PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lars Hagen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cavan Cartwright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cartwright has chosen The Irish Fighting Song as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hagen
vs
Cartwright

185 cm
22
217 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

188 cm
22
220 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

The Dark Side

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lars Hagen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cavan Cartwright!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hagen lands with a slapping head kick.
Hagen misses with a double jab

and Cartwright counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hagen is defending against the submission attempts here by Cartwright.
Cartwright not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cartwright is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hagen is just riding it out for now. Cartwright eventually gives up the hold.
My spies in Irish Collar-and-Elbow Academy inform me that Cartwright has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Cartwright is looking for a kimura but Hagen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cartwright to get the leverage.
Hagen trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cartwright.
Cartwright works his way into side control.
Hagen tries to bench press Cartwright off him but Cartwright keeps the position.
Cartwright working away.
Hagen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cartwright is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cartwright wants to control but Hagen is keeping him busy.
Hagen is looking for a sweep.
Hagen dodges the ground and pound from Cartwright.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hagen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cartwright is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hagen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hagen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hagen is not content to let Cartwright control the position.
Who's going to make the next move?
Hagen taking a bit of punishment here - Cartwright scoring with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hagen can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright landing strikes.
Cartwright working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Hagen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Cartwright is trying to get an arm triangle but Hagen is defending well.
Hagen is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The Boom Boom Room, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Cartwright working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
A control attempt from Hagen but he's now mounted!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cartwright jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hagen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hagen and Cartwright has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Hagen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cartwright goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hagen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cartwright but great work by Hagen.
Cartwright is not content to let Hagen control the position.

Hagen decides to take the fight back to the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cartwright dives in and scores a takedown into Hagen's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cavan Cartwright dominated that 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.

A big right from Hagen misses.
Lars Hagen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cartwright misses with a takedown
and Hagen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cavan Cartwright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hagen tries to clinch but Cartwright is having none of it.
Cartwright dives in for a single leg takedown but Hagen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Cartwright has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hagen uses from the top position.
Hagen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hagen tries to free his leg and advance position but Cartwright is retaining full guard.
Cartwright controls Hagen momentarily but Hagen frees himself.
Cartwright keeping full guard, as Hagen tries to pass.

Cartwright escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hagen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagen looking to pass the guard.

Hagen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hagen is pushing down on Cartwright's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cartwright is fighting to maintain full guard but Hagen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cartwright trying to hold on to Hagen's head to control him but Hagen postures up.
Hagen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cartwright does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cavan Cartwright has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hagen wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagen is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hagen trying to control but Cartwright is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lars Hagen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hagen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cartwright looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lars Hagen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cavan Cartwright.
Cartwright throws a right hand that Hagen ducks under and follows up with a left that Hagen also avoids with ease.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hagen swings for the body but Cartwright moves out of range.
Cartwright changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hagen tries to avoid it but Cartwright manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hagen to the ground. Hagen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hagen scores with a hook to the body. Cartwright takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Hagen. Those never looked like landing.
Hagen throws a sloppy head kick and Cartwright moves out of range easily.
Cartwright will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cartwright circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hagen jabs Cartwright to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cartwright fails to land the takedown.
Hagen throws a head kick but Cartwright moves out of range.
Cartwright shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hagen eats them both and turns towards Cartwright to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright lands a jab to the head.
Cartwright takes one to the chin there.
Hagen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cartwright manages to avoid it.
Hagen looks to land a combination but Cartwright avoids it well.
Cartwright misses with the combination.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Hagen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cartwright misses with a few strikes there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hagen wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A combination from Cartwright does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lars Hagen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hagen tries to clinch up.
Cartwright looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hagen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Some wild striking there from Cartwright.
Cartwright avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hagen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hagen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagen lands a lovely overhand right.

Cartwright feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Cartwright got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hagen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cartwright has managed to get both his arms back between Hagen's legs - danger averted.
Cartwright content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hagen is controlling Cartwright's posture.
Cartwright throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cartwright trying to control but Hagen is working from the bottom.
Hagen seems keen to control Cartwright's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lars Hagen.
Hagen tries to close the distance and clinch but Cartwright swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hagen scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cartwright shoots in but no luck this time.
No joy there for Cartwright, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hagen misses with the combination.
Hagen cracks Cartwright with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cartwright circles away quickly and effectively.
Lars Hagen is winning the standup battle so far.
Hagen connects with a crisp jab.
Cartwright keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hagen tries to clinch up but Cartwright circles away and keeps his distance.
Cartwright misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hagen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hagen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cartwright manages to avoid it.
Cartwright blocks a head kick by Hagen.
Cartwright with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cartwright takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lars Hagen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cavan Cartwright.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cartwright or perhaps it was just good defense by Hagen, which made it look bad.
Cartwright takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cartwright shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hagen defends it nicely.
Cartwright walks into a jab.
Hagen throws a head kick that misses.
Cartwright fails with the takedown
and Hagen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagen tries to clinch there but Cartwright circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Hagen!
Lars Hagen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Cavan Cartwright had this to say: 'I gave it my best. I will find a way to do better next time.'.