PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gothic Line (ranked 91 p4p, 138 weight class) and Mike Haggar (ranked 15 p4p, 26 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Line
vs
Haggar

194 cm
34
243
26 - 11 - 0

202 cm
36
266
31 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Furnace Performance 🔥
Brooklyn Threads

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 26 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gothic Line!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Haggar!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Line sizes up Haggar with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Haggar connects with a good right hand that stumbles Line. Line circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Haggar with a poor takedown
letting Line counter with a right hand.
Line slaps away a takedown attempt from Haggar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Haggar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Line throwing a counter right hand but Haggar manages to avoid it.
We've been informed that Haggar has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Gothic Line has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Haggar.
Line throws an overhand right that lands on Haggar's shoulder, as Haggar tries to avoid the shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Haggar as he connects with a hook.
Line misses with a looping left.
Line looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Line missing with a left hand there. Haggar was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Haggar drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Line defends it well.
Haggar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Line is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Line swings for the body but Haggar moves out of range.
Line ducks under a wild hook from Haggar.
A counter left hand to the body from Line misses its target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haggar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Haggar with a hook.

Line gets caught napping as Haggar dives in and scores a takedown. Line manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar throws a strike but Line rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Haggar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Line controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Haggar wants to sweep but no luck.
Haggar keeping moving, preventing Line from controlling successfully.
Line is stalling in the full guard.
Line won't allow Haggar to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haggar looking for a guillotine here but Line defends easily.

Haggar looking for a guillotine here but Line defends easily.
Haggar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Line controls the pace.
Haggar wants to sweep here but Line controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggar throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Haggar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Line's guard.

Line wants to sweep here but Haggar controlling him for the moment.
Haggar throws an elbow that misses. Line uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Haggar's guard. Nice move by Line!

Haggar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Haggar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Line has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Line is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Line trying to control the position from guard on top but Haggar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Line is stalling in the full guard.
Haggar wants to sweep here but Line controlling him for the moment.
Line slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Haggar looking for a sweep. Not yet Haggar, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Line's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Line stopping the sweep attempt from Haggar.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Haggar will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Line throws a wild body kick that Haggar sees coming a mile off.
Haggar defending well as Line loads up on a big left hand.

Haggar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Line sprawls well initially but Haggar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Haggar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Line's head.
Haggar trying to mount his opponent but Line defends it.
Haggar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Line is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Haggar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Haggar's back!
Haggar is really stuck here.
Haggar trying to get back to his feet but Line is in full control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Line is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Haggar has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Haggar is really stuck here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar is still trying to improve position.
Haggar breaks Line's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Haggar trying to control the position from guard on top but Line is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Line has Haggar pulled in close to control his posture.
Haggar connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggar lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Haggar distracts Line with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Haggar distracts Line with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Line wants to sweep here but Haggar controlling him for the moment.
Haggar is looking to work some ground and pound but Line has wrist control.
Haggar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haggar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Line has his hands on Haggar's head, controlling the position.
Line looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Line pulls Haggar in close to his closed guard and prevents Haggar from doing any damage or advancing position.
Haggar won't allow Line to sweep him here.
Haggar is looking to work some ground and pound but Line has wrist control.
Haggar lands a couple of elbows.
Haggar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Haggar wants to pass the guard but Line is keeping the position.
Haggar is looking to work some ground and pound but Line has wrist control.
Haggar slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Haggar throws a strike but Line rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Haggar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Line sitting in guard here, content to control.
Line prevents Haggar from getting back to his feet.
Line won't allow Haggar to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar 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!

Line connects with a body shot that sends Haggar's belly button to the back.
A punch lands to the side of Line 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Haggar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Line looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Line parries the strikes from Haggar easily there. Haggar is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Line to escape.
Sloppy strikes there by Haggar.
Haggar working the ground and pound but Line is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Line's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Haggar in side control, throwing shots but Line defends.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haggar throwing strikes but Line manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haggar is trying to improve his position.
Gothic Line has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haggar sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Line keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Line prevents Haggar from improving his position.

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.
Haggar moves into full guard.
Haggar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Haggar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Line manages to get himself to full guard.

Line seems keen to control Haggar's posture.
Haggar forces his way into half guard.
Haggar slips a nice elbow through Line's hands, connecting with Line's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Line gets full guard.
Haggar looking to pass the guard.
Haggar throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Haggar's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Haggar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Line swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Line is controlling Haggar's posture.
Haggar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Line working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Haggar.
Haggar throws a strike but Line rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar striking off his back but it's not causing Line any problems.
Line throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haggar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Line is one step ahead there.
Haggar wants to stand but Line is controlling the position.
Haggar 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mike Haggar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Haggar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Haggar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Haggar 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Haggar!