PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Snape (ranked 2864 p4p, 309 weight class) and James Hackett (ranked 2633 p4p, 288 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Snape
vs
Hackett

175 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, John Snape!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Hackett!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hackett fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Snape looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hackett works Snape's body with a nice hook.
Nice body punch from Hackett.
Hackett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Snape moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Snape keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hackett.
Hackett just misses with a punch to the body.
Hackett throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Snape cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hackett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Snape appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hackett tries to clinch up but Snape circles away and keeps his distance.
Snape fires out a quick counter leg kick but Hackett just manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hackett throws a shot from downtown. Snape moves away and avoids it.
Hackett fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Snape throws a big shot that misses.
Hackett lands a jab to Snape's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hackett misses with the combination.
Snape tried to counter with a leg kick but Hackett avoided it.
Hackett scores with a shot to the body.
Hackett misses with the combination.
A little feinted left hand from Snape on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hackett is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Snape rather than just go for the knockout.

Hackett moves into the clinch successfully.
Snape lands an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Hackett.
Hackett tries to work over Snape's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Snape slowing the pace effectively.
A nice left hand lands by Hackett.
Snape lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hackett digs a right hand underneath Snape's ribcage. Snape let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snape lands a right hand.
Hackett tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hackett working aggressively here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A left hand lands to the body for Hackett.

Snape jumps into guard, dragging Hackett to the mat.
Snape looking to control.
Snape is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hackett is looking to control Snape's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hackett avoid being mounted?

Hackett looking for subs from the bottom but Snape mounts him!
Hackett wants to hold on but Snape pushes him away.
Snape takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hackett is trying desperately to improve position.
Hackett tries to lock up and control but Snape gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snape takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hackett tries to hold on but Snape postures up.
Snape looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hackett wants to control but Snape is having none of it.
Hackett manages to control the position for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hackett wants to control but Snape is having none of it.
Hackett working to try and regain half guard.
Hackett tries to hold on but Snape pushes him away.
Hackett regains half guard.
Snape wants to control but Hackett is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Hackett will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A looping hook to the body misses from Hackett. Snape does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hackett connects with a body shot that sends Snape's belly button to the back.
Snape connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Snape tries to land a leg kick but Hackett saw it coming and moves away.
A nice side step and Hackett releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hackett changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hackett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Snape misses with a low kick as Hackett jumps back.
Hackett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Snape was well out of range. Poor timing from Hackett.
Snape swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hackett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hackett misses with a wild body shot.
Snape fires out a quick counter leg kick but Hackett just manages to avoid it.
Hackett moves to clinch but Snape breaks away
and Snape counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Snape tries to keep at a distance but Hackett has taken the fight into the clinch.

Snape pulls guard.
Snape looking for a sweep. Not yet Snape, not yet.

Hackett drops back looking for a leg! Snape is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Snape manages to kick Hackett off! Hackett jumps back into Snape's guard.
Hackett trying to control the position from guard on top but Snape is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hackett won't allow Snape to sweep him here.
Snape has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hackett sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hackett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Snape is trying to keep Hackett in close.
Snape has control of Hackett's left arm, preventing Hackett from doing any damage.
Hackett trying to control the position from guard on top but Snape is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Snape is trying to control the position but Hackett postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hackett misses with a shot to the body
and Snape cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Hackett moves into the clinch successfully.
Snape tries to throw a body punch but Hackett avoids it by throwing Snape back against the cage.

Snape escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hackett's coach down at The Jungle Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hackett's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hackett's corner calls for a 1-2. Hackett obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hackett closes the distance but Snape moves to the side
and Snape counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hackett throws a hook to the side of Snape's head but Snape sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hackett throws a one two combo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Snape.
Hackett slips under a jab.
Hackett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Snape swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Snape appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hackett throws a body punch but Snape moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Snape on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Snape takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Snape listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

It looks like James Hackett has been cut.
James Hackett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hackett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hackett throws a body shot but no joy.
Snape feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hackett scores with a nice right hand.
Hackett throws a combination that misses
and Snape counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Snape uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hackett.
Good leg kick by Snape there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice uppercut lands for Hackett. That snapped Snape's head back.
Hackett misses the shot to the body.
Snape throws a lazy right hand but Hackett sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A low kick from Snape misses
and Hackett counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
James Hackett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Snape slips under a jab from Hackett.
Snape lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Hackett lands a right hook to the body.
Hackett misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Hackett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on James Hackett's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Hackett finds it's way through Snape's defenses.
Hackett closes the distance looking to clinch
and Snape counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hackett misses with a body punch
and Snape counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hackett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Snape was well out of range. Poor timing from Hackett.
Snape appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hackett throws a hook but Snape blocks it.
Snape thinks about countering with a head kick.
Snape needs to keep his hands up - Hackett had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Snape takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hackett misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hackett misses the jab.
Hackett misses the shot to the body.
Snape thinks about countering with a head kick.
Hackett throws a right hand that misses
letting Snape counter with a right hand.
Hackett misses with the combination.
Snape swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Snape.
Hackett missing with a left hand there. Snape was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As Hackett backs away, Snape returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Hackett lands a nice shot to the body.
Hackett ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hackett throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Snape to counter with a crisp jab.
John Snape has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hackett punishes Snape's body with a nice straight punch.
Hackett is looking to clinch.
Hackett wants to clinch but Snape slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hackett misses with a body shot.
Snape walks into a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hackett moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Snape throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hackett moves in looking to clinch but Snape pushes him off.
Snape throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hackett bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hackett misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Hackett misses its intended target.
Snape is looking to counter punch.
Snape circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hackett blocks a leg kick.
Hackett moves away from the strike by Snape.
Hackett avoids a kick to the body.
A jab from Hackett misses.

Hackett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Snape gets control of Hackett's arms and successfully pulls guard. Snape will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hackett wants to control from the top but Snape keeps moving.
Hackett content to stall in guard here.
Hackett trying to control the position from guard on top but Snape is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snape knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hackett on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Snape is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Snape keeping moving, preventing Hackett from controlling successfully.
Hackett tries to free his leg and advance position but Snape is retaining full guard.
Snape is pulling down on Hackett's head. It's preventing any offense from Hackett, at least for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hackett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Snape.
Hackett will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Snape feinted there with a counter leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hackett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hackett 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hackett!