PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Svalbard Haudegen (ranked 391 p4p, 440 weight class) and Cormac Mac Airt (ranked 49 p4p, 54 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.

Haudegen
vs
Mac Airt

180 cm
35
161
23 - 9 - 0

178 cm
35
160
25 - 10 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

NARCOS
Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

NARCOS
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Svalbard Haudegen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 2, fighting out of London, Cormac Mac Airt!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Mac Airt misses the target.
Haudegen attempts a counter takedown but Mac Airt avoids it well and moves away.
Haudegen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mac Airt looks to throw the jab but Haudegen is out of range.
Haudegen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cormac Mac Airt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Haudegen tenderised Mac Airt's leg. Mac Airt is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mac Airt cracks Haudegen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Mac Airt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Haudegen.
Mac Airt throws an overhand right that lands on Haudegen's shoulder, as Haudegen tries to avoid the shot.
Haudegen feinted with a counter takedown.

Haudegen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Mac Airt tries to bench press Haudegen off him but Haudegen keeps the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haudegen trying to control the action but Mac Airt is working from the bottom.
Haudegen has control of an arm but Mac Airt manages to advance to Haudegen's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mac Airt is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Haudegen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Mac Airt is looking to control Haudegen but Haudegen is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Mac Airt controlling well, preventing Haudegen from escaping the position.
Mac Airt is trying to stick to Haudegen's back but Haudegen is turning into Mac Airt. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mac Airt's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Haudegen.
Mac Airt trying to keep a closed guard but Haudegen is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mac Airt trying to control the position.
Mac Airt wants to sweep here but Haudegen controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haudegen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Mac Airt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mac Airt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mac Airt throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mac Airt misses the jab.
Haudegen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mac Airt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Haudegen manages to avoid it.
Mac Airt misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Mac Airt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Haudegen throws a series of punches but Mac Airt avoids them all with ease.
Mac Airt appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Haudegen staying out of range there.
Mac Airt throws a nice looking combination but Haudegen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Haudegen jabs Mac Airt right on the nose. Mac Airt blinks but takes it well.
Mac Airt connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Haudegen momentarily.
Mac Airt thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mac Airt misses with a wild body shot.
Haudegen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haudegen misses with a body shot
and Mac Airt counters with a nice body shot.
Mac Airt misses with an uppercut. Haudegen saw that one coming.
Haudegen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mac Airt looks to score with a jab to the body but Haudegen is just out of range.
Haudegen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mac Airt.
Mac Airt checks a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cormac Mac Airt will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

The fighters circling - Haudegen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mac Airt misses with a looping right.
Haudegen blocks a jab.
Mac Airt lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mac Airt throws a right hand that misses

and Haudegen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mac Airt!
Haudegen is staying tight to Mac Airt's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Mac Airt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Haudegen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mac Airt is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Haudegen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Mac Airt is desperately trying to improve his position but Haudegen has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haudegen goes for an armbar but Mac Airt turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mac Airt.
Mac Airt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mac Airt trying to control the position from guard on top but Haudegen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haudegen can't keep his opponent in guard - Mac Airt advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Haudegen moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mac Airt is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Haudegen keeping full guard, as Mac Airt tries to pass.
Mac Airt wants to control from the top but Haudegen keeps moving.
Mac Airt is pushing down on Haudegen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Haudegen is fighting to maintain full guard but Mac Airt has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mac Airt trying to control the action but Haudegen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Haudegen is trying to control but Mac Airt manages to pass to mount!
Mac Airt looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mac Airt looking to control but Haudegen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mac Airt controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Mac Airt jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Haudegen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Haudegen and Mac Airt has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Haudegen gets back to half guard.
Mac Airt stalling away here and it's allowed Haudegen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Mac Airt wants to control from the top but Haudegen keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cormac Mac Airt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Haudegen.

Haudegen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mac Airt is trying to defend but Haudegen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Haudegen controlling the pace.
Mac Airt is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haudegen trying to control from half guard but Mac Airt is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haudegen trying to control the pace.

Haudegen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A big right from Mac Airt misses.
A swing and a miss from Mac Airt.
Haudegen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Svalbard Haudegen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mac Airt throws a right hand that misses

and Haudegen counters with a takedown into side control.
Mac Airt is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Haudegen trying to control the position but Mac Airt is working away.
Mac Airt is looking for a sweep.

Mac Airt wants to improve his position, back to half guard but Haudegen has ideas of his own. He's got hold of Mac Airt's far side arm and it looks like he's got an Americana. Ohh! Ohhhh! OOOOOOOOOH! A human being's arm is not meant to bend like that! Mac Airt is tapping like a morse code operator on the Titanic! SOS SOS! He's out of here! Great win for Haudegen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Svalbard Haudegen!
An out of breath Svalbard Haudegen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.