PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris Hassel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Pearsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hassel
vs
Pearsen

170 cm
31
170 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

170 cm
30
159 lbs
22 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

LOD: Affordable Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chris Hassel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mitchell Pearsen!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearsen wants to clinch.
Hassel has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Team 907 Assassins in the buildup to the fight.
Hassel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pearsen moves away.
Hassel throws a front kick aimed at Pearsen's knee but Pearsen avoids it well.
Hassel throws a jab but it's blocked by Pearsen.
Pearsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hassel manages to avoid it.
Pearsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pearsen has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hassel is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Good leg kick by Hassel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch but Hassel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hassel moves out of range as Pearsen strikes.
Pearsen doesn't manage to clinch there - Hassel circles away.
Hassel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hassel ducks under a wild hook from Pearsen.
Mitchell Pearsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hassel throws a front kick aimed at Pearsen's knee but Pearsen avoids it well.
Pearsen looks to land a left hand but Hassel moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hassel tries to clinch but Pearsen is having none of it.
Hassel is looking to clinch.

Pearsen clinches.

Pearsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hassel throws out a powerful jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hassel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pearsen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hassel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pearsen.

Pearsen moves into range and clinches up with Hassel.
Hassel wants to get back to striking at distance but Pearsen won't allow it.
Pearsen blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Hassel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Hassel fails to land.
Pearsen misses with a hook from the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hassel lands a nice shot to the body.
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!
Hassel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hassel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Pearsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hassel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pearsen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pearsen throws a jab when Hassel was well out of range.
Hassel swats away the attempt to clinch by Pearsen.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pearsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hassel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A jab from Pearsen misses.
Pearsen misses with an uppercut. Hassel saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hassel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hassel misses with a punch on the inside.
Hassel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Pearsen.
Hassel lands a nice uppercut.
Pearsen lands with a left to the head.
Pearsen misses with a knee to the head.
Hassel working aggressively here.
Pearsen is trying to pull guard but Hassel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hassel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pearsen's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hassel as Pearsen tries to tie him up.

Hassel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pearsen moves in looking to clinch but Hassel pushes him off.
Pearsen tries to clinch but Hassel is having none of it.
Pearsen looks to land a combination but Hassel avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hassel throws a wild body kick that Pearsen sees coming a mile off.
Hassel slips a jab and a cross from Pearsen.
Hassel is looking to clinch but Pearsen is avoiding it.
Hassel looks to score with a jab to the body but Pearsen is just out of range.

Hassel rushes Pearsen and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hassel has a couple of punches blocked by Pearsen.
Pearsen jumps guard but Hassel turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hassel throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pearsens head.
Pearsen stalling the fight.
Hassel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pearsen taking a breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pearsen misses with a short punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Hassel.
Hassel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pearsen is trying to force a seperation but Hassel has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Hassel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A punch combination from Pearsen misses.
Pearsen is looking to clinch but Hassel is avoiding it.
Hassel circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hassel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hassel ducks under a wild hook from Pearsen.
Pearsen misses with an uppercut.
Hassel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pearsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Hassel.
Hassel circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pearsen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pearsen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pearsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hassel tries to clinch but Pearsen moves out of range.
Pearsen blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pearsen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Pearsen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hassel.
Pearsen wants to clinch up but Hassel keeps it at a distance.
Pearsen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Pearsen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hassel prevents Pearsen from breaking the clinch.
Hassel working aggressively here.
Hassel taking a breather.
Pearsen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pearsen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hassel blocks it with crossed arms.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Pearsen scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hassel blocking some punches.
Pearsen taking a breather.
Pearsen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pearsen trying to stall but Hassel improves his position.
Pearsen blocks a body shot from Hassel.
Hassel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hassel.
Hassel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A short uppercut from Hassel.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pearsen.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Still in the clinch, Hassel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pearsen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pearsen swings wildly with an uppercut but Hassel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pearsen tries to pull guard but Hassel holds him up against the cage and eventually Pearsen drops back down to his feet.
Pearsen looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen stalling against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Pearsen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pearsen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hassel's elbow.

Hassel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch but Hassel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pearsen tries to clinch up but Hassel circles away and keeps his distance.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hassel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pearsen throws a body punch but Hassel moves out of range.
Pearsen thows a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Hassel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hassel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearsen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pearsen swats away the attempt to clinch by Hassel.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hassel. Pearsen does a little dance to reset his feet.

Pearsen closes the distance and clinches.
Pearsen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hassel has him pressed against the cage.
Pearsen lands a hook that snaps the head of Hassel backwards.
Pearsen working aggressively here.
Hassel misses with the head strike.
Pearsen pushes Hassel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Hassel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hassel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pearsen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Hassel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Hassel.
Hassel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Pearsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Hassel throws out a loose jab but Pearsen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pearsen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pearsen wants to clinch up but Hassel keeps it at a distance.
Hassel defending well as Pearsen loads up on a big left hand.
Mitchell Pearsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hassel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pearsen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hassel misses with a body kick.
Pearsen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hassel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pearsen keeps the fight on the outside.
Pearsen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hassel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pearsen.
Pearsen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Pearsen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hassel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pearsen is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearsen blocks a head kick by Hassel.
Hassel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pearsen.
Pearsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pearsen clinches.
Pearsen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hassel blocks a body shot from Pearsen.
Pearsen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hassel lands a shoulder strike.
Hassel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pearsen blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hassel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hassel makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hassel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pearsen lands a shoulder strike.
Pearsen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pearsen struggles to land a body shot inside as Hassel controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hassel misses with the head strike.
Hassel prevents a body shot from Pearsen.
Hassel is looking to control Pearsen's arms but Pearsen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hassel has his back to the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A frustrated look appears on Pearsen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pearsen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hassel blocks it with crossed arms.
Pearsen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hassel walks away with a smile on his face. Pearsen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hassel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hassel misses with a body kick.
Pearsen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hassel comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hassel lands the left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hassel. Pearsen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hassel's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pearsen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hassel scrambles back to his feet.
Pearsen throws a big shot that misses.
Pearsen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hassel counters with a left to the body.
Pearsen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hassel connects with a body shot that sends Pearsen's belly button to the back.
Pearsen tries to clinch up but Hassel circles away and keeps his distance.
Pearsen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hassel swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hassel has closed the distance and engaged Pearsen in a clinch.
Pearsen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A shot in the inside from Hassel.
Pearsen tries to pull guard but Hassel holds him up against the cage and eventually Pearsen drops back down to his feet.
Chris Hassel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitchell Pearsen.
Hassel misses with a punch to the body.
Hassel is trying to maintain a safe position but Pearsen gets an underhook and turns Hassel into the cage.
Hassel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Pearsen.

Pearsen pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pearsen is working an open guard so Hassel takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hassel keeps the fight on the outside.
Hassel looks to score with a jab to the body but Pearsen is just out of range.
Hassel lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hassel keeps the fight on the outside.
Pearsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hassel.
Pearsen is looking to clinch but Hassel is avoiding it.
Pearsen tries to clinch there but Hassel circles away.
Hassel misses with a wild body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pearsen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hassel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pearsen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pearsen misses the shot to the body.

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 Chris Hassel.
I think Hassel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Hassel!
Chris Hassel seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.