PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Hatton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Balabaster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hatton
vs
Balabaster

190 cm
25
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
26
225 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Hatton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hugo Balabaster!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hatton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Balabaster advances to half guard.
Balabaster is pressing down on Hatton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hatton is holding on for now.
Hatton wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Balabaster.
Balabaster wants to take a breather but Hatton is having none of it.
Balabaster is nestled in close to Hatton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hatton is trying to stand.

Balabaster is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hatton wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Balabaster 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.

Balabaster stands up out of the half guard.
Hatton moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hatton cracks Balabaster with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Balabaster lands with a slapping head kick.
Nice uppercut there from Hatton.

Balabaster drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Balabaster stands and steps away. Hatton gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Balabaster looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hatton is fending him off so far but Balabaster persists. Nope, Hatton circles away and we're back to standing.
Balabaster looks gassed!

Balabaster gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Balabaster.

It looks like John Hatton has been cut.

Balabaster gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hatton regains guard.
Hatton wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Balabaster manages to pass to side control.
Hatton wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Balabaster scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Balabaster thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Balabaster is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Balabaster lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hatton is looking to escape.
Balabaster lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balabaster lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hatton is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hatton has hold of Balabaster's hands but Balabaster slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hatton is not content to let Balabaster control the position.

Balabaster is trying to work for a kimura but Hatton is defending well.
Hatton tries to kick Balabaster off but Balabaster keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Balabaster is trying to control. Hatton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Hatton is defending against the submission attempts here by Balabaster.
Nice strikes from Balabaster there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatton looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hatton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Balabaster scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hatton looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hatton taking some punishment here, with Balabaster in his half guard.
Balabaster thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hatton's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Balabaster lands a nice short elbow.
Balabaster really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hatton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balabaster trying to pass the guard but Hatton defending well.
Balabaster seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Balabaster dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Hatton's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hatton listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hatton misses with the combination.

Balabaster fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hatton to the ground. Balabaster is now in Hatton's guard.
Hugo Balabaster has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hatton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Balabaster is controlling him.
Balabaster missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Balabaster works over Hatton with some ground and pound from guard.
Balabaster wants to pass the guard but Hatton is keeping the position.
Hatton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Balabaster with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Balabaster postures up and lands a big shot to Hatton's brow.
Balabaster throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hatton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balabaster throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balabaster stands up over Hatton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hatton keeping moving, preventing Balabaster from controlling successfully.
Hatton wants to stand but Balabaster is controlling the position.
Balabaster working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Balabaster trying to control but Hatton is working from the bottom.
Hatton wants to stand and escape but Balabaster is having none of it.
Balabaster wants to pass the guard but Hatton is keeping the position.
Balabaster throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hatton wants to stand and escape but Balabaster is having none of it.
Hatton wants to get back to his feet but Balabaster passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatton has hold of Balabaster's hands but Balabaster slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Balabaster takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hatton is not content to let Balabaster control the position.
Balabaster stalling away here and it's allowed Hatton to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balabaster keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hatton's head.
Balabaster controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Balabaster gets to his feet - Hatton follows without any prompting.
Balabaster swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balabaster fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hatton avoids it really well and circles away.
Hatton bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balabaster shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hatton as he jumps to the side.
Hatton fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Balabaster on the side of the head.
Balabaster takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hatton lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hatton lands with a nice combination. Balabaster backs away looking to recover.
Hatton leaves Balabaster with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
John Hatton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Balabaster.
Hatton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Balabaster tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Good exchange - Hatton coming out on top.
John Hatton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hatton lands a jab to Balabaster's midsection.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hatton enables Balabaster to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hatton manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balabaster trying to control the position from guard on top but Hatton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Balabaster gets to his feet - Hatton follows without any prompting.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hatton lands the left hand.

Balabaster drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Balabaster wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hatton keeps working.
Hatton is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balabaster scores with a couple of short elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Balabaster showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Hatton's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hatton throws a poor cross that misses

and Balabaster counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hatton's guard now.
Hatton wants to stand but Balabaster is controlling the position.
Balabaster pushes down on Hatton's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hatton is staying active underneath Balabaster, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Balabaster looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hatton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Balabaster looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hatton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hatton is looking to escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ground and pound from Balabaster.
Balabaster is trying to control. Hatton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hatton looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balabaster looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hatton has hold of Balabaster's hands but Balabaster slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Balabaster controlling the action here.
Hatton pushes Balabaster off looking to stand but Balabaster dives back in and keeps control.
Balabaster lands with a punch from half guard.
Hatton is not content to let Balabaster control the position.
Balabaster landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Balabaster stops Hatton from getting back to his feet.
Hatton scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Balabaster manages to mount him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balabaster content just to control the position here.
Balabaster fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Balabaster lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Balabaster in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hatton is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Balabaster controlling from mount.
Hatton is in a horrible position here. Balabaster smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Balabaster controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hatton is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Balabaster has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hatton's face.

Hatton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Balabaster.
Hatton is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Balabaster is landing with some decent strikes but Hatton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hatton is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Balabaster controlling the position easily from mount.
Balabaster with shots to the head and body - Hatton looks very uncomfortable down there.
Balabaster landing strikes from the mount.
Hatton is trying to stand up.
Hatton is bucking up trying to escape but Balabaster cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Balabaster raining down hammerfists from mount.
Balabaster lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hatton hang on?
Balabaster has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Balabaster raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balabaster scores with a couple of good head shots there.
John Hatton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hugo Balabaster is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Balabaster controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Balabaster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Balabaster 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Balabaster!