PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael McKay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hagen Potente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McKay comes to the cage accompanied by Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McKay
vs
Potente

185 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael McKay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hagen Potente!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potente avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McKay tries to clinch but Potente is having none of it.
Potente closes this distance looking for a takedown but McKay circles away.
McKay tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Potente keeps the fight on the outside.
McKay tries to clinch but Potente is having none of it.
McKay misses the jab.

McKay drives through with a takedown into guard.
Potente can't keep his opponent in guard - McKay advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Potente is looking to escape.
McKay seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Potente blocking the ground and pound attempt from McKay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McKay tries to pass the half guard into mount. Potente knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
McKay has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

McKay escapes and gets back to his feet.
Potente keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potente lands a nice leg kick that just misses McKay's sensitive parts.
Potente fails in his attempt to clinch.
McKay closes the distance but Potente moves to the side

and Potente counters by moving into the clinch.
Potente jumps guard but McKay stands there with Potente around his waist. Potente gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Potente pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
McKay throws a punch but it's blocked by Potente.

Potente drags the fight down to the ground.
McKay trying to control the position from guard on top but Potente is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Potente is looking to stand up but McKay isn't so interested in that idea.
Potente is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and McKay dives into side control.
McKay throws a strike aimed at the side of Potente's head but Potente avoids it well.
Potente is pushing McKay's head away, looking to escape. McKay manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potente is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
McKay in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McKay lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Potente down.
Potente is not content to let McKay control the position.
McKay working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

McKay wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Potente, who protects the arm well.
McKay is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McKay tries to score with some ground and pound. Potente controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKay prevents Potente from escaping the position.
McKay trying to control the position but Potente is working away.
Potente parries the strikes from McKay easily there. McKay is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Potente to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Potente can do anything to dispel that myth.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from McKay does no damage.
Potente swats away the attempt to clinch by McKay.
McKay checks a leg kick nicely.
Potente wants to clinch.

McKay closes the distance and clinches.
McKay can't break the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Potente - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Potente looking for a takedown.
Michael McKay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hagen Potente.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McKay scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The is referee keeping an eye on McKay - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McKay misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Potente.

Potente's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Potente buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McKay closes the distance and lands a one-two.
McKay keeps the fight on the outside.
McKay throws a series of punches but Potente avoids them all with ease.
McKay misses with a takedown

and Potente counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McKay's guard now.
Potente really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McKay. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McKay has a closed guard, preventing Potente from standing up.
McKay wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Potente decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hagen Potente dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Potente, right into the meat.

Potente rushes McKay and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McKay lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Potente pushes McKay back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from McKay fails to land.

Potente jumps into guard, dragging McKay to the mat.
Potente keeping moving, preventing McKay from controlling successfully.
Potente is looking to stand up but McKay isn't so interested in that idea.
McKay trying to control but Potente is working from the bottom.
McKay passes Potente's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McKay seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potente wants to get back to his feet.
McKay missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McKay thows a huge punch but Potente dodges it nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Potente.
Potente looks to land a combination but McKay avoids it well.
Potente turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Potente tries to close the distance and clinch but McKay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Potente tries to close the distance and clinch but McKay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Potente moves into range and clinches up with McKay.
McKay landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Potente crunches a lovely knee into McKay's ribcage.
McKay stops a takedown attempt from Potente.
McKay lands with a left to the head.
Potente fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McKay is working Potente over against the cage.
McKay throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McKay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potente lands an elbow inside.
McKay tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Potente unloads a knee to the mid-section. McKay lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
McKay swings wildly with an uppercut but Potente uses good head movement to avoid it.
McKay takes an elbow to the forehead.
McKay managing to block the knees to the body from Potente.
McKay lands a right hand.
McKay throws a punch but it's blocked by Potente.
Potente blocks an uppercut.

Potente breaks the clinch.
Potente with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McKay keeps the fight on the outside.
McKay shoots in for a double leg but Potente sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McKay tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Potente paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Potente scores a takedown into full mount!
McKay tries to reverse the position but Potente maintains control.
Potente controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKay sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Potente wants to stand but McKay has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
McKay punching from the bottom.
McKay wants to control but Potente is keeping busy and won't allow it.

McKay looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McKay throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four 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.
Potente wants to stand up but McKay has a hold of him and won't allow it.
McKay looks like he's trying to stand up.
McKay wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Potente shoots in for a double leg but McKay sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Michael McKay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hagen Potente.
McKay plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Potente darts in and clinches McKay up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from McKay.
McKay tries to break the clinch but Potente is controlling the position.
Potente lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Potente lands a left hand that snaps the head of McKay backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hagen Potente showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McKay misses with a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from McKay as Potente shoots in.
A slow jab from McKay misses its intended target.
A low kick from McKay misses

and Potente counters by clinching up.
Potente lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Potente avoiding damage.
Potente looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Potente trying to land knees to the body.

Potente breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McKay tries to close the distance and clinch but Potente swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McKay wants to clinch but Potente slips to the side

and Potente holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McKay has a couple of punches blocked by Potente.
Potente blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKay tries to land a knee to the head but Potente blocks with his arms.
McKay on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
McKay gets through Potente's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McKay lands with a short shot to the head.
Potente crunches a lovely knee into McKay's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKay tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McKay content to slow the pace in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McKay.
McKay swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McKay blocks an elbow strike from Potente.

Potente has hold of one of McKay's legs. McKay is fighting the takedown attempt but Potente gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
McKay thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hagen Potente has got the better of the ground game so far.
McKay tries to land a sweep but no joy.

McKay pushes Potente off and scrambles back to his feet.
McKay closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McKay goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No luck for Potente with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKay tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Potente paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McKay circles away from the clinch attempt.
Potente tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McKay paws at him with a jab and circles away.

McKay takes the fight into the clinch.
McKay throws a punch but it's blocked by Potente.
A right hook to the body lands for McKay.
Potente prevents a takedown attempt there.
McKay avoiding damage as Potente throws knees to the body.
Potente tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McKay just stands there and leans against the cage.
Michael McKay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hagen Potente.
McKay looking for a takedown.

Potente's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Potente wants to clinch.
Hagen Potente is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Potente circles away from the clinch attempt.
Michael McKay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McKay shoots in for a takedown but Potente shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potente tries to clinch up but McKay circles away and keeps his distance.

Potente moves into the clinch.
Potente goes for a takedown in the clinch but McKay prevents it.
McKay misses with a short punch on the inside.
McKay is leaning against Potente and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McKay misses with some punches.
Potente can't get the takedown.
McKay lands a hook to the side of the head.
McKay misses with a hook from the clinch.
Potente tries for a takedown but McKay manages to get underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from McKay.

Potente manages to break the clinch.

Potente gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Potente working aggressively here.
McKay has had enough of the clinch but Potente keeps him there for the moment.

Potente breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Potente feints and then cracks McKay's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McKay down.
McKay moves out of range of the leg kick from Potente.
Potente keeps the fight on the outside.
Potente scores with a one two! McKay had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKay closes the distance but Potente moves to the side
and Potente counters with a slapping leg kick.
McKay fails with a takedown attempt.
A big right from McKay misses.
Potente slips a jab from McKay.

McKay tries to keep at a distance but Potente has taken the fight into the clinch.
Potente lands a nice elbow.
Potente blocks an uppercut.
Potente blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Potente misses with a knee strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McKay.
McKay is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Potente is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
McKay lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Potente backwards.
McKay swings wildly with an uppercut but Potente uses good head movement to avoid it.
Potente tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McKay just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hagen Potente is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Potente blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hagen Potente comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Potente has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hagen Potente!