders.

Sanders fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hodge to the ground. Sanders is now in Hodge's guard.
Hodge managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hodge is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hodge working a defensive guard here.
Sanders has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders pushing down on Hodge's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanders tries to pass to full mount but Hodge defends it.
Hodge is looking to control Sanders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hodge avoid being mounted?

Sanders wants to work for an arm triangle but Hodge is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hodge missing with punches from the bottom.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hodge is looking to control Sanders's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hodge avoid being mounted?

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.
Hodge is trying to get back to full guard.
Hodge trying to hold on to Sanders's head to control him but Sanders postures up.
Hodge works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanders postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sanders wants to pass the guard but Hodge is keeping the position.
Hodge is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sanders is trying to stand up here but Hodge is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Sanders is trying to stand back up but Hodge is controlling him
Hodge throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hodge throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hodge connects with a nice short shot to Sanders's temple.
Hodge throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hodge working the head and body with strikes.
Hodge has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sanders has hold of Hodge's hands but Hodge slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hodge not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hodge takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hodge is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sanders sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Sanders drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hodge controlling Sanders's posture.
Sanders works over Hodge with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanders is looking to stand up but Hodge won't let him.

Sanders drops back looking for a leg! Hodge is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hodge manages to kick Sanders off! Sanders jumps back into Hodge's guard.
Adolph Hodge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barry Sanders is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Hodge working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanders has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Sanders!