PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jefferson da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hagel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). da Silva comes to the cage accompanied by I Hate Everything About You. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

da Silva
vs
Hagel

185 cm
27
184 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

186 cm
26
197 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jefferson da Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Hagel!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
da Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Hagel counters with a nice body shot.
Hagel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from da Silva.

Hagel manages to get an easy takedown there - catching da Silva on his heels. He'll look to pass da Silva's guard now, I'm sure.
da Silva working a defensive guard here.

da Silva has his foot on Hagel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hagel works his way back into a safe position though.
Hagel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
da Silva keeping full guard, as Hagel tries to pass.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hagel stands and throws da Silva's legs to the side, diving into side control.
da Silva is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
da Silva is looking for a sweep.
da Silva can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagel lands a decent elbow from side control.
da Silva takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hagel working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
da Silva taking punishment in the form of punches.
da Silva is letting Hagel control him for a moment.
Hagel scoring with punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on da Silva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hagel working the body and head with strikes.
da Silva is trying to control Hagel's posture but Hagel avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
da Silva is not content to let Hagel control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
da Silva parries the strikes from Hagel easily there. Hagel is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable da Silva to escape.
da Silva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hagel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
da Silva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hagel.
Hagel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
da Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hagel.

da Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Hagel uses his free foot to push down on da Silva's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for da Silva.
da Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hagel working da Silva over with strikes here.
Hagel landing strikes from the mount.
Hagel prevents da Silva from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
da Silva wants to control but Hagel is having none of it.
Hagel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hagel postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. da Silva looks a forlorn figure.
da Silva tries to lock up and control but Hagel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hagel lands a heavy elbow.
da Silva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hagel scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish da Silva?
da Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Hagel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can da Silva hang on?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hagel prevents da Silva from getting the reversal.
Hagel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can da Silva hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
da Silva regains half guard.
Hagel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

da Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hagel pulls his head out easily.

Hagel is working for a submission of some sort.
Hagel working da Silva over with strikes.

da Silva looking for submissions off his back.

da Silva looking for submissions off his back.
da Silva is breathing heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
da Silva has hold of Hagel's hands but Hagel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hagel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

da Silva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hagel is fending him off so far but da Silva persists. Nope, Hagel circles away and we're back to standing.
Hagel throws a lazy right hand but da Silva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Hagel scores a takedown into full mount!
da Silva tries to hold on but Hagel postures up.
The referee warns da Silva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
da Silva manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Hagel lands strikes from half guard.

da Silva actively working from the bottom here.
Hagel wants to free his trapped foot but da Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hagel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hagel tries to pass to full mount but da Silva defends it.

da Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
da Silva trying to control but Hagel postures up.
Hagel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hagel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. da Silva defending well though.
Hagel winds up and cracks da Silva with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
da Silva missing with punches from the bottom.
Hagel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
da Silva trying to control but Hagel postures up.
da Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hagel trying to control the position from guard on top but da Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

da Silva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hagel passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagel wants to lay and pray for a moment but da Silva keeps working.
da Silva tries to improve position but can't.
Hagel trying to control the position but da Silva is working away.
Hagel scoring with punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hagel working away.
The ground and pound from Hagel seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
da Silva manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
da Silva trying to pass the guard but Hagel defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagel is trying to get back to full guard.
da Silva not doing much here.
Hagel punching from the bottom.
Hagel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hagel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hagel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
da Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Hagel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matt Hagel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hagel looking for a sweep. Not yet Hagel, not yet.
Hagel is breathing heavily.
da Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Hagel is retaining full guard.
Hagel keeping moving, preventing da Silva from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hagel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
da Silva passes Hagel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
da Silva passes to side control.

da Silva is trying to get an arm triangle but Hagel is defending well.
Hagel tries to improve position but can't.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagel is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hagel sneaks back into half guard.
da Silva prevents Hagel from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hagel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hagel throws a jab when da Silva was well out of range.
Hagel misses with the combination.

Hagel feints and as da Silva raises his hands in defense, Hagel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hagel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hagel trying to control but da Silva is working from the bottom.
da Silva controls Hagel momentarily but Hagel frees himself.

da Silva looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

da Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagel wants to pass the guard but da Silva is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hagel scoring with some ground and pound.

da Silva looking for a guillotine here but Hagel defends easily.
Hagel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. da Silva is keeping the position for now.

da Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
da Silva keeping moving, preventing Hagel from controlling successfully.
Hagel stands up over da Silva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

da Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hagel defends it easily.
Hagel wants to pass the guard but da Silva is keeping the position.
Hagel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with da Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

da Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hagel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hagel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hagel wants to control from the top but da Silva keeps moving.
Hagel working some strikes from top position.
da Silva keeping full guard, as Hagel tries to pass.

da Silva is looking for a triangle but Hagel pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

da Silva has his foot on Hagel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hagel works his way back into a safe position though.
Hagel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of da Silva's head.
Hagel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hagel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hagel tries to free his leg and advance position but da Silva is retaining full guard.

da Silva is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hagel defends well.
Hagel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of da Silva's head.
Hagel is pushing down on da Silva's leg trying to pass to half guard. da Silva is fighting to maintain full guard but Hagel has managed to sneak the leg through.

Hagel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
da Silva is looking to control Hagel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can da Silva avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

da Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
da Silva on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

da Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

da Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hagel pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hagel is nestled in close to da Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

da Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagel slips a nice elbow through da Silva's hands, connecting with da Silva's forehead.
Jefferson da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Hagel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hagel is keen to just control but da Silva is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jefferson da Silva.
Well Hagel 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Hagel!