PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hagel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Kabal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Kabal has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Matt Hagel's chin.

Hagel
vs
Kabal

186 cm
25
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Bloodsport Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Hagel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steven Kabal!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hagel throws a body kick the misses
and Kabal counters with a nice uppercut.
Hagel misses with a wild body shot.
A head kick by Hagel misses

and Kabal counters with a big uppercut that knocks Hagel off his feet! Kabal dives into side control looking to finish!

Hagel is rocked!
Hagel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oh Hagel is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hagel gets back to half guard.
Hagel seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hagel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kabal blocks the strikes from Hagel.
Hagel landing strikes from the bottom.
Hagel is pressing down on Kabal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hagel is adopting a defensive guard.
Kabal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kabal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kabal trying to control the position from guard on top but Hagel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hagel throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Hagel is looking for a triangle but Kabal pushes his legs off easily.
Kabal would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Hagel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kabal defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kabal wants to get up but he can't break Hagel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kabal stopping the sweep attempt from Hagel.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hagel uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hagel misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagel misses with a takedown attempt - Kabal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hagel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hagel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hagel throws and elbow that misses. Kabal uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hagel's guard. Nice move by Kabal!
Kabal trying to control the position from guard on top but Hagel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hagel 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.
Hagel tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hagel pushes Kabal off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kabal looks gassed!
Kabal is looking to clinch.
Kabal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hagel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matt Hagel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kabal stuffs the takedown.
Hagel tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kabal counters with a series of strikes. Hagel will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kabal tries to clinch but Hagel is having none of it.
Kabal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hagel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hagel shoots for a takedown but Kabal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hagel throws a predictable looking body shot

and Kabal counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Kabal dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hagel throws a sloppy head kick and Kabal moves out of range easily.
Hagel throws a head kick that misses

and Kabal counters with a series of strikes that sends Hagel to the canvas! Kabal follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

Hagel looking for a guillotine here but Kabal defends easily.
Kabal wants to control from the top but Hagel keeps moving.
Hagel controls Kabal momentarily but Kabal frees himself.
Kabal prevents Hagel from getting back to his feet.
Hagel trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagel wants to sweep here but Kabal controlling him for the moment.
Hagel looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Hagel just wasn't active enough.
Hagel tries to clinch but Kabal moves out of range.
Kabal is looking to clinch.
Hagel throws a lazy body kick

and Kabal counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kabal.
Hagel jumps guard but Kabal stands there with Hagel around his waist. Hagel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hagel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kabal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kabal lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kabal landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Hagel has hold of one of Kabal's legs. Kabal is fighting the takedown attempt but Hagel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kabal keeping full guard, as Hagel tries to pass.
Hagel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagel works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kabal is looking to improve his position.
Hagel is looking to take a break and control but Kabal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Hagel.
Kabal looks like he's trying to stand up.

Hagel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hagel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hagel is looking to take a break and control but Kabal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hagel trying to mount his opponent but Kabal defends it.
Hagel working Kabal over with strikes.

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.
Kabal keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hagel thows a huge punch but Kabal dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Hagel.
Hagel controlling the pace.

Hagel seems to be looking for submissions.
Hagel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Hagel there.
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 Matt Hagel will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Hagel. No joy for Kabal on that attempt.
Hagel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hagel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hagel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hagel throws a combination that misses

and Kabal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kabal putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hagel in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hagel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kabal obliges.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kabal tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kabal looking to throw knees to the head but Hagel is blocking nicely.
Hagel is pressed up against the cage. Kabal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hagel down to the mat. Hagel avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hagel drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kabal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kabal can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hagel controls the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hagel working some strikes from top position.
Hagel tries to free his leg and advance position but Kabal is retaining full guard.
Hagel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Kabal wants to control the position but Hagel says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hagel winds up and cracks Kabal with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hagel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Hagel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hagel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hagel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hagel stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabal is not content to let Hagel control the position.
Hagel is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hagel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hagel slips a nice elbow through Kabal's hands, connecting with Kabal's forehead.
Kabal is trying to stand up here but Hagel is controlling him well.
Hagel is looking to take a break and control but Kabal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Hagel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hagel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hagel trying to control from half guard but Kabal is working away.
Hagel is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kabal!
Hagel working the ground and pound effectively.
Hagel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kabal hang on?

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hagel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hagel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Matt Hagel!