PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tim Horton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hagel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Horton
vs
Hagel

185 cm
28
195 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

186 cm
25
197 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tim Horton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Hagel!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hagel closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Horton's guard.
Hagel sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Horton's guard.
Hagel is taking a breather. Horton says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Horton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hagel works his way into full mount!
Hagel landing shots from mount.

Hagel moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Horton has worked his arm free - good work by Horton!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hagel taking a break here but Horton is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hagel tries to pass the half guard into mount. Horton knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hagel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Horton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hagel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Horton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hagel stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Horton gets a clinch.

Horton has Hagel pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Horton pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hagel tumbling to the mat - Horton dives into Hagel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton trying to control the position from guard on top but Hagel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hagel's head.
Horton cracks Hagel with a solid left hand.
Horton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hagel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hagel wants to stand up but Horton is controlling him.
Horton trying to control but Hagel is working from the bottom.
Hagel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Horton wants to control from the top but Hagel keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hagel is on top in guard.
Hagel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagel trying to control the position from guard on top but Horton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hagel wants to stand and escape but instead Horton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hagel keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.
Horton lands a couple of elbows.
Horton throws a big right hand that misses.
Horton works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hagel tries to roll over but Horton keeps him under control.
Horton misses with a head shot. Hagel uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hagel wants to stand but Horton is controlling the position.
Hagel looks gassed!
Horton trying to control but Hagel is working from the bottom.
Hagel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hagel trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Hagel will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horton moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Horton scores with a jab. Hagel acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hagel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Horton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Horton connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hagel's hands.
Hagel thows a leg kick but Horton checks it

and Horton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Horton tries a knee to the head but Hagel blocks it.

Horton lands a takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Horton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hagel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Horton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Horton postures up in Hagel's guard and throws a big left but Hagel blocks it.
Horton thows a big elbow that misses.
Horton wants to control from the top but Hagel keeps moving.
Horton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hagel managing to control the position.
Hagel keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton postures up in Hagel's guard and throws a big left but Hagel blocks it.
Horton wants to pass the guard but Hagel is keeping the position.
Horton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hagel striking off his back but it's not causing Horton any problems.
Hagel working a defensive guard here.
Hagel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hagel is breathing heavily.
Horton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hagel is keeping the position for now.
Horton pushes down on Hagel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Horton is trying to control. Hagel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hagel keeping hold of Horton's head, controlling as best he can.
Horton blocks the strikes from Hagel.
Hagel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Horton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Horton's back!
Hagel connects with a big shot to the side of Horton's head.
Hagel is trying to stick to Horton's back but Horton is turning into Hagel. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hagel's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Horton.
Horton slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Hagel.
Hagel is looking to improve his position.
Tim Horton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hagel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Horton.
Horton lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Horton connects with a nice short shot to Hagel's temple.
Horton trying to control the action but Hagel is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hagel wants to improve his position but Horton is controlling well.
Hagel gets full guard.
Hagel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Horton manages to get himself to full guard.

Horton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hagel defends it easily.
Horton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hagel throws and elbow that misses. Horton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hagel's guard. Nice move by Horton!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Horton advances position into side control!
Hagel manages to work his way to half guard, despite Horton's best efforts.
Horton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hagel is trying to get back to full guard.
Hagel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Horton 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.
Horton wants to take a breather but Hagel is having none of it.
Hagel wants to control but Horton is keeping busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horton scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hagel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hagel flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Horton dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hagel takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Good shot there by Horton.
Horton blocks a leg kick.
Hagel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hagel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horton throws a right hand that Hagel ducks under and follows up with a left that Hagel also avoids with ease.
Hagel tries for a takedown but Horton circles away easily

and Horton counters with a single leg into guard. Hagel didn't expect that.
Hagel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Horton passes Hagel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Horton scoring with strikes to the body and head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in half guard, Horton seems content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Horton passes to full mount!
Horton landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton unloading with bombs!
Horton pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Horton connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hagel can't escape the position.
Horton raining down hammerfists from mount.
Horton with the ground and pound from mount.
Horton looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Horton with the ground and pound from mount.
Horton with a couple of short strikes.
Hagel tries to lock up and control but Horton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Horton connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Horton looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Horton dominating with strikes here.
Horton is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hagel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hagel is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagel throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hagel is in a horrible position here. Horton smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hagel tries to lock up and control but Horton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hagel is looking to improve his position but Horton isn't that keen on the idea.
Horton working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hagel is desperately trying to improve his position but Horton has a good base and remains in mount.
Horton looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hagel is trying to escape the mount.
Horton working the ground and pound effectively.
Hagel is trying to escape the mount.
Hagel is in a horrible position here. Horton smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton cracks Hagel with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Horton working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Horton lands with some strikes.
Hagel tries to hold on but Horton postures up.
Horton lands with some strikes.
Hagel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Horton cracks Hagel with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Horton with shots to the head and body - Hagel looks very uncomfortable down there.
Horton is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hagel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Horton breaks from Hagel's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Horton.
Horton is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hagel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Horton avoids the attempt from Hagel to control.
Horton with shots to the head and body - Hagel looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hagel tries to lock up and control but Horton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Horton scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hagel?
Hagel is trying to escape the mount.
Horton postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hagel looks a forlorn figure.
Horton working Hagel over with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagel is wriggling around trying to escape.
Horton landing strikes from the mount.
Horton cracks Hagel with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Horton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Horton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Horton!