PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Christian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregg Hatsup (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregg Hatsup will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Christian
vs
Hatsup

161 cm
25
178 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kurt Christian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gregg Hatsup!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatsup fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hatsup gets caught napping as Christian dives in and scores a takedown. Hatsup manages to retain guard.

Hatsup is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Christian is aware though and is defending well.
Hatsup looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Christian puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hatsup tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Christian has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Christian manages to capitalize on a mistake by Hatsup to take his back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatsup tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hatsup tries to hold on but Christian pushes him away.

Christian goes for an armbar but Hatsup turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hatsup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christian working a defensive guard here.
Hatsup stopping the sweep attempt from Christian.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Hatsup stands up from Christian's guard - Hatsup perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hatsup throws a nice looking combination but Christian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Hatsup closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Christian quickly recovers to half guard.
Christian tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Christian actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatsup not doing much here.

Hatsup is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Christian is just riding it out for now. Hatsup eventually gives up the hold.
Hatsup is looking to stall here but Christian recovers full guard.
Hatsup looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hatsup is one step ahead there.
Hatsup is stalling in the full guard.
Hatsup is looking to advance position but Christian has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Christian could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hatsup bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hatsup stays in close to Christian's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatsup wants to get up but he can't break Christian's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hatsup must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hatsup looking to pass the guard.
Hatsup preventing the sweep.

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

Hatsup is looking to sweep but instead, Christian has passed into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Christian sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hatsup defending well though.
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 Kurt Christian will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick misses from Hatsup.
Hatsup doesn't manage to clinch there - Christian circles away.
Nice defenses there by Hatsup.
Hatsup steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Christian.
Hatsup scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Christian drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hatsup is looking to get back to his feet here but Christian is keeping cool and he's managed to take Hatsup's back.
Hatsup is really stuck here.

Christian is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Hatsup has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Christian punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hatsup is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.

Hatsup shoots in and gets a takedown into Christian's guard.

Christian has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hatsup is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Hatsup stalls.
Hatsup has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Christian can't find room to land a body shot as Hatsup controls the action.
Christian tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hatsup's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hatsup lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Christian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Christian is refusing to be controlled, as Hatsup sits in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Christian manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hatsup wants to control from the top but Christian keeps moving.
Christian throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Christian is pulling down on Hatsup's head. It's preventing any offense from Hatsup, at least for the moment.
Kurt Christian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christian lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Christian working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hatsup's head.
Christian chips away with some ground and pound.

Hatsup is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hatsup working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Christian.
Christian works over Hatsup with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christian would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Christian scoring with some ground and pound.
Christian wants to get up but he can't break Hatsup's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hatsup wants to sweep but no luck.

Hatsup working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Christian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Christian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Christian prevents Hatsup from getting back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hatsup is breathing heavily.
Hatsup trying to keep a closed guard but Christian is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
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 Kurt Christian will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Christian gets caught flat footed, as Hatsup shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Christian might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Christian is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Christian is looking for a triangle but Hatsup pushes his legs off easily.

Christian looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatsup is looking to work some ground and pound but Christian has wrist control.
Hatsup won't allow Christian to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatsup trying to control but Christian is working from the bottom.

Hatsup stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Christian misses with a looping left.

Hatsup looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Christian!

Christian sneaks out the side door and pushes Hatsup away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Hatsup shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hatsup showed some decent athleticism there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christian trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hatsup in particular looking to stall.
Christian manages to get to full guard.
Christian keeping moving, preventing Hatsup from controlling successfully.

Christian working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hatsup doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hatsup manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Christian keeping moving, preventing Hatsup from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hatsup gets to his feet - Christian follows without any prompting.
Christian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hatsup throws a series of punches but Christian moves out of range.
Hatsup lands a nice shot to the body.
Christian fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hatsup fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Christian manages to avoid it.
Christian shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Christian 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.

Hatsup is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Christian presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Hatsup pulls guard.
Hatsup avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hatsup has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Christian has passed into side control.
Hatsup is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hatsup struggling a bit here.
Christian prevents Hatsup from escaping the position.
Gregg Hatsup has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kurt Christian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hatsup wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gregg Hatsup.
I think Christian 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Christian!