PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between David Hasselhof (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Verson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hasselhof comes to the cage accompanied by Nas - Hate me now. On his way into the cage it seems that David Hasselhof has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily David Hasselhof seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hasselhof
vs
Verson

165 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

173 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David Hasselhof!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Verson!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hasselhof lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Verson circles away quickly and effectively.
Hasselhof walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Verson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Hasselhof gets caught flat footed, as Verson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Verson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hasselhof is keeping the position for now.
Verson pushing down on Hasselhof's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hasselhof is trying to get back to full guard.
Hasselhof blocking the ground and pound attempt from Verson.
Hasselhof trying to control but Verson postures up.
Nice strikes from Verson there.
Hasselhof trying to hold on to Verson's head to control him but Verson postures up.
Verson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Hasselhof is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Verson pulls his head out easily.
Verson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hasselhof sees it coming and defends easily.
Verson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hasselhof controlling the position well.
Verson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Verson moves out of range as Hasselhof strikes.
Verson cracks a nice hook into Hasselhof's ribs.

Hasselhof closes the distance and clinches.
Hasselhof gets underhooks to prevent Verson's takedown attempt.

Verson has Hasselhof pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Verson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hasselhof tumbling to the mat - Verson dives into Hasselhof's guard.
Verson throws and elbow that misses. Hasselhof uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Verson's guard. Nice move by Hasselhof!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verson keeping moving, preventing Hasselhof from controlling successfully.

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

Verson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hasselhof is aware though and is defending well.
Verson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Verson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasselhof tries to lock up and control but Verson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hasselhof is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Verson misses with a head shot.
Verson throws a strike there. Hasselhof manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Verson throwing shots but Hasselhof is blocking nicely.
Verson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hasselhof holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Verson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Verson with the ground and pound from mount.
Verson misses with a head shot.
Hasselhof keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Verson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Verson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hasselhof to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hasselhof shrugs it off.

Verson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hasselhof is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hasselhof and Verson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Verson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Verson is trying to move to mount but Hasselhof reverses beautifully and ends up in Verson's guard.

Verson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hasselhof can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Verson dominated that round.
That's time! Hasselhof's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Verson blocks a head kick by Hasselhof.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Verson is defended easily by Hasselhof.
Hasselhof jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hasselhof misses with a wild combination.

Hasselhof scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Verson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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

Verson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hasselhof has picked Verson up and slammed him! Verson can't keep hold of the triangle and Hasselhof manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Verson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hasselhof off and has taken his back!
Verson controlling well, preventing Hasselhof from escaping the position.

Verson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Hasselhof knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Hasselhof for a finish.
Verson lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Verson is breathing heavily.
Hasselhof trying to control the action but Verson just sinks the hooks in.
Verson misses with an elbow to the head.

That's two 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.
Verson softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Hasselhof rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hasselhof won't allow Verson to pass to mount.
Verson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Verson throwing shots but Hasselhof is blocking nicely.
Hasselhof tries to roll over but Verson keeps him under control.
Verson wants to free his trapped foot but Hasselhof is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Verson seems to be working for a kimura but Hasselhof defends the submission attempt.

Verson wants to work for an arm triangle but Hasselhof is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hasselhof shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Verson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hasselhof wants to control but Verson is keeping busy.
Verson moves nicely into side control.

Verson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Verson swings around for an armbar but Hasselhof sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Verson's guard.
Hasselhof has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Verson is proving hard to escape from.
Verson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Verson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hasselhof is aware though and is defending well.
Hasselhof wants to control from the top but Verson keeps moving.

Hasselhof avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hasselhof sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Verson 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!

Verson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hasselhof pinned against the cage. Hasselhof gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Verson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hasselhof manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Verson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Verson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verson pushing down on Hasselhof's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Verson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Verson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hasselhof knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hasselhof is trying to get back to full guard.
Verson moves into full mount! Hasselhof won't be happy about that!
Hasselhof tries to hold on but Verson pushes him away.
Hasselhof really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verson raining down shots from the mount!
Verson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Verson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rodrigo Verson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Verson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Verson looking for a guillotine from mount but Hasselhof is having none of it.
Hasselhof bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Verson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasselhof tries to stand but Verson is controlling from the bottom.
Verson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
David Hasselhof has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hasselhof taking shots to the head.
Verson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Verson looking to finish Hasselhof with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hasselhof!
A nice elbow there by Verson.
Verson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rodrigo Verson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verson content just to control the position here.
Hasselhof is working to get back to half guard.
Verson tries to control but Hasselhof wriggling away.
Hasselhof working to try and regain half guard.
Verson controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Verson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Verson 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Verson!