PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Demir Kocak (ranked 455 p4p, 625 weight class) and Mike Haggar (ranked 67 p4p, 87 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Kocak
vs
Haggar

210 cm
31
261
23 - 10 - 1

202 cm
32
266
23 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Akuma Wear
Voodoo Nutrition

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 23 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Demir Kocak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Haggar!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Haggar misses its intended target.
Haggar avoids the head kick by Kocak.
Haggar connects with a nice looking jab.

Haggar shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kocak manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Haggar throwing strikes but missing.
Haggar wants to pass the guard but Kocak is keeping the position.
Haggar with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haggar postures up in Kocak's guard and throws a big left but Kocak blocks it.
Haggar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haggar throwing strikes but missing.
Haggar looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kocak has his hands on Haggar's head, controlling the position.
Haggar throwing strikes from guard but Kocak blocks nicely.
Kocak seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Haggar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kocak seems keen to control Haggar's posture.
Haggar content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Haggar trying to control the position from guard on top but Kocak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kocak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Haggar.
Haggar postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Haggar working some strikes from top position.
Haggar trying to control but Kocak is working from the bottom.
Haggar throwing strikes from guard but Kocak blocks nicely.
Haggar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kocak works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Haggar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kocak swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kocak avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Haggar trying to control but Kocak is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggar scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kocak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Haggar trying to control but Kocak is working from the bottom.
Kocak pulls Haggar in to control the position.
Haggar looking to pass the guard.
Kocak controlling the position.
Haggar postures up and lands a big shot to Kocak's brow.
Kocak keeping moving, preventing Haggar from controlling successfully.
Haggar throws a big elbow that misses.
Haggar connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar looking to pass the guard.
Haggar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haggar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haggar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Haggar is fighting to break Kocak's control of his arms but Kocak is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Haggar works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nice strikes from Haggar there.
Haggar is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kocak makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kocak.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haggar is looking to work some ground and pound but Kocak has wrist control.
Kocak seems keen to control Haggar's posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kocak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haggar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haggar slips a straight right by Kocak.
Haggar misses with a wild body shot.
Haggar looks to throw the jab but Kocak is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Kocak misses the target.
Haggar just misses with a punch to the body.
Mike Haggar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Haggar. Beautiful body shot.
Kocak throws a series of strikes that have Haggar backpedaling.
Haggar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kocak staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haggar scores with a takedown into Kocak's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haggar looking to pass the guard.
Kocak controls Haggar momentarily but Haggar frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kocak has Haggar pulled in close to control his posture.
Haggar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kocak swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kocak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kocak trying to control the position here.
Haggar with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kocak controlling Haggar's posture.
Haggar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haggar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Haggar throws a big elbow that misses.
Haggar chips away with some ground and pound.
Haggar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kocak has control of Haggar's left arm, preventing Haggar from doing any damage.
Haggar stands up over Kocak, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haggar throws a big elbow that misses.
Haggar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Haggar working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Haggar stands and throws Kocak's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Haggar throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggar postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Haggar wants to control but Kocak is keeping him busy.
Haggar taking a breather here.
Kocak prevents Haggar from improving position.
Haggar misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Haggar swings around for an armbar but Kocak sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Haggar's guard.
Haggar wants to sweep here but Kocak controlling him for the moment.
Haggar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kocak's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar throwing strikes from guard but Kocak blocks nicely.
Kocak is trying to keep Haggar in close.
Haggar is pushing down on Kocak's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kocak is fighting to maintain full guard but Haggar has managed to sneak the leg through.
Haggar lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Haggar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kocak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Haggar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kocak wants to get back to full guard.
Haggar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kocak is trying to control but can't.
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! Kocak's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Haggar's corner calls for a 1-2. Haggar obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kocak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Haggar loads up on a big right hand but Kocak slips the punch.
Haggar dives in and grabs Kocak's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kocak pushes down on Haggar's head and hops out.
Kocak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Haggar throws out the jab.
Haggar throws a shot from downtown. Kocak moves away and avoids it.
Kocak throws a quick counter kick to the body but Haggar avoids it.
Kocak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Haggar cracks Kocak with a good jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Kocak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haggar gets a double leg takedown into Kocak's guard.
Haggar trying to control but Kocak is working from the bottom.
Haggar lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar forces his way into half guard.
Haggar drops an elbow to the side of Kocak's head.
Kocak blocking the ground and pound attempt from Haggar.
Haggar working over Kocak with some ground and pound. Kocak looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Haggar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kocak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Haggar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Haggar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kocak tries to get to full guard but Haggar has control of the leg.
Haggar trying to control the pace.
Haggar prevents Kocak from improving his position.
Demir Kocak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggar lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Haggar seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kocak does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Haggar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kocak defending well though.
Kocak has hold of Haggar's hands but Haggar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Haggar landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kocak is doing well to control the position and prevent Haggar from advancing to side control.
Haggar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kocak trying to control here.
Haggar lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Haggar.

Kocak is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Haggar pulls his head out easily.
Haggar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kocak blocking the ground and pound attempt from Haggar.
Haggar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Haggar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kocak defends it well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Haggar working Kocak over with strikes.
Haggar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Haggar landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Haggar landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Kocak is rocked!
Mike Haggar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haggar thows a huge punch but Kocak dodges it nicely.
Haggar lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Haggar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haggar not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kocak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Haggar working Kocak over with strikes.
Haggar landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Oh Kocak is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Haggar moves nicely into side control.
Kocak seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haggar working the ground and pound.

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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

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