PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dann Hackett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LeBron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LeBron James told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hackett
vs
James

180 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
27
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dann Hackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, LeBron James!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hackett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Hackett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hackett shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
James shoots in and drives through. Hackett sprawls well.
Hackett fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hackett.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dann Hackett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
Hackett swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hackett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

James shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hackett is trying to defend but James finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
James looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hackett with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hackett is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
James scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hackett regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from James.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hackett wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James being controlled here momentarily.
James distracts Hackett with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hackett wants to sweep but no luck.
Hackett controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
James throws and elbow that misses. Hackett uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in James's guard. Nice move by Hackett!
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
James thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hackett stands and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James tries to strike but it doesn't land.
James throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
James throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hackett in side control, just content to control the action for now.
James wants to get back to his feet but Hackett drags him back down.
James strikes from the bottom but Hackett takes advantage and advances to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James working to try and regain half guard.
Hackett looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James regains half guard.
Hackett takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James throws a strike from the bottom but Hackett passes into side control!
James throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron James dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hackett tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hackett to the ground. Hackett escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James fails to land the takedown.
A combination from Hackett does no damage.
Hackett shoots in but no luck this time.
Dann Hackett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
Hackett misses with a wild combination.

James pushes Hackett up against the cage in a clinch.
James is trying to break the clinch but Hackett has him pressed against the cage.
Hackett is trying to break the clinch but James has him pressed against the cage.
James goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hackett prevents it.
Dann Hackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LeBron James.
James jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hackett walks away with a smile on his face. James gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hackett misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hackett.
Hackett moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from James is defended easily by Hackett.
Hackett fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hackett tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Hackett fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hackett.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Hackett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hackett throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hackett fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.

James looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hackett working a defensive guard here.
James stays in close to Hackett's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James forces his way into half guard.
Hackett trying to control from the bottom.
Hackett on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hackett has hold of James's hands but James slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
James working Hackett over with strikes.
Hackett taking some punishment here, with James in his half guard.
James is keen to just control but Hackett is a slippery customer.
Hackett works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hackett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Hackett is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James working some strikes from top position.
Hackett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
James is working Hackett over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hackett trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.
Hackett preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hackett looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James lands a couple of elbows.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hackett is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
Hackett throws a head kick that misses.
Hackett closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Hackett looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
Hackett displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
James dives in and grabs Hackett's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hackett pushes down on James's head and hops out.
Dann Hackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LeBron James.
James takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
James blocks the body kick.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hackett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James fails with the takedown.
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hackett defends it nicely.
Hackett tries a head kick but it misses.
Hackett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
No luck for Hackett with that takedown attempt.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hackett fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but James avoids it really well and circles away.

James closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hackett's guard.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hackett has control of James's left arm, preventing James from doing any damage.
James must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
James loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
James is working Hackett over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hackett looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hackett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
LeBron James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James passes Hackett's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
James lands with a punch from half guard.
Hackett on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hackett tries to kick James off but James keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hackett is trying to maintain the position but James is very close to passing his half guard.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hackett tries to get to full guard but James has control of the leg.
James slips a nice elbow through Hackett's hands, connecting with Hackett's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hackett wants to control but James is keeping busy.
Hackett wants to get back to full guard.

Hackett looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James working Hackett over with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hackett wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.
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. James connects with a nice short shot to Hackett's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeBron James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LeBron James!