PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hagel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lelouch Laperouge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Hagel could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lelouch Laperouge's chin.

Hagel
vs
Laperouge

186 cm
25
197 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
19
193 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Hagel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lelouch Laperouge!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hagel walks into a straight right hand from Laperouge.

Laperouge drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Laperouge passes into half guard.
Laperouge thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Laperouge missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Laperouge thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Laperouge is working for a kimura but Hagel is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Laperouge decides to stand up.
Laperouge misses with a series of wild punches.
Hagel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laperouge as he avoids it easily.

Hagel gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hagel keeping moving, preventing Laperouge from controlling successfully.
Laperouge in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagel is looking to sweep but instead, Laperouge has passed into half guard.
Laperouge is looking to advance position but Hagel won't allow it.
Hagel tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Laperouge has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Laperouge is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hagel is surviving well by controlling Laperouge's body position as best he can.
Hagel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hagel tries to get out of the position.
Laperouge unloading with bombs!
Hagel is squirming around, avoiding Laperouge's attempts to control the action.
Hagel regains half guard.
Laperouge tries to pass to full mount but Hagel defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Laperouge.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hagel is trying to get back to full guard.
Laperouge tries to pass to full mount but Hagel defends it.
Hagel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Laperouge.
Laperouge is trying to control the action in half guard but Hagel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hagel wants to control but Laperouge is keeping busy.

Laperouge 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.
Laperouge wants to pass to mount but Hagel is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laperouge trying to control the action but Hagel is working from the bottom.
Hagel tries to roll over but Laperouge keeps him under control.
Hagel gets full guard.
Hagel controls Laperouge momentarily but Laperouge frees himself.
Hagel keeping full guard, as Laperouge tries to pass.
Hagel looking for a sweep. Not yet Hagel, not yet.
Laperouge wants to control from the top but Hagel keeps moving.

Laperouge drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Laperouge jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hagel trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hagel keeping moving, preventing Laperouge from controlling successfully.
Hagel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Laperouge controls the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hagel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Laperouge manages to get himself to full guard.
Laperouge working a defensive guard here.

Laperouge looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Laperouge looks gassed!
Hagel throwing strikes from guard but Laperouge blocks nicely.
Hagel lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lelouch Laperouge dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Laperouge shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hagel counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Laperouge's guard now.
Hagel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laperouge swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Laperouge looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hagel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Laperouge has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Laperouge is trying to control the position but Hagel postures up.
Lelouch Laperouge has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laperouge controlling Hagel's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laperouge misses with a takedown attempt

and Hagel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Laperouge's guard.
Laperouge is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laperouge trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagel passes Laperouge's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Laperouge wants to get back to his feet.
Laperouge is refusing to be controlled, as Hagel sits in half guard.
Laperouge on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Well, if Hagel is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Laperouge is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hagel thows a huge punch but Laperouge dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Laperouge blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hagel.

Hagel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Laperouge has managed to free his arm - good work.
Laperouge is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Laperouge trying to control but Hagel postures up.
Hagel stalling away here and it's allowed Laperouge to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagel throwing strikes but missing.
Hagel trying to control the position from guard on top but Laperouge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Laperouge is on top in guard.
Hagel keeping full guard, as Laperouge tries to pass.
Hagel controls Laperouge momentarily but Laperouge frees himself.

Hagel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.

Laperouge gets to his feet - Hagel follows without any prompting.

Laperouge shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Laperouge trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Laperouge has control of Hagel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hagel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Laperouge is looking to work his way around to Hagel's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Hagel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Laperouge working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hagel.
Laperouge working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hagel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Laperouge throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hagel.
Nice takedown defense from Hagel. No joy for Laperouge on that attempt.
Laperouge misses with a double jab.
Laperouge fails with the takedown

and Hagel counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Laperouge!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hagel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Laperouge working to try and regain half guard.
Hagel working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hagel breaks from Laperouge's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laperouge is in a horrible position here. Hagel smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Laperouge is desperately trying to improve his position but Hagel has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagel tries to control but Laperouge wriggling away.
Laperouge squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hagel is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Laperouge to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Laperouge shrugs it off.
Hagel raining down shots from the mount!
Hagel misses with a head shot.
Laperouge is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hagel is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hagel moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Laperouge has worked his arm free - good work by Laperouge!
Laperouge wants to control but Hagel postures up.
Laperouge takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hagel misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Laperouge is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Laperouge being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagel throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hagel tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Laperouge tries to bench press Hagel off him but Hagel keeps the position.
Hagel creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Laperouge sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hagel lands a few punches from side control.
Hagel misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Hagel postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hagel is putting a hurting on Laperouge here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hagel in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Hagel goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Laperouge has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hagel but great work by Laperouge.
Laperouge passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hagel!
Hagel is controlling an arm, preventing Laperouge from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Laperouge looking to finish Hagel with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hagel!

Laperouge looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Hagel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Laperouge seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hagel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hagel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Laperouge is working away from the top position though.
Hagel is looking to improve his position.

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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28

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