PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brendon Connen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marvin Hagler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Connen
vs
Hagler

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

♦Xplode Nutrition♦

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brendon Connen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marvin Hagler!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hagler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Connen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hagler fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hagler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

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

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

Hagler wants to work for an arm triangle but Connen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hagler is thwarting Connen's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Connen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Connen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Connen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hagler on the ground.
Connen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hagler stops Connen from getting back to his feet.

Hagler is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Connen is just riding it out for now. Hagler eventually gives up the hold.

That's two 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.
Connen tries to roll over but Hagler keeps him under control.

Hagler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hagler looks gassed!
Hagler wants to stand but Connen has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Connen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Connen tries to get out of the position.
Connen tries to get to full guard but Hagler has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connen controlling the position for now.
Connen wants to improve his position but Hagler is controlling well.
Connen trying to control but Hagler postures up.
Connen wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Connen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hagler swivels and escapes.
Connen misses with a takedown attempt - Hagler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hagler wants to break free but Connen has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hagler is pressed up against the cage. Connen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hagler down to the mat. Hagler 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 Brendon Connen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hagler fails with a takedown attempt.
Connen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hagler tries to clinch up

and Connen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Connen tries to score a body lock takedown but Hagler shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hagler can't get the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Connen stops a takedown attempt from Hagler.
Hagler tries to land knees in the clinch but Connen avoids the damage to the body.
Hagler wants to stall.
Connen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marvin Hagler dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Connen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Connen wants a takedown.
Hagler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Connen's efforts to push away.
Connen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hagler is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hagler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hagler works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Connen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hagler taking a breather.
Connen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hagler gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendon Connen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Connen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Connen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hagler walks away with a smile on his face. Connen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Hagler. No joy for Connen on that attempt.
Hagler clinches but Connen breaks the clinch

and Connen moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hagler pulls guard successfully.
Hagler being controlled here, momentarily.
Connen tries to free his leg and advance position but Hagler is retaining full guard.
Connen is working hard here to advance position.
Connen throwing strikes from guard but Hagler blocks nicely.
Connen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hagler looking for a sweep. Not yet Hagler, not yet.
Hagler is looking to stand up but Connen isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Connen preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Connen shoots in for a takedown but Hagler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Hagler as Connen shoots in.
Hagler feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Connen's calf.
Hagler shoots in for a double leg but Connen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hagler goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hagler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Connen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Connen moves into the clinch.
Connen fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connen tries for a takedown but Hagler manages to get underhooks.
Hagler tries to stall but Connen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hagler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Connen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Connen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hagler prevents it.
Hagler is trying to break the clinch but Connen has him pressed against the cage.

Hagler jumps guard and drags Connen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Connen trying to control but Hagler is working from the bottom.
Connen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hagler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hagler is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Connen is trying to maintain the position but Hagler is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hagler is looking for a kimura here.
Connen trying to control from the bottom.
Connen tries to get to full guard but Hagler has control of the leg.

Hagler seems to be working for a kimura but Connen defends the submission attempt.

Connen is defending against the submission attempts here by Hagler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marvin Hagler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Hagler stuffs the takedown attempt from Connen. Connen gets slowly back to his feet.
Connen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hagler is out of range and Connen settles back down.
Hagler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Connen misses with a looping right.
Hagler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Connen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hagler avoids it really well and circles away.
Connen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hagler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagler throws a head kick but Connen moves out of range.

Connen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Connen is trying to break the clinch but Hagler is controlling him.
Connen is trying to force a seperation but Hagler has the dominant position.
Connen tries to pull guard but Hagler holds him up against the cage and eventually Connen drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendon Connen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hagler is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Connen is keeping busy.
Hagler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Connen.
Connen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hagler tries to pull guard but Connen won't allow it.
Connen tries to pull guard but Hagler holds him up against the cage and eventually Connen drops back down to his feet.
Hagler tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hagler tries to pull guard but Connen won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagler lands with a left to the head.
Connen gets underhooks to prevent Hagler's takedown attempt.
Connen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hagler has him pressed against the cage.

Connen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hagler is fighting to break Connen's control of his arms but Connen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hagler trying to stand up but can't free himself from Connen's guard.
Connen managing to control the position.
Connen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Connen wants to stand but Hagler is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hagler drops back looking for a leg! Connen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Connen manages to kick Hagler off! Hagler jumps back into Connen's guard.
Connen wants to stand and escape but Hagler is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hagler tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Connen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Connen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hagler's brow.
Connen tries for a takedown but Hagler manages to get underhooks.
Connen looking to throw knees to the head but Hagler is blocking nicely.

Connen drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hagler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hagler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hagler passes into half guard.
Connen is looking to improve his position.
Hagler is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Hagler is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hagler is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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 Brendon Connen.
I think Hagler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marvin Hagler!