PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mad Hatter (ranked 1370 p4p, 1778 weight class) and Van Driesen (ranked 73 p4p, 99 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.

Hatter
vs
Driesen

150 cm
22
130
8 - 4 - 0

164 cm
24
141
7 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mad Hatter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Van Driesen!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Driesen.
Hatter lands with a right hand.
We've been told by Hatter's head coaches at Yellow Lotus Center of Healing and Meditative Arts that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Driesen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hatter on his heels. He'll look to pass Hatter's guard now, I'm sure.
Driesen tries to free his leg and advance position but Hatter is retaining full guard.
Driesen wants to control from the top but Hatter keeps moving.
Driesen won't allow Hatter to get back to his feet.
Hatter on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hatter tries to get out of the position.
Driesen wants to control from the top but Hatter keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driesen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hatter's head.
Driesen throwing strikes from guard but Hatter blocks nicely.
Hatter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driesen is standing up over Hatter. Hatter looks to escape but Driesen dives into side control.
Hatter is trying to buck Driesen off.
Driesen wants to control but Hatter is keeping him busy.
Hatter wants to get back to his feet.
Driesen is looking to take a break and control but Hatter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Driesen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Driesen scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hatter pushes Driesen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Driesen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hatter stops Driesen from passing to mount.
Hatter tries to escape but Driesen is in control.
Driesen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Driesen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hatter pushes Driesen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Driesen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hatter avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Driesen.
Driesen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hatter bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatter looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hatter scores with a crisp jab that stopped Driesen in his tracks.
A low kick from Hatter is predictable there

and Driesen counters by moving into the clinch.
Hatter works on Driesen's body with a couple of short punches.
Hatter misses with a knee strike.
Hatter tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hatter lands a shoulder strike.

Hatter breaks the clinch.
Hatter connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Driesen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hatter defends it nicely.
Driesen is looking to clinch.
Hatter misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatter bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Driesen's head backwards.

Driesen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Driesen showed some decent athleticism there.

Hatter kicks off Driesen and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Driesen ducks under a wild hook from Hatter.
Driesen shoots in looking for a takedown but Hatter manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Driesen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hatter misses with a straight left.
The fighters circling - Hatter throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Driesen shoots for a takedown but Hatter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mad Hatter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van Driesen.
Good exchange - Hatter coming out on top.
Driesen looks to land a right hand but Hatter moved out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mad Hatter dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Driesen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hatter's guard.

Hatter has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Driesen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Driesen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hatter gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hatter is pressed up against the cage. Driesen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hatter down to the mat. Hatter avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Driesen or perhaps it was just good defense by Hatter, which made it look bad.
Mad Hatter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van Driesen.
Hatter looks to land a left hand but Driesen moved out of range nicely.
Hatter tries a low kick but Driesen avoids it.

Driesen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hatter!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hatter is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driesen looks up at the clock and then as Hatter takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Driesen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hatter is trying to buck Driesen off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Driesen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hatter tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Hatter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Driesen on the ground.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Driesen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driesen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hatter looks a forlorn figure.
Driesen with good strikes from the mount here!
Hatter is trying to stand.
Driesen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hatter is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Driesen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Van Driesen has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hatter tries to buck Driesen off but he can't manage it.
Driesen looking to finish Hatter with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hatter!

Hatter is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Driesen has hold of Hatter's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hatter manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Oh Hatter is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Driesen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hatter?
Driesen cracks Hatter with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Van Driesen!
A relieved looking Van Driesen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.