PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Axl Rose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Hathaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rose comes to the cage accompanied by You Could Be Mine. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rose
vs
Hathaway

183 cm
26
190 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

187 cm
29
193 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Axl Rose!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Hathaway!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rose bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rose lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hathaway's sensitive parts.
Rose scoring well with a low kick there.
Hathaway uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rose.
Hathaway looks to land a combination but Rose avoids it well.
Rose moves out of range of the leg kick from Hathaway.
Rose appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Axl Rose seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hathaway throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rose feinted with a counter takedown.
Rose darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Jab, jab by Rose - just one landing.
Rose scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rose misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rose scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hathaway in his tracks.
Rose misses with a straight left.
Rose fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hathaway wants to counter with a clinch but Rose pushes him away.
Hathaway blocks a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hathaway can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rose blocking some punches.
Hathaway takes a shot to the head.
Hathaway tries to break the clinch but Rose is controlling the position.
Rose tries a body shot but Hathaway blocks it.
Hathaway can't find room to land a body shot as Rose controls the action.
Hathaway blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hathaway throws a head punch that misses.
Rose works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hathaway throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hathaway.
Rose lands with a short shot to the head.
Rose struggles to land a body shot inside as Hathaway controls his hands.
Rose lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hathaway backwards.
Hathaway misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Rose.
Hathaway dodges an elbow strike from Rose.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rose.
A right hand to the body from Rose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rose lands a body punch.
Hathaway looks winded!
Hathaway is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rose lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hathaway backwards.
Rose stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Come on Rose - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rose lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hathaway backwards.
Hathaway swings wildly with an uppercut but Rose uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rose works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Rose successfully pulls guard.

Rose has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hathaway can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hathaway must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rose is trying to keep Hathaway in close.

Rose is looking for a triangle but Hathaway pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rose working for a triangle but Hathaway defends it easily.
Rose is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hathaway trying to control the position from guard on top but Rose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rose 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.

Rose has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Hathaway doesn't defend quickly enough and Rose has managed to lock this one up! Can Hathaway escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Rose on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Axl Rose!