PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Hatton (ranked 1940 p4p, 254 weight class) and Rodney Alcala (ranked 2914 p4p, 359 weight class). Hatton comes to the cage accompanied by deadman. Rodney Alcala will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hatton
vs
Alcala

190 cm
29
190 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

200 cm
19
195 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Hatton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rodney Alcala!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Columbo Gatti and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatton throws a right hand that Alcala ducks under and follows up with a left that Alcala also avoids with ease.
Alcala lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alcala.
Alcala walks into a stiff left hand from Hatton.
Alcala closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Alcala fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Alcala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hatton getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
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!
Hatton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alcala moves away.
Alcala lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Alcala throws a body punch but Hatton moves out of range.
Nice shot by Alcala.
Alcala scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Alcala throws an off balance right hand

and Hatton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Alcala misses with a body punch.
Alcala lands a shoulder strike.
Alcala tries a body shot but Hatton blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Alcala.
Alcala is pressed up against the cage. Hatton has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alcala down to the mat. Alcala avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Alcala avoids the body shot from Hatton.
A little jabbing left from Alcala on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Alcala misses with a hook to the body

and Hatton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Alcala keeping moving, preventing Hatton from controlling successfully.
Alcala is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hatton forces his way into half guard.
Hatton wants to take a breather but Alcala is having none of it.
Hatton is pressing down on Alcala's thigh, looking to free his foot. Alcala is holding on for now.
Hatton is trying to control the action in half guard but Alcala is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcala is trying to stand up here but Hatton is controlling him well.
Hatton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Hatton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hatton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alcala is not content to let Hatton control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alcala wants to get back to his feet.

Hatton is working for a submission of some sort.
We've been hearing good reports from Hatton's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Hatton trying to control the action but Alcala is working from the bottom.
Hatton is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hatton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Hatton is trying to work for a kimura but Alcala is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatton trying to mount his opponent but Alcala defends it.
Hatton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hatton wants to control but Alcala is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hatton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hatton is pressing down on Alcala's thigh, looking to free his foot. Alcala is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rodney Alcala 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.

Hatton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alcala is fending him off so far but Hatton persists. Nope, Alcala circles away and we're back to standing.
A shot to the body from Alcala misses
enabling Hatton to counter with a crisp jab.
Hatton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hatton drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Alcala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alcala catches Hatton with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Alcala throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Alcala's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hatton under the eye.
Alcala misses with a few strikes there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alcala avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Alcala - just one landing.
Alcala misses with a double jab.
Hatton throws a big shot that misses.
Alcala lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Alcala swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hatton counters with a straight right hand.
Alcala with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rodney Alcala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alcala throws a hook but Hatton avoids it easily.
Alcala catches Hatton with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Alcala has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Alcala misses with a hook.
Hatton lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Alcala at a distance.
Alcala tries to bum rush Hatton with a series of wild strikes but Hatton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hatton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
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!
Alcala punishes Hatton's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatton throws a looping overhand right but Alcala ducks down to avoid it.
Alcala throws a right hand that misses

and Hatton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hatton looking to pass the guard.
Hatton trying to control but Alcala is working from the bottom.
Hatton passes into half guard.
Joey Hatton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatton is looking to pass Alcala's guard but actually Alcala recovers to full guard.
Hatton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hatton passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hatton is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hatton wants to control from the top but Alcala keeps moving.
Hatton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hatton advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatton wants to free his trapped foot but Alcala is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Hatton stands up and beckons Alcala to join him on the feet.
Alcala stuffs the takedown attempt from Hatton. Hatton gets slowly back to his feet.
Alcala swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Hatton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hatton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alcala lands a jab to Hatton's midsection.
Alcala takes a swing at Hatton's ribcage but misses.
Hatton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Alcala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Alcala stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Alcala misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Alcala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hatton uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alcala.
Alcala throws a series of punches but Hatton moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Alcala.
Hatton swings for the body but Alcala moves out of range.
Hatton goes for a double leg but Alcala avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Alcala continues to drive forward.
Alcala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alcala takes a swing at Hatton's ribcage but misses.

Hatton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Alcala tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hatton is in Alcala's guard.

Alcala manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rodney Alcala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alcala misses with a wild body shot.
Rodney Alcala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alcala lands with a cross.
Nice straight punches there by Alcala. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Alcala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcala moves out of range of the strikes.
Alcala misses with a series of wild punches.
Alcala misses with a combination

and Hatton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hatton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hatton tries to free his leg and advance position but Alcala is retaining full guard.
Hatton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hatton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alcala is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alcala wants to get back to his feet but Hatton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Alcala avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hatton trying to control but Alcala is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Joey Hatton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alcala has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hatton's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Alcala connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hatton scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alcala gets tackled into the cage by Hatton. Hatton maintains the clinch.

Hatton gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Alcala is looking to get back to is feet but Hatton passes into side control.
Hatton trying to control the action but Alcala is working from the bottom.
Alcala avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hatton.
Alcala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hatton decides to stand up, so the ref orders Alcala to his feet.
Alcala misses with a body shot.
Alcala gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatton gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Alcala.
Hatton missing with a left hand there. Alcala was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alcala misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hatton.
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!
Alcala lands a nice hook to Hatton's body. Hatton takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alcala throws a lazy right hand but Hatton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hatton was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hatton takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hatton lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Alcala misses with a right hand

and Hatton holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Alcala tries to throw a body punch but Hatton avoids it by throwing Alcala back against the cage.
Hatton goes for a takedown attempt but Alcala pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hatton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodney Alcala is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hatton gets cracked there but stands up to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rodney Alcala.
I've got Alcala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rodney Alcala!
Rodney Alcala gave a mention to Woodshins' Ship in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).