PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Hatton (ranked 990 p4p, 135 weight class) and William Ralph Dean (ranked 1119 p4p, 147 weight class). Hatton's entrance music is deadman. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hatton
vs
Ralph Dean

190 cm
26
190 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
198 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

Urban Fighter

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Hatton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, William Ralph Dean!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatton shoots for a double leg takedown but Dean sprawls well. He's pushed Hatton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice sprawl there from Dean as Hatton shoots in.
Dean cracks Hatton with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Dean throws out a loose jab but Hatton uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hatton gets a double leg takedown into Dean's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dean holds on and takes a little breather.

Hatton drops back looking for a leg! Dean is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dean manages to kick Hatton off! Hatton jumps back into Dean's guard.
Dean has Hatton pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatton trying to control but Dean is working from the bottom.
Hatton is fighting to break Dean's control of his arms but Dean is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatton forces his way into half guard.
Dean is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hatton passes to full mount!

Hatton is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Dean to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Dean shrugs it off.
Hatton trying to control but Dean is having none of it.
Dean wants to hold on but Hatton pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean is squirming around, avoiding Hatton's attempts to control the action.
Hatton fails to move to back control.
Dean felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Hatton has control of Dean's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Dean regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Hatton wants to control the pace but Dean is squirming around nicely.

Hatton working for a submission but Dean is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean is desperately trying to improve his position but Hatton has a good base and remains in mount.

Dean defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hatton.
Dean holds on for dear life, controlling Hatton's posture momentarily.
Dean keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dean tries to hold on but Hatton postures up.
Hatton looking to control but Dean is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dean is looking to improve his position but Hatton isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Dean has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hatton is working away from the top position though.
Hatton trying to mount his opponent but Dean defends it.
Hatton is working hard here to advance position.
Dean keeping control of the position.
Hatton trying to control the action but Dean is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hatton trying to pass the guard but Dean defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Hatton dominated that round.
That's time! Hatton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice uppercut there from Dean.
Hatton looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hatton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dean.
Dean fails to land with a series of punches.
Hatton slips a jab from Dean.
Hatton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dean defends well and Hatton ends up having to push Dean into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck for Hatton with that takedown attempt.
Hatton ducks under a wild hook from Dean.
Hatton attempts a counter takedown but Dean avoids it well and moves away.
Dean jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hatton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dean throws a big shot that misses.
Hatton tries for a takedown but Dean circles away easily
and Dean counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Hatton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Hatton with that takedown attempt.
Dean misses with an uppercut.
Hatton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Hatton feints and as Dean raises his hands in defense, Hatton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dean seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Joey Hatton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatton looking to pass the guard.
Dean trying to control the position here.
Hatton tries to free his leg and advance position but Dean is retaining full guard.
Dean has control of Hatton's left arm, preventing Hatton from doing any damage.
Hatton looking to pass the guard.
Hatton advances position into side control!

That's two 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.
Dean is trying to get back to half guard.
Hatton tries to advance to mount but Dean denies him.
Dean struggling a bit here.
Dean controls the position for a moment.
Hatton advances to full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean wants to control but Hatton is having none of it.
Dean is desperately trying to improve his position but Hatton has a good base and remains in mount.
Hatton avoids the attempt from Dean to control.

Hatton is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Dean can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Dean is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hatton wants to control but instead Dean manages to regain half guard.
Hatton wants to free his trapped foot but Dean is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Dean is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Dean tries to get to full guard but Hatton has control of the leg.
Hatton wants to control but Dean is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dean is doing well to control the position and prevent Hatton from advancing to side control.
Dean is trying to maintain the position but Hatton is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Ralph Dean showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hatton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dean as he avoids it easily.

Hatton closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dean's guard.
Dean has his hands on Hatton's head, controlling the position.
Dean wants to stand up but Hatton is controlling him.
Dean has control of Hatton's left arm, preventing Hatton from doing any damage.
Hatton wants to control from the top but Dean keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatton pushing down on Dean's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dean tries to roll over but Hatton keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dean knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dean preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Dean wants to control but Hatton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dean is not content to let Hatton control the position.
Dean wants to get back to full guard.

Hatton is looking for a kimura here.
Dean keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hatton trying to mount his opponent but Dean defends it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
William Ralph Dean is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dean connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hatton ducks under a wild hook from Dean.
Hatton darts in looking for a takedown but Dean gets double underhooks and turns Hatton into the cage.
Dean might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hatton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dean but Dean pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Hatton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dean lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean misses with an uppercut. Hatton saw that one coming.
Hatton fails with a takedown attempt.
Hatton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dean throws out the jab.
Hatton attempts a counter takedown but Dean avoids it well and moves away.
Danga de danga de dang - Dean scores with a four punch combination!

Hatton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dean's half guard.

Hatton seems to be working for a kimura but Dean defends the submission attempt.
Hatton is trying to control the action in half guard but Dean is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dean is positioning himself well to prevent Hatton advancing to mount.
Dean tries to roll over but Hatton keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hatton is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dean sees it coming and defends easily.
Dean controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Hatton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dean is just riding it out for now. Hatton eventually gives up the hold.

Hatton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Ralph Dean comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dean has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Ralph Dean!