PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Tuason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Haggard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tuason kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Let the bodies hit the floor. Haggard has chosen Beautiful Mourning - Machine Head as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The key to victory for Marcel Tuason has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tuason
vs
Haggard

175 cm
21
199 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcel Tuason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Haggard!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Haggard slams his shin into Tuason's torso.
Haggard swats away the attempt to clinch by Tuason.
Haggard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Haggard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Haggard wants it to stay on the feet.
Tuason tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haggard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tuason lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Haggard misses with a body kick.
Haggard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tuason takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haggard scores with a nice strike.
Tuason staying out of range there.

Haggard bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Tuason! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Tuason is rocked!
Haggard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Oh Tuason is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Haggard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tuason's head.
Tuason seems to have got his legs back now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Haggard gets to his feet. Tuason looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Tuason looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tuason is breathing heavily.

Haggard has his feet on Tuason's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tuason. That did some damage!
Tuason stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Haggard.

Haggard throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Tuason tumbling to the canvas!

Haggard stands up and waves to Tuason to follow him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Haggard scores a takedown into full mount!
Tuason in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tuason knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Haggard on the ground.
Haggard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Haggard controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggard working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tuason takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Haggard tries to control but Tuason wriggling away.
Haggard with a couple of short strikes.
Haggard with shots to the head and body - Tuason looks very uncomfortable down there.
Haggard cracks Tuason with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Haggard breaks from Tuason's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Haggard with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggard breaks from Tuason's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Haggard unloading with bombs!
Haggard working Tuason over with strikes here.
Tuason wants to hold on but Haggard pushes him away.
Haggard landing strikes from the mount.
Haggard in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Haggard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Haggard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tuason tries to lock up and control but Haggard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Haggard lands with some strikes.
Haggard prevents Tuason from getting the reversal.
Haggard with shots to the head and body - Tuason looks very uncomfortable down there.

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.
Tuason wants to control but Haggard is having none of it.

Haggard looking for a guillotine from mount but Tuason is having none of it.
Haggard trying to control but Tuason is having none of it.
Tuason tries to hold on but Haggard pushes him away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haggard landing punches.
Haggard landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Haggard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Haggard scores with a jab to the head.

Haggard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tuason with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tuason trying to stand up but can't free himself from Haggard's guard.

Haggard scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Haggard tries for a takedown but Tuason circles away easily

and Tuason counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Haggard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Haggard somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Tuason does no damage.
Haggard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Haggard digs a good body shot into Tuason's ribs.
Marcel Tuason is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Haggard, as that shot connected.
Tuason swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Haggard moves into range and clinches up with Tuason.

Haggard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matt Haggard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tuason throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Haggard's waist but Haggard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tuason off to one side.
A right-left combo lands from Tuason.
Tuason dodges the punch combination from Haggard.
Haggard throws a combination that misses

and Tuason counters with a shoot takedown. Haggard fights it but they end up in guard.

Haggard is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuason goes for a takedown attempt but Haggard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Haggard throws a leg kick which misses Tuason's front leg but catches the back leg as Tuason tries to avoid it.
Haggard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Haggard lands a lovely overhand right.

Haggard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tuason pushes Haggard off looking to stand but Haggard dives back in and keeps control.

Haggard stands up from half guard.

Tuason closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haggard breaks from the clinch.
Tuason chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Haggard can pounce on him.
Haggard lands a nice looking body shot.
Haggard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tuason sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tuason throws a head kick but Haggard moves out of range.
Haggard tries to clinch but Tuason moves away
and Haggard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Haggard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tuason counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Haggard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tuason with a lazy takedown attempt
and Haggard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcel Tuason. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Haggard gets a takedown into half guard.
Haggard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuason keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Haggard stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Tuason looks to clinch

and Haggard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tuason is looking to break free of the clinch but Haggard has double underhooks.
Tuason is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Haggard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Haggard tries to clinch up but Tuason circles away and keeps his distance.
Haggard goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Haggard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haggard tries to bum rush Tuason with a series of wild strikes but Tuason uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Haggard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tuason is looking to clinch but Haggard is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Haggard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tuason scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Matt Haggard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tuason shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Haggard counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Haggard looks to clinch

and Tuason counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Haggard manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Haggard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tuason's sensitive parts.

Haggard pushes Tuason up against the cage in a clinch.

Haggard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Haggard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tuason lands a two punch combo.
Tuason with a poor takedown

and Haggard counters by clinching up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Haggard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tuason throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Haggard was covering up waiting for the punch and Tuason finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Haggard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tuason.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuason trying to control the position from guard on top but Haggard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haggard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Haggard keeping moving, preventing Tuason from controlling successfully.

Haggard is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Haggard manages to pull guard.

Haggard wriggles free and stands up.
Haggard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tuason.
Haggard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Haggard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Haggard. Tuason shrugs it off though.
Tuason tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Haggard counters with a body kick that stops Tuason in his tracks momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggard falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tuason decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Haggard's guard.

Haggard kicks Tuason off and gets to his feet.
Tuason throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Haggard.
Haggard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Tuason fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Haggard, pushing him back against the cage.

Haggard is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tuason is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Haggard to the mat. Haggard regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Haggard keeping moving, preventing Tuason from controlling successfully.
Haggard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tuason is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haggard uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Haggard closes the distance and clinches.

Haggard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marcel Tuason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Haggard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haggard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tuason. That did some damage!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcel Tuason.
Well Haggard 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Haggard!