PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Hatton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paddy McLeish (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hatton
vs
McLeish

180 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Hatton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paddy McLeish!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLeish thows a body shot but no joy.
McLeish throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McLeish tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hatton swivels and escapes.
An inside leg kick from Hatton misses.
Hatton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hatton wants it to stay on the feet.
Hatton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hatton stuffs the takedown.
Ricky Hatton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paddy McLeish.
McLeish looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hatton tries to close the distance and clinch but McLeish swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hatton has a takedown stuffed.
McLeish tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hatton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McLeish somewhat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hatton is defended easily by McLeish.
McLeish fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Hatton.

Hatton gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hatton breaks from the clinch.
Hatton shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from McLeish. No joy for Hatton on that attempt.
McLeish swats away the attempt to clinch by Hatton.
McLeish tries to land a body kick

and Hatton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hatton.

McLeish jumps into guard, dragging Hatton to the mat.
Hatton won't allow McLeish to sweep him here.

McLeish is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hatton is aware though and is defending well.
Hatton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatton with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hatton gets to his feet. McLeish looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hatton thuds his shin into the meat of McLeish's side.
McLeish looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hatton shoots in and drives through. McLeish sprawls well.
Hatton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Hatton or perhaps it was just good defense by McLeish which made him look bad.
McLeish tries to clinch but Hatton moves out of range.
Hatton shoots in but no luck this time.
McLeish dives in and grabs Hatton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hatton pushes down on McLeish's head and hops out.
McLeish will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Hatton clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hatton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hatton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McLeish.
Hatton shoots for a takedown but McLeish saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McLeish fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McLeish is defended easily by Hatton.
McLeish is looking to clinch.
McLeish uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hatton.
McLeish tries to clinch up

and Hatton moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hatton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McLeish fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hatton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hatton shoots in for a takedown but McLeish shows good takedown defense.
McLeish defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hatton.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hatton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. McLeish manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hatton has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hatton manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Hatton dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hatton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McLeish jumps guard but Hatton stands there with McLeish around his waist. McLeish gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
McLeish wants a takedown but no success here.

Hatton decides to pull guard.
Hatton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hatton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hatton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hatton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
McLeish throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hatton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLeish wants to pass the guard but Hatton is keeping the position.
Hatton keeping moving, preventing McLeish from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Paddy McLeish.

Hatton gets a clinch.
Hatton slowing the pace effectively.
McLeish tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ricky Hatton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paddy McLeish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLeish looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hatton pulls McLeish into guard.

Hatton has his foot on McLeish's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McLeish works his way back into a safe position though.
Hatton keeping moving, preventing McLeish from controlling successfully.
Hatton wants to sweep but no luck.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
McLeish looking to pass the guard.
McLeish must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paddy McLeish was stalling too much, according to the referee.
McLeish shoots in for a takedown but Hatton shows good takedown defense.
McLeish is breathing heavily.
McLeish fails with a takedown attempt.
McLeish is looking to clinch but Hatton is avoiding it.
McLeish tries to clinch there but Hatton circles away.
Hatton misses with a few strikes there.

McLeish moves into the clinch successfully.
Hatton jumps guard but McLeish stands there with Hatton around his waist. Hatton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hatton jumps guard but McLeish turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLeish is trying to break free.
McLeish drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McLeish has Hatton pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hatton manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hatton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McLeish fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McLeish tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hatton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hatton moves into range and clinches up with McLeish.
Hatton is looking for a takedown.
McLeish tries to break the clinch but Hatton is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ricky Hatton will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hatton fails to land the takedown.
Ricky Hatton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McLeish tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hatton closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hatton avoids the head kick by McLeish.
McLeish is looking to clinch.
McLeish shoots for a double leg takedown but Hatton sprawls well. He's pushed McLeish's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice sprawl there from Hatton as McLeish shoots in.
Hatton tries to bum rush McLeish with a series of wild strikes but McLeish uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That kick from Hatton tenderised McLeish's leg. McLeish is trying to keep his angry face on.

Hatton rushes McLeish and presses him up against the cage.
McLeish tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ricky Hatton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paddy McLeish.
McLeish takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McLeish smiles and moves away.

Hatton clinches up against the cage.
Hatton jumps guard but McLeish turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

McLeish manages to break the clinch.
Hatton shoots in but McLeish avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McLeish lands with a kick to the temple. Hatton shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McLeish closes the distance and clinches up with Hatton, looking for a takedown. McLeish pushes Hatton against the cage but Hatton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hatton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hatton feints and then cracks McLeish's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McLeish down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatton tries to clinch up but McLeish circles away and keeps his distance.
Hatton looks for a takedown but McLeish sprawls well.
Hatton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McLeish defends it nicely.
Hatton tries to clinch but McLeish moves out of range.
McLeish fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hatton is defended easily by McLeish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from McLeish as Hatton shoots in.
McLeish fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Hatton closes the distance and clinches.
Hatton holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Hatton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hatton doesn't manage to clinch there - McLeish circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatton circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hatton is defended easily by McLeish.
The fight stays on the outside here - McLeish looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McLeish misses with a takedown attempt - Hatton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McLeish shoots in and drives through. Hatton sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hatton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McLeish.
Paddy McLeish has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricky Hatton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hatton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Hatton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hatton, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Hatton!