PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Delaney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Hagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Delaney's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Natalie Portman's Rap. Robert Hagan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joe Delaney's chin.

Delaney
vs
Hagan

200 cm
24
272 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

192 cm
23
225 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Delaney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Hagan!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hagan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hagan looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Delaney thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Delaney forces his way into half guard.

Delaney seems to be looking for submissions.
Delaney landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hagan is looking to improve his position.
Delaney seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Delaney is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hagan actively working from the bottom here.
Hagan wants to get back to full guard.
Delaney slips a nice elbow through Hagan's hands, connecting with Hagan's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delaney takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Delaney is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hagan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hagan is looking for a sweep. Delaney is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Delaney lands a nice short elbow.

Hagan kicks Delaney off and gets back to his feet.
Hagan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Delaney to score with a decent uppercut.
Delaney fails with a takedown attempt.

Delaney changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hagan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hagan is trying to get back to half guard.
Delaney trying to control the position but Hagan is working away.
Hagan tries to bench press Delaney off him but Delaney keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagan tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Delaney landing strikes.
Hagan is looking to regain half guard here but Delaney keeps moving and retains side control.

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

Delaney decides to stand back up.
Hagan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Delaney scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Delaney lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Delaney works his foot free and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagan wants to control but Delaney is having none of it.
Hagan is trying desperately to improve position.
Hagan flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Delaney landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hagan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hagan throwing hammer fists to the chest of Delaney. What's that going to do exactly?
Hagan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hagan is squirming around, avoiding Delaney's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Delaney has control of Hagan's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hagan regains control of the situation pretty easily.
BOOM! Delaney connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Delaney lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Delaney looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Hagan is working to get back to half guard.
Hagan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Delaney with the ground and pound from mount.
Hagan is squirming around, avoiding Delaney's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Delaney dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A left and a right from Delaney both land. Nice combination.
Delaney connects with a jab.

Hagan has managed to clinch.
Hagan jumps guard but Delaney stands there with Hagan around his waist. Hagan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Delaney goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hagan prevents it.

Hagan drags the fight down to the ground.

Hagan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Delaney sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hagan's guard.

Delaney wants to work for an arm triangle but Hagan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Delaney takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delaney winds up and cracks Hagan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Delaney passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hagan!
Delaney manages to capitalize on a mistake by Hagan to take his back!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Can Hagan hold on?! Delaney is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Hagan is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Delaney gets his way!
Delaney is trying to stick to Hagan's back but Hagan is turning into Delaney. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Delaney's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hagan.
Hagan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Delaney trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Delaney avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hagan drops back looking for a leg! Delaney is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Delaney manages to kick Hagan off! Hagan jumps back into Delaney's guard.

Delaney looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Delaney is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hagan working some strikes from top position.

Delaney escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hagan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Delaney wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Delaney looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hagan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Delaney swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Delaney is looking for a triangle but Hagan pushes his legs off easily.
Hagan won't allow Delaney to sweep him here.

Delaney had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hagan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Delaney Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hagan's back instead.
Delaney struggling to keep hold of the position.
Hagan rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hagan wants to get back to full guard.
Delaney is nestled in close to Hagan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Delaney looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hagan tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hagan is looking for a sweep. Delaney is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hagan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hagan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hagan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Delaney swivels and escapes.

Delaney fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hagan sprawls well initially but Delaney persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hagan is looking for a sweep. Delaney is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Delaney trying to mount his opponent but Hagan defends it.
Delaney is trying to control. Hagan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hagan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Delaney scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Delaney prevents Hagan from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Delaney dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Delaney looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Hagan feints and as Delaney raises his hands in defense, Hagan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Delaney working for a triangle but Hagan defends it easily.

Delaney working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hagan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hagan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Delaney wants to sweep but no luck.

Delaney has his foot on Hagan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hagan works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Delaney looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Delaney preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hagan thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagan tries to free his leg and advance position but Delaney is retaining full guard.

Delaney looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Delaney looking for a guillotine here but Hagan defends easily.
Delaney keeping full guard, as Hagan tries to pass.
Hagan scoring with punches to the head and body.

Hagan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Delaney is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hagan, into his guard.

Delaney thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagan 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.
Delaney forces his way into half guard.

Delaney is looking for a kimura here.
Delaney wants to control but Hagan is keeping him busy.

Delaney seems to be looking for submissions.

Delaney is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hagan is just riding it out for now. Delaney eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hagan.
Delaney preventing the sweep.
Delaney 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.
Delaney is in close to Hagan's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Delaney is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hagan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Delaney stands and steps away. Hagan gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hagan fails with the takedown

and Delaney counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hagan's guard now.
Joe Delaney overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delaney trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Delaney drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Delaney jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hagan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Delaney doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Delaney manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Delaney distracts Hagan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Delaney postures up and lands a big shot to Hagan's brow.
Delaney wants to control from the top but Hagan keeps moving.
Delaney pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hagan is keeping the position for now.
Delaney works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Delaney missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Delaney is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hagan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Robert Hagan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Delaney is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hagan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Delaney showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Delaney, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight for Joe Delaney!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Joe Delaney!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Joe Delaney!

Joe Delaney wins by unanimous decision!