PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Hagen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Haverford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haverford comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Jay-Z & Kanye West - N** In Paris kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Hagen
vs
Haverford

178 cm
34
201 lbs
22 - 6 - 0

180 cm
33
190 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sinister Nutrition
Just Fight (Everything 7$)

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 22 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Hagen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Haverford !
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hagen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Haverford counters with a nice double leg into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hagen looking to control.
Haverford told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Hagen has his hands on Haverford 's head, controlling the position.
Haverford wants to control from the top but Hagen keeps moving.
Hagen controlling the position.
Haverford trying to control but Hagen is working from the bottom.

Tom Haverford has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Haverford drives through with a takedown into Hagen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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!
Hagen trying to control the position here.
Hagen looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haverford 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.
Hagen keeping moving, preventing Haverford from controlling successfully.
Haverford looking to sit in guard and control but Hagen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hagen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haverford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hagen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hagen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Haverford wants to sweep here but Hagen controlling him for the moment.

Hagen has gone for a leg lock! Haverford slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hagen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haverford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hagen 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.
Haverford tries to free his leg and advance position but Hagen is retaining full guard.
Haverford trying to control the position from guard on top but Hagen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haverford looking to pass the guard.
Haverford being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tom Haverford hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Haverford lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Haverford lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Haverford motions for Hagen to come forward. Haverford throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Haverford throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hagen on the side of the head.
Haverford lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hagen blocks a head kick by Haverford .
Tom Haverford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haverford lands a head kick!
Hagen walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Hagen blocks the leg kick.

Haverford looking to score a takedown here. Hagen is defending well but Haverford drives through and ends up in Hagen's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Hagen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
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!
Haverford trying to control the position from guard on top but Hagen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hagen trying to control the position here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Tom Hagen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hagen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hagen scores with a takedown into Haverford 's guard.
Hagen throwing strikes but missing.
Hagen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Haverford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haverford wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hagen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Haverford is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haverford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hagen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hagen wants to pass the guard but Haverford is keeping the position.
Hagen won't allow Haverford to sweep him here.
Hagen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Haverford is keeping the position for now.
Hagen works over Haverford with some ground and pound from guard.
Hagen throws an elbow that misses. Haverford uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hagen's guard. Nice move by Haverford !
Hagen seems keen to control Haverford 's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haverford wants to control from the top but Hagen keeps moving.
Haverford 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.
Hagen has a closed guard, preventing Haverford from standing up.
Hagen keeping full guard, as Haverford tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tom Haverford .
Haverford misses with a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haverford jabs at Hagen's body.
Haverford is looking to chop away at Hagen's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Haverford .

Hagen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hagen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Haverford is avoiding damage well.
Haverford tries to improve position but can't.
Hagen throws an elbow but Haverford slips to the side and avoids it well.
Haverford sneaks back into half guard.

Hagen is working for a kimura but Haverford is defending it quite comfortably.
Haverford controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hagen is working for a kimura but Haverford is defending it quite comfortably.
Haverford is trying to control but can't.

Hagen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haverford keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hagen 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.
Haverford wants to control but Hagen is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Hagen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Haverford moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hagen blocks a head kick by Haverford .
Haverford takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Haverford . That's going to slow Hagen down.
Hagen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Haverford can pounce on him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Haverford . Hagen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Haverford misses with a hook. Hagen ducked under it nicely.

Hagen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Haverford was covering up waiting for the punch and Hagen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haverford wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haverford is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Haverford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hagen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Haverford wants to sweep here but Hagen controlling him for the moment.
Hagen looking to pass the guard.
Haverford has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hagen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Haverford 's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagen trying to pass the guard but Haverford defending well.

Hagen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Haverford defends it well.
Hagen prevents Haverford from improving his position.
Hagen is nestled in close to Haverford , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hagen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Haverford is controlling Hagen's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hagen working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Haverford 's thigh. Haverford counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Hagen pushes down on Haverford 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hagen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hagen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Haverford has managed to free his arm - good work.
Haverford wants to control but Hagen is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haverford keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hagen works his foot free and advances to mount.
BOOM! Hagen connects with a massive shot to the dome!

It looks like Tom Haverford has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hagen looking for a guillotine from mount but Haverford is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haverford working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Hagen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hagen 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Hagen!
Tom Hagen took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Sinister Nutrition for their support in the buildup to the fight.