PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Ba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matty Hagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ba
vs
Hagan

176 cm
18
138 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fabio Ba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matty Hagan!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hagan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ba shoots and misses
and Hagan counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hagan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ba was well out of range. Poor timing from Hagan.
Ba checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hagan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ba tries to bum rush Hagan with a series of wild strikes but Hagan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ba crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hagan - the referee stops the clock and Ba gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hagan. Ba manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hagan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ba's sensitive parts.
Ba throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hagan throws a leg kick but Ba sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Ba clinches up with Hagan and pushes him back against the cage.
Ba goes for a takedown attempt but Hagan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Ba closes the distance and pushes Hagan back into the cage.
Hagan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hagan looks gassed!
Hagan tries a knee to the head but Ba blocks it.
Hagan tries a knee to the head but Ba blocks it.
Ba tries to pull guard but Hagan holds him up against the cage and eventually Ba drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Ba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ba has had enough of the clinch but Hagan keeps him there for the moment.
Hagan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ba trying to stall but Hagan improves his position.
Hagan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ba is working for takedown but Hagan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ba wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ba is trying to break the clinch but Hagan has him pressed against the cage.
Hagan tries a knee to the head but Ba blocks it.
Hagan keeps control of Ba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hagan misses with a knee to the head.
Hagan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hagan keeps control of Ba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ba really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ba wants a takedown but no success here.
Ba presses Hagan against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ba wants to break free but Hagan has control.
Ba is looking to break free of the clinch but Hagan has double underhooks.
Ba tries to pull guard but Hagan won't allow it.
Ba tries to pull guard but Hagan holds him up against the cage and eventually Ba drops back down to his feet.
Hagan prevents Ba from breaking the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hagan keeps control of Ba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hagan as Ba tries to tie him up.
Hagan misses with a knee to the head.
Hagan misses with a knee to the head.
Hagan dodges an elbow strike from Ba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ba tries to pull guard but Hagan won't allow it.
Ba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hagan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hagan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Ba ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ba no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ba looking for a sweep. Not yet Ba, not yet.
Ba controls Hagan momentarily but Hagan frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ba is on top in guard.
Hagan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ba. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ba trying to control but Hagan is working from the bottom.
Ba controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Ba 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagan can't keep his opponent in guard - Ba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ba wants to take a breather but Hagan is having none of it.
Ba content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Ba seems to be working for a kimura but Hagan defends the submission attempt.

Ba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hagan sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ba is trying to control. Hagan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ba perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ba has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ba works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ba wants to control the pace but Hagan is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hagan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hagan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hagan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ba blocks it with crossed arms.
Ba is trying to stall.
Hagan gets underhooks to prevent Ba's takedown attempt.
Ba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Ba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ba is trying to drag Hagan to the mat but Hagan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Ba manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ba is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ba is trying to control the action in half guard but Hagan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ba seems to be looking for submissions.

Ba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hagan is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ba trying to pass the guard but Hagan defending well.
Ba trying to control from half guard but Hagan is working away.

Ba 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.
Ba controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Ba seems to be working for a kimura but Hagan defends the submission attempt.
Ba looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ba seems to be looking for submissions.

Ba in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Hagan tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Ba!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Fabio Ba!