PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Valen Dreth (ranked 805 p4p, 1158 weight class) and James Hackett (ranked 84 p4p, 123 weight class). Hackett is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Foe Tha Love of Money. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Dreth
vs
Hackett

175 cm
27
148
11 - 5 - 0

175 cm
29
147
12 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valen Dreth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Hackett!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hackett thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dreth's corner calls for a 1-2. Dreth obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dreth takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hackett takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Dreth drives through with a takedown into Hackett's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hackett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hackett looking for a guillotine here but Dreth defends easily.
Dreth tries to free his leg and advance position but Hackett is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hackett throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Dreth escapes and throws Hackett's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Dreth tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hackett tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dreth wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Dreth goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hackett has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Dreth but great work by Hackett.
Hackett tries to advance to mount but Dreth denies him.
Dreth tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dreth parries the strikes from Hackett easily there. Hackett is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dreth to escape.

Hackett thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hackett is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dreth is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dreth tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hackett gets to mount! Dreth was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Dreth is trying desperately to improve position.
Dreth is working hard here to advance position.
Hackett tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dreth really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hackett controlling the position easily from mount.
Dreth wants to control but Hackett is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hackett content just to control the position here.
Dreth tries to hold on but Hackett postures up.

Dreth defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hackett.
Hackett controlling his opponent.
Hackett sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dreth regains half guard.
Dreth is refusing to be controlled, as Hackett sits in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Hackett will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Good standup being displayed there by Hackett as he connects with a hook.
Hackett is looking to chop away at Dreth's legs.
Dreth drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hackett sprawls and moves away.
Hackett ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hackett fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dreth on the side of the head.
Dreth throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dreth throws out a loose jab but Hackett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dreth slips a jab from Hackett.
Hackett uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dreth.
Hackett moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dreth displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hackett throws out the jab.
Hackett tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dreth slips a jab from Hackett.
Hackett paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hackett looks to throw the jab but Dreth is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dreth.
Hackett steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dreth.
Hackett scores with a sloppy right hand. Dreth should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dreth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hackett scores with a leg kick.
Hackett clobbers Dreth with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hackett lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dreth throws a low kick but Hackett moves out of range easily.
Dreth misses with a low kick.
Hackett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dreth sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hackett looks to land a left hand but Dreth moved out of range nicely.
Nice defenses there by Dreth.
Dreth shoots in looking for a takedown but Hackett manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dreth's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Hackett fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dreth, pushing him back against the cage.
Hackett working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hackett stalling in the clinch but Dreth improves position.
Dreth tries to work over Hackett's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Dreth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dreth does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hackett swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Dreth.
Hackett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hackett throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hackett lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hackett misses with a low kick.
Hackett lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dreth circles away quickly and effectively.
Hackett turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
James Hackett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hackett is looking to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hackett throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hackett takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
James Hackett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dreth misses with a low kick.
Dreth throws a low kick, looking for Hackett's leg but Hackett calmly moves out of range.
Dreth tries to bum rush Hackett with a series of wild strikes but Hackett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hackett scores with a jab to the head.
Hackett avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dreth ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hackett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sloppy strikes from Dreth. Those never looked like landing.
Dreth throws a leg kick but Hackett moved away.
A punch lands to the side of Dreth 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dreth on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hackett scores with a jab to the head.
Hackett misses with a looping left.
Dreth changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Dreth throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hackett on the side of the head.
Hackett does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Dreth fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hackett sprawls well initially but Dreth persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Hackett has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Dreth escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Dreth!
Valen Dreth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
You can see the frustration on Hackett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dreth wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hackett, who protects the arm well.
Hackett is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dreth off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dreth defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Hackett is hanging on to Dreth's back as he tries to escape.
Hackett is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Dreth rolls, trying to escape but Hackett keeps control of the position.
Dreth looking very determined here, making life difficult for Hackett.
Hackett controlling well, preventing Dreth from escaping the position.
Dreth trying to control but not successfully.

Hackett looking for the choke but no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Hackett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hackett tries to clinch up.
Valen Dreth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dreth on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Dreth misses with a leg kick.
Dreth throws a low kick but Hackett avoids it.
Hackett only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Dreth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dreth throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Dreth tries to keep at a distance but Hackett has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hackett scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right from Hackett.

Dreth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dreth on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hackett. Hackett obviously looking to wear him down.
Dreth attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
It seemed like Hackett was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Dreth throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dreth ducks right into an uppercut from Hackett.
Dreth shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jab, jab by Dreth - just one landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dreth stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hackett.
Dreth defending well as Hackett loads up on a big left hand.
Hackett lands a nice shot that snaps Dreth's head back.
Dreth closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dreth looks for a takedown but Hackett sprawls well.
Hackett lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hackett lands the left hand.
Dreth blocks a low kick nicely.
Hackett has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hackett looks to land a left hand but Dreth moved out of range nicely.
Dreth takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hackett throws an overhand right that lands on Dreth's shoulder, as Dreth tries to avoid the shot.
An inside leg kick from Hackett misses.
Hackett waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dreth.
Hackett fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dreth on the side of the head.
Dreth sizes up Hackett with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dreth is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dreth lands a right hook to the body.
Dreth lands with an overhand left.
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!
Hackett jabs Dreth right on the nose. Dreth blinks but takes it well.
Hackett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dreth slips under a jab.
Hackett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dreth sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dreth doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dreth throws a big shot that misses.
Hackett misses the jab.
Dreth swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hackett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dreth.
Hackett scores with a nice right hand.
Dreth throws the left hand but Hackett avoids the punch easily.
Hackett throws a shot from downtown. Dreth moves away and avoids it.
Hackett connects with a looping right hand.
Dreth chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hackett can pounce on him.
Hackett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dreth.
Hackett misses with a low kick.
Hackett walks into a stiff left hand from Dreth.
Dreth misses with a low kick.
Hackett works the jab nicely.
Hackett tests Dreth's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab lands there for Hackett.
Dreth lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hackett circles away quickly and effectively.
Hackett moves out of range as Dreth strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Hackett.
Dreth moves out of range as Hackett strikes.
Dreth shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hackett throws a right hand that misses
and Dreth counters with a low kick, right behind Hackett 's knee.
Dreth misses with an uppercut.

Dreth bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hackett struggling a bit here.
James Hackett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hackett is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hackett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dreth working the head and body with strikes.
Dreth tries to move to mount but Hackett blocks the move with his legs.
We've been hearing that Dreth has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hackett tries to bench press Dreth off him but Dreth keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dreth working away.

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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hackett!
James Hackett seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.