PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Hackett (ranked 492 p4p, 535 weight class) and Nacho Varga (ranked 53 p4p, 56 weight class). Hackett's entrance music is Foe Tha Love of Money. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hackett
vs
Varga

175 cm
29
147
14 - 8 - 1

180 cm
30
145
19 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
SynCity Fightwear

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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Hackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nacho Varga!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hackett connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Good leg kick by Hackett.
Hackett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Varga! But no joy.
Varga misses with a kick to the body.
Nice cross by Hackett.
Hackett misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Varga goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A leg kick checked by Varga.
Varga now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hackett changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Varga checks a leg kick.
Varga doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varga is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hackett.
Hackett throws a quick counter head kick but Varga was just out of range.
Hackett avoids a kick to the body.
Varga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hackett.
Varga feints a counter leg kick.
Varga loads up on a big right hand but Hackett slips the punch.
Varga takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hackett throws a nice outside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hackett. Varga does a little dance to reset his feet.
Varga steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Hackett throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varga slips a straight right by Hackett.
James Hackett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hackett throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Varga counters with a crisp one two that drops Hackett! Varga thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Hackett to his feet! Hackett is in big trouble!

Hackett is rocked!
Hackett throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Varga sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Hackett.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hackett, as that shot connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Varga displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hackett throws out the jab.
Hackett lands a nice looking body kick.
Hackett swings widly with a right hand
and Varga counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varga lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hackett pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hackett tries to land a front kick but Varga steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hackett swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Varga lands a big head kick that sends Hackett tumbling to the mat! Varga takes a step backwards and waves Hackett back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Oh Hackett is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Varga uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hackett.
Hackett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Varga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Varga looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hackett seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hackett looks to throw a body kick
and Varga counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Varga swings for the body but Hackett moves out of range.
It looked like Hackett wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hackett misses with a hook. Varga ducked under it nicely.
Varga raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Varga on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Varga missing with a left hand there. Hackett was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little feinted left hand from Hackett on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Varga misses with the body kick
and Hackett counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hackett motions for Varga to come forward. Hackett throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hackett works the jab nicely.

It looks like Nacho Varga has been cut.
Hackett scores with a jab to the jaw.

Varga is rocked!
Hackett is looking to land body kicks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Hackett will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nacho Varga's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Varga on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Varga is still on wobbly legs! Can Hackett finish him?
Hackett throws a leg kick but Varga sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Varga is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hackett with a body shot.
Varga seems to have recovered his senses.
Hackett throws a nice outside leg kick.
Varga checks a low kick from Hackett.
A slow jab from Hackett misses its intended target.
A nice side step and Varga releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Varga throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hackett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hackett on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Varga. Varga obviously looking to wear him down.
Hackett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Varga can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Hackett. Those never looked like landing.
Varga gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hackett counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hackett lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A jab from Hackett misses.
Varga appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hackett throws a looping overhand right but Varga ducks down to avoid it.
Varga is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Varga chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hackett can pounce on him.
Hackett with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Varga to score with a decent uppercut.
Varga throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varga misses with a double jab
and Hackett counters with a straight right hand.
Varga is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Varga lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hackett circles away quickly and effectively.
A little feinted left hand from Hackett on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Varga throws a predictable looking body shot

and Hackett counters with a crisp right hand that drops Varga! Hackett lets Varga back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Varga scores with a sloppy right hand. Hackett should have avoided that one.
Hackett lands a jab to the head.
Hackett cracks Varga with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Varga falls to his knees and Hackett doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Hackett!
James Hackett thanked the fans post fight for their support.