PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Hatton (ranked 6313 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Cage (ranked 6550 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hatton
vs
Cage

190 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very confident

IniTech Nutrition

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joey Hatton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ken Cage!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cage has Hatton up against the cage in a clinch.
Cage is working for takedown but Hatton is calmly controlling the position for now.

Hatton jumps guard and drags Cage to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cage stopping the sweep attempt from Hatton.
Cage controlling from the top position.
Hatton is controlling Cage's posture.
Cage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hatton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatton 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage wants to pass the guard but Hatton is keeping the position.
Cage seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cage looks to score with a jab to the body but Hatton is just out of range.
Hatton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cage tries to counter by closing the distance.
Cage tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hatton swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Cage fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hatton, pushing him back against the cage.
Cage tries a body shot but Hatton blocks it.

Hatton wants the takedown. Cage is fighting it off but Hatton persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Cage's guard against the cage.
Cage is controlling Hatton's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage keeping moving, preventing Hatton from controlling successfully.
Hatton is fighting to break Cage's control of his arms but Cage is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Cage looking for subs off his back but Hatton has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cage is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is positioning himself well to prevent Hatton advancing to mount.
Cage gets full guard.
Hatton wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.
Cage is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hatton swings for the body but Cage moves out of range.
Cage fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hatton feints and as Cage raises his hands in defense, Hatton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cage pulls Hatton in close to his closed guard and prevents Hatton from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cage is looking to sweep but instead, Hatton has passed into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cage is looking to improve his position.
Cage trying to get back to full guard but Hatton takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Hatton dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cage throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cage is looking to clinch.
Hatton drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cage sprawls and moves away.
Hatton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cage misses with an uppercut

so Hatton counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cage pulls Hatton in close to his closed guard and prevents Hatton from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cage manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hatton manages to get himself to full guard.

Cage engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatton wants to sweep but no luck.
Cage showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hatton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cage looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cage's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Joey Hatton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cage drives through and clinches with Hatton against the cage.

Cage gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Cage engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Cage.

Hatton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cage won't allow Hatton to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cage controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cage postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ken Cage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cage moves into the clinch.

Cage jumps into guard, dragging Hatton to the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cage pulls Hatton in to control the position.
Cage with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Cage is looking to sweep but instead, Hatton has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Cage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cage tries to clinch there but Hatton circles away.
Hatton keeps the fight on the outside.
Cage tries to clinch

so Hatton counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cage holds on and takes a little breather.
Hatton trying to control the position from guard on top but Cage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cage looking for a sweep. Not yet Cage, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatton trying to control the position from guard on top but Cage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cage wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hatton closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cage's guard.
Cage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hatton is one step ahead there.
Cage pulls Hatton in close to prevent any damage.
Cage wants to hit a switch here but Hatton passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cage there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cage is working to get back to half guard.
Cage keeps trying to improve his position.
Cage is squirming around, avoiding Hatton's attempts to control the action.
Cage regains half guard.
Hatton wants to stand up but Cage has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage trying to control here.
Cage keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hatton prevents Cage from improving his position.
Cage wants to control the action here but instead Hatton manages to pass to full mount!
Hatton wants to control the pace but Cage is squirming around nicely.
Cage tries to reverse the position but Hatton maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hatton is trying to take his opponent's back.
Cage is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hatton tries to control but Cage wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cage tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cage is squirming around, avoiding Hatton's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Hatton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hatton 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Hatton!