PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rodrick Cassel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and davie hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cassel
vs
hogan

175 cm
18
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Sydney, Rodrick Cassel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, davie hogan!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
hogan tries to bum rush Cassel with a series of wild strikes but Cassel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
hogan misses with a takedown attempt - Cassel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cassel is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from hogan.

hogan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cassel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
hogan wants to control but Cassel passes into side.
Cassel wants to stand but hogan has his arm trapped.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cassel tries to stand but hogan controls the position and pulls Cassel into his guard.
hogan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cassel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cassel throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

hogan looking for subs off his back but Cassel has passed one foot through into half guard.
hogan trying to control from the bottom.
Cassel wants to free his trapped foot but hogan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cassel prevents hogan from standing back up.
Cassel is looking to take a break and control but hogan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
hogan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
hogan is not content to let Cassel control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cassel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says hogan as he avoids it easily.
hogan is looking to clinch but Cassel is avoiding it.

That's two 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.
Cassel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but hogan swivels and escapes.
Cassel is trying hard to land a takedown here. hogan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrick Cassel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cassel lands with a hook. hogan tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
hogan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cassel but Cassel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cassel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
davie hogan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

hogan has managed to clinch.
Cassel tries to pull guard but hogan holds him up against the cage and eventually Cassel drops back down to his feet.
Cassel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but hogan gets the underhooks and prevents it.

hogan has Cassel pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. hogan pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Cassel tumbling to the mat - hogan dives into Cassel's guard.
hogan trying to control but Cassel is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hogan throws and elbow that misses. Cassel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in hogan's guard. Nice move by Cassel!
hogan wants to get back to his feet but Cassel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cassel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cassel trying to control the position from guard on top but hogan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
hogan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cassel is one step ahead there.
Cassel trying to stand up but can't free himself from hogan's guard.

hogan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cassel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cassel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping hogan at a distance.
Cassel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cassel wants it to stay on the feet.
hogan looks gassed!
Cassel tries for a takedown but hogan circles away easily

and hogan counters with a takedown into side control.
Cassel struggling a bit here.
An elbow from hogan crashes against the mat.
Cassel is not content to let hogan control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

davie hogan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cassel has his takedown stuffed

so hogan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cassel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cassel is trying to keep hogan in close.
Cassel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because hogan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
hogan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cassel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst hogan is controlling him.
hogan stands up over Cassel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
hogan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cassel is keeping the position for now.
hogan wanted to stand there but Cassel had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cassel has his foot on hogan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. hogan works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cassel is trying to control the position but hogan postures up.
hogan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

hogan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cassel dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

hogan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
hogan 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.
Cassel trying to control the position from guard on top but hogan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
davie hogan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cassel wants to stand but hogan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
hogan keeping full guard, as Cassel tries to pass.
hogan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cassel tries to clinch up.
hogan on the wrong end of a nice jab.

hogan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cassel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassel manages to work his way to half guard, despite hogan's best efforts.
hogan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cassel's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cassel is trying to maintain the position but hogan is very close to passing his half guard.
Cassel gets full guard.
hogan looking to pass the guard.
hogan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cassel wants to control the position but hogan says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
hogan moves into full mount! Cassel won't be happy about that!
hogan raining down shots from the mount!
Cassel takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
hogan looking to finish Cassel with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cassel!
hogan wants to control the pace but Cassel is squirming around nicely.
Cassel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

davie hogan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cassel shoots in looking for a takedown. hogan tries to sprawl out of it but Cassel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. hogan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cassel closes this distance looking for a takedown but hogan circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
hogan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cassel pulls him back up using the underhooks.

hogan lands a takedown into guard.
hogan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cassel wants to stand up but hogan is controlling him.
hogan trying to control but Cassel is working from the bottom.

hogan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cassel, up you get!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hogan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cassel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and hogan counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrick Cassel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
hogan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cassel prevents it.

Cassel jumps guard.
Cassel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
hogan tries to reverse the position but Cassel maintains control.

Cassel looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Cassel dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cassel is looking to stand but Cassel has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
hogan is trying desperately to improve position.
Cassel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as hogan is looking to escape.
You get the feeling that hogan really doesn't like being in this position too much.
hogan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cassel tries to control but hogan wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cassel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cassel raining down shots from the mount!
Cassel lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rodrick Cassel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassel fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
hogan regains half guard.
hogan is trying to stand.
hogan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cassel.
Cassel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

hogan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
hogan wants to control but Cassel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
hogan pushes Cassel off but Cassel dives into side control.

Cassel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Cassel swings around for an armbar but hogan sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cassel's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cassel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and hogan defends well.
hogan won't allow Cassel to get back to his feet.
hogan won't allow Cassel to sweep him here.
hogan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cassel keeping full guard, as hogan tries to pass.

Cassel has his foot on hogan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. hogan works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to davie hogan.
I've got hogan 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... davie hogan!