PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fernand Duif (ranked 2016 p4p, 1535 weight class) and Mike Haggar (ranked 286 p4p, 225 weight class). Mike Haggar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Duif
vs
Haggar

192 cm
35
274
15 - 12 - 0

202 cm
30
266
19 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conviction

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fernand Duif!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Haggar!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Haggar shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Haggar was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Haggar throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Haggar tries to score with some ground and pound. Duif controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Haggar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haggar throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Haggar cracks Duif with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Haggar cracks Duif with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Haggar is putting a hurting on Duif here, landing some big shots from side control.
Duif gets back to half guard.
Duif on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haggar slips a nice elbow through Duif's hands, connecting with Duif's forehead.
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!
Duif tries to roll over but Haggar keeps him under control.
Haggar throwing shots but Duif is blocking nicely.
Haggar is just content to waste time from the top position. Duif takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Haggar lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duif keeping moving, preventing Haggar from controlling successfully.
Haggar wants to pass the guard but Duif is keeping the position.
Haggar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Haggar stands and throws Duif's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Haggar trying to control the position but Duif is working away.
Haggar working the body and head with strikes.
Duif sneaks back into half guard.
My spies in Crapollas Gym inform me that Haggar has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Haggar winds up and cracks Duif with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggar throwing shots but Duif is blocking nicely.
Haggar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Duif defending well though.
Duif has hold of Haggar's hands but Haggar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Duif wants to improve his position but Haggar is controlling well.
Haggar thows a huge punch but Duif dodges it nicely.
Haggar throws a strike but Duif avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Haggar is looking to work some ground and pound but Duif has wrist control.
Haggar is fighting to break Duif's control of his arms but Duif is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Haggar postures up in Duif's guard and throws a big left but Duif blocks it.
Haggar stopping the sweep attempt from Duif.
Haggar throws an elbow that misses. Duif uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Haggar's guard. Nice move by Duif!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Haggar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duif wants to control from the top but Haggar keeps moving.
Duif won't allow Haggar to sweep him here.
Duif wants to pass the guard but Haggar is keeping the position.
Haggar can't keep his opponent in guard - Duif advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Duif content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Duif is just content to waste time from the top position. Haggar takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Haggar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Duif is one step ahead there.
Duif controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Duif trying to control but Haggar is working from the bottom.
Duif's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Haggar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Duif controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Duif's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haggar looks to score with a jab to the body but Duif is just out of range.
Duif looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Haggar scores with a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Duif walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Haggar shoots for a double leg takedown but Duif sprawls well. He's pushed Haggar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Haggar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haggar clobbers Duif with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A left lands for Haggar.
Duif tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haggar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Haggar bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Duif's head.
Haggar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Duif as he jumps to the side.
Duif takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Duif throws a head kick but Haggar moves out of range.
A leg kick checked by Haggar.
Haggar uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Haggar avoids the head kick by Duif.
Duif keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Haggar.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Haggar or perhaps it was just good defense by Duif, which made it look bad.
Fernand Duif has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Haggar.

Duif tries to sprawl but Haggar drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duif avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Haggar.
Haggar thows a huge punch but Duif dodges it nicely.
Haggar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Haggar lands strikes from half guard.
Haggar not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Duif has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Haggar is working away from the top position though.
Haggar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Haggar throwing shots but Duif is blocking nicely.
Haggar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haggar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haggar trying to control the action but Duif is working from the bottom.
Haggar wants to advance to full mount but Duif doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggar stopping the sweep attempt from Duif.
Haggar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Duif is keeping the position for now.
Duif lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Haggar is on top in guard.

Haggar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Duif preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haggar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Haggar lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Duif wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haggar drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Haggar trying to control the position but Duif is working away.
Haggar in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Duif regains half guard, as Haggar was trying to land strikes.
Duif won't allow Haggar to pass to mount.
Duif is looking to improve his position.
Duif has hold of Haggar's hands but Haggar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Haggar thows a huge punch but Duif dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duif wants to get back to full guard.
Haggar throwing shots but Duif is blocking nicely.
Haggar slips a nice elbow through Duif's hands, connecting with Duif's forehead.
Haggar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Haggar is trying to control. Duif wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Haggar throwing shots but Duif is blocking nicely.
Duif is refusing to be controlled, as Haggar sits in half guard.
Duif keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Haggar throwing shots but Duif is blocking nicely.
Haggar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haggar throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Duif to regain full guard.
Haggar throwing strikes but missing.
Haggar scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Duif's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No joy there for Haggar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Haggar scores with a nice right hand.
Haggar has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Haggar shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Duif manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Duif wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Haggar manages to pass to side control.
Haggar seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Duif does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Haggar working the head and body with strikes.
Haggar misses with a head shot. Duif uses the momentum to regain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haggar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Haggar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Haggar throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar stands and throws Duif's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Duif is working to avoid the ground and pound but Haggar connects with a decent elbow.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Haggar in side control, throwing shots but Duif defends.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duif is trying to improve his position.
The strikes coming from Haggar are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Haggar sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Duif is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Haggar is trying to ground and pound but Duif uses the momentary lack of control by Haggar to regain half guard.
Haggar winds up and cracks Duif with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fernand Duif has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duif is looking to improve his position.
Haggar looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Haggar is looking to stall here but Duif recovers full guard.
Haggar is in close to Duif's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Duif looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Duif keeping moving, preventing Haggar from controlling successfully.
Haggar postures up in Duif's guard and throws a big left but Duif blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggar throws a big right hand that misses.
Haggar trying to control the position from guard on top but Duif is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haggar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Haggar keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Duif's head.
Duif controlling Haggar's posture.
Duif is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Haggar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duif swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haggar working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Haggar scoring with punches to the head and body.
Haggar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Duif preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Haggar throws a big elbow that misses.
Haggar scoring with punches to the head and body.
Haggar wants to pass the guard but Duif is keeping the position.
Haggar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Duif works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Duif utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haggar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Haggar lands a couple of digs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haggar working some strikes from top position.
Mike Haggar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Haggar cracks Duif with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Haggar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Haggar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Haggar!