PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dillon James (ranked 6355 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hardnose Hatcher (ranked 6227 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

James
vs
Hatcher

200 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dillon James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hardnose Hatcher!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, David Schapiro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James clinches with his opponent.

Hatcher breaks the clinch.
James loads up on a big right hand but Hatcher slips the punch.
Nice takedown defense from Hatcher. No joy for James on that attempt.
James goes for a double leg but Hatcher avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hatcher continues to drive forward.
A big right from Hatcher misses.

Hatcher moves into range and clinches up with James.
James prevents the takedown attempt.

Hatcher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hatcher's waist but Hatcher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dillon James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James misses with a kick to the body.
James sets himself, and Hatcher steps forward looking for the clinch! James avoids it this time.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
James tries to clinch up.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Hatcher tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hatcher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatcher throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hatcher looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hatcher has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
James is desperately trying to improve his position but Hatcher has a good base and remains in mount.
Hatcher controlling from the full mount.
Hatcher landing strikes from the mount.
Hatcher punishing his opponent with strikes.

Hatcher jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but James manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatcher working the ground and pound from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James is trying to improve his position.
Hatcher wants to control but James is keeping him busy.
Hatcher lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear James down.
James seems a little lost for a moment, as Hatcher dominates the positioning.
Hatcher working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hatcher working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Hatcher cracks James with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hatcher in side control lands a decent elbow.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hatcher on the ground.
Hatcher working the ground and pound.
Hatcher remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hatcher lands a decent elbow from side control.
James takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hatcher lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatcher is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hatcher cracks James with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hardnose Hatcher dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

James fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from James is defended easily by Hatcher.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hatcher. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James tries to clinch but Hatcher is having none of it.
Hatcher tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
James shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hatcher sprawls well. Hatcher wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. James gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatcher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dillon James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James looks for the body kick but Hatcher saw that one coming.
And Hatcher tries to counter it with a takedown but James pushes his down on his head and steps out.
James throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hatcher looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hatcher has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James keeping moving, preventing Hatcher from controlling successfully.
Hatcher stopping the sweep attempt from James.
Hatcher postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

James working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hatcher has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in half guard, Hatcher seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatcher slips a nice elbow through James's hands, connecting with James's forehead.
Hatcher wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.
Hatcher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James taking some punishment here, with Hatcher in his half guard.
Hatcher wants to pass the guard but James is defending well.
Hatcher working James over with strikes.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Hatcher sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hatcher is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Hatcher is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. James doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hatcher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatcher is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hatcher content to control rather than advance.
Hatcher working James over with strikes.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Hatcher sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James tries to kick Hatcher off but Hatcher keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hatcher frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hatcher with shots to the head and body - James looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hatcher tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hatcher looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hatcher looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hardnose Hatcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

James fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hatcher throws a hook but James avoids it easily.
Dillon James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James avoids the body shot from Hatcher.
James wants to clinch up but Hatcher keeps it at a distance.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hatcher misses with a body shot.
Hatcher misses with a hook. James ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James fails with a takedown attempt.

Hatcher gets a double leg takedown into James's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control the position.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hatcher landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hatcher advances position into side control!
James takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hatcher scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at James to see if he's OK.
Hardnose Hatcher has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hatcher remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hatcher has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for James!
Hardnose Hatcher is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatcher lands with some strikes.
Hatcher working James over with strikes here.
Hatcher controlling the pace for now.
Hatcher landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hatcher lands with some vicious ground and pound - can James hang on?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hatcher takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hatcher lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatcher tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hatcher scoring with strikes but James is staying in there.
James can't escape the position.
Hatcher unloading with bombs!
Hatcher working James over with strikes here.
Hatcher controlling the position easily from mount.
Hatcher fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is desperately trying to improve his position but Hatcher has a good base and remains in mount.
Hatcher connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hatcher working away from the top, dropping strikes.
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!
Hatcher connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

James is rocked!
Hatcher controlling the pace for now.
Hatcher working the ground and pound effectively.
Oh James is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hatcher scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish James?
Dillon James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hatcher has hold of James's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and James manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hardnose Hatcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hatcher 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Hardnose Hatcher!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Hardnose Hatcher!
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Hardnose Hatcher!

Hardnose Hatcher wins by unanimous decision!