PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Blake Leopoldo (ranked 2998 p4p, 3828 weight class) and Tyrrell Hatton (ranked 416 p4p, 494 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Leopoldo
vs
Hatton

185 cm
25
180
5 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
170
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Leopoldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tyrrell Hatton!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatton throws a lazy head kick

and Leopoldo counters with a shoot takedown. Hatton fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Leopoldo stops Hatton from standing up.

Hatton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leopoldo 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatton is looking to stand up but Leopoldo isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatton keeping full guard, as Leopoldo tries to pass.
Leopoldo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A head kick misses from Hatton.
Hatton lands a head kick. Leopoldo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hatton throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Leopoldo.
Hatton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leopoldo.
Hatton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hatton throws a jab when Leopoldo was well out of range.
Hatton throws a sloppy head kick

and Leopoldo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hatton's guard.
Leopoldo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leopoldo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hatton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hatton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Leopoldo stays in close to Hatton's body and controls the position.
Leopoldo forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Leopoldo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hatton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leopoldo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hatton can do anything to dispel that myth.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Leopoldo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hatton sees it coming and defends easily.

Leopoldo 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.
Leopoldo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hatton does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Leopoldo is looking to advance position but Hatton won't allow it.
Leopoldo controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hatton is defending against the submission attempts here by Leopoldo.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Leopoldo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hatton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Leopoldo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Leopoldo walks into a jab.
Hatton has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Leopoldo is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Hatton stuffs the takedown attempt from Leopoldo. Leopoldo gets slowly back to his feet.
Hatton is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hatton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leopoldo manages to avoid it.
Leopoldo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Leopoldo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Leopoldo trying to control the action but Hatton is working from the bottom.
Hatton tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Hatton is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leopoldo controlling from the full mount.

Hatton somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Hatton throws a head kick but Leopoldo moves out of range.
Leopoldo tries to counter with a takedown but Hatton is quick to defend against it.
Hatton lands a head kick!
Hatton lands with a kick to the temple. Leopoldo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Leopoldo clinches up with Hatton and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leopoldo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Leopoldo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Leopoldo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leopoldo is pushing down on Hatton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hatton is fighting to maintain full guard but Leopoldo has managed to sneak the leg through.

Leopoldo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hatton sees it coming and defends easily.
Hatton is trying to stand back up but Leopoldo is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leopoldo is keen to just control but Hatton is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leopoldo prevents Hatton from standing back up.

Leopoldo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hatton has managed to free his arm - good work.
Leopoldo prevents Hatton from standing back up.
Blake Leopoldo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hatton wants to stand back up but Leopoldo manages to pass into side control.
Leopoldo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hatton is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Leopoldo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Leopoldo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hatton keeps working.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hatton throws a head kick that misses

and Leopoldo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hatton is breathing heavily.
Leopoldo being controlled here momentarily.

Leopoldo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Leopoldo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Blake Leopoldo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Leopoldo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hatton sprawls well. Hatton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Leopoldo gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Hatton.
Leopoldo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hatton defends well and Leopoldo ends up having to push Hatton into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hatton misses with a head kick.
Leopoldo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hatton as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Leopoldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hatton lands a head kick. Leopoldo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hatton throws a lazy head kick

and Leopoldo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leopoldo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hatton keeps working.
Leopoldo works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatton bucks up and tries to throw Leopoldo off but instead Leopoldo has got his back!
Hatton wants to get back to his feet.

Hatton won't enjoy being in this position. Leopoldo looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Hatton is tapping - it's over boys! Leopoldo picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Blake Leopoldo!
Blake Leopoldo decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.