PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Stephenson II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Hazlehurst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hazlehurst comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Queen - The Show Must Go On kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Stephenson II
vs
Hazlehurst

177 cm
22
172 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Stephenson II!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Hazlehurst!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stephenson II scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hazlehurst is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stephenson II off and has taken his back!
Stephenson II covering up well and avoiding damage.
Even with his hooks in, Hazlehurst manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Stephenson II avoids the strikes from Hazlehurst.
Stephenson II trying to control but not successfully.

Hazlehurst is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazlehurst is striking from the back but Stephenson II escapes and manages to recover to half guard.

Hazlehurst is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stephenson II defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hazlehurst working the head and body with strikes.
Hazlehurst misses with a head shot. Stephenson II uses the momentum to regain guard.
Stephenson II is controlling Hazlehurst's posture.
Hazlehurst throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hazlehurst chips away with some ground and pound.
Hazlehurst stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stephenson II swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hazlehurst is looking to work some ground and pound but Stephenson II has wrist control.
Stephenson II tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hazlehurst accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hazlehurst throws and elbow that misses. Stephenson II uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hazlehurst's guard. Nice move by Stephenson II!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hazlehurst wants to sweep here but Stephenson II controlling him for the moment.
Hazlehurst lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stephenson II!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephenson II manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Hazlehurst will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stephenson II shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stephenson II showed some decent athleticism there.

Hazlehurst is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stephenson II pulls his head out easily.
Hazlehurst is not content to let Stephenson II control the position.
Hazlehurst wants to sweep but Stephenson II has passed to side control!
Hazlehurst is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazlehurst is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hazlehurst is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stephenson II is controlling him well.
Hazlehurst is breathing heavily.
Hazlehurst tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stephenson II wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hazlehurst keeps working.
Stephenson II is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hazlehurst's shoulder. That is not cool.
Hazlehurst is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson II trying to control the action but Hazlehurst is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hazlehurst tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stephenson II wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hazlehurst keeps working.
Hazlehurst tries to buck Stephenson II off but Stephenson II is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Stephenson II dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stephenson II throws a sloppy head kick and Hazlehurst moves out of range easily.
Hazlehurst circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hazlehurst counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab from Stephenson II does it's job there.

It looks like Dan Hazlehurst has been cut.
Stephenson II throws a lazy head kick
and Hazlehurst counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stephenson II misses with a left hand
letting Hazlehurst counter with a right hand.
Stephenson II throws a sloppy head kick
and Stephenson II takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stephenson II throws a sloppy head kick
and Hazlehurst cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A head kick by Stephenson II misses
and Hazlehurst counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick by Stephenson II misses
and Hazlehurst counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hazlehurst shoots in and gets a takedown into Stephenson II's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hazlehurst postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hazlehurst drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stephenson II manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hazlehurst has Stephenson II in his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hazlehurst is on top in guard.
Hazlehurst loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst throwing strikes but missing.
Stephenson II utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hazlehurst thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hazlehurst in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hazlehurst throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hazlehurst thows a big elbow that misses.
Hazlehurst postures up.
Hazlehurst throwing strikes but missing.
Hazlehurst loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hazlehurst throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hazlehurst working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Stephenson II preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stephenson II looking for a sweep. Not yet Stephenson II, not yet.
Hazlehurst working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hazlehurst chips away with some ground and pound.

Hazlehurst drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stephenson II manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hazlehurst has Stephenson II in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Hazlehurst comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hazlehurst 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Hazlehurst!