PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Claus Haba (ranked 1157 p4p, 2029 weight class) and Bernie Sanders (ranked 75 p4p, 123 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Haba
vs
Sanders

150 cm
22
138
9 - 0 - 1

150 cm
31
134
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Claus Haba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bernie Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Left hook, right uppercut from Sanders.

It looks like Claus Haba has been cut.
Haba looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanders is just out of range.
And Sanders tries to counter it with a takedown but Haba pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Haba throws a sloppy body shot
and Sanders counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Haba thinking.

Haba has Sanders up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sanders lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sanders looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Haba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Haba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sanders tries to close the distance and clinch but Haba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A quick step to the side and Haba tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Haba throws a series of punches but Sanders moves out of range.
Haba tries to clinch but Sanders moves out of range.

Sanders pushes Haba up against the cage in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Haba manages to break the clinch.
Haba swinging wildly here.
A punch combination from Haba misses.
Sanders dodges the punch combination from Haba.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Sanders scores with a shoulder strike.
Haba is trying to break the clinch but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Good body shot from Haba.
Haba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haba blocks an uppercut.

Haba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanders tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Haba can't break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Haba.
Sanders leaning his opponent against the cage.
Haba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haba stalling.
Sanders has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Haba avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanders fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Haba is looking to clinch.
Haba tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanders was well out of range. Poor timing from Haba.

Sanders has Haba up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haba tries to throw a body punch but Sanders avoids it by throwing Haba back against the cage.
Sanders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haba is trying to maintain a safe position but Sanders gets an underhook and turns Haba into the cage.
Sanders stalling against the cage.

Haba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanders fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Haba manages to avoid it.
Sanders tries to clinch
and Haba counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Claus Haba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanders misses the shot to the body.
Haba staying out of range there.
Sanders is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haba tries to clinch up
and Sanders counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Haba misses the shot to the body.
Haba throws a leg kick that is checked

and Sanders counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sanders is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanders trying to control from half guard but Haba is working away.
Haba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanders.
Haba looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sanders not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders trying to control from Haba's half guard. Haba has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sanders is looking to work some ground and pound but Haba has wrist control.

Haba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sanders doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sanders manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Haba being controlled here, momentarily.
Sanders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bernie Sanders will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Claus Haba's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sanders circles away from the clinch attempt.
Haba misses with a body punch

and Sanders counters by moving into the clinch.
Haba cracks Sanders with a nice body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sanders doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bernie Sanders seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sanders working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Haba can't find room to land a body shot as Sanders controls the action.
I was talking to Haba's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Haba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Haba misses with a two punch combination.
Sanders ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Haba moves away.
Sanders misses the body punch
and Haba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sanders misses the body punch
and Haba counters with a two punch combo.
Sanders scores with a shot to the body.
Haba throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Haba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sanders.
Haba swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sanders keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sanders throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Haba was covering up waiting for the punch and Sanders finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Haba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Haba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sanders postures up in Haba's guard and throws a big left but Haba blocks it.
Sanders's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is looking to work some ground and pound but Haba has wrist control.
Sanders postures up in Haba's guard and throws a big left but Haba blocks it.
Sanders has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanders controlling from the top position.
Sanders advances to half guard.
Sanders wants to pass the guard but Haba is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haba makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Haba.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Haba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haba isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sanders stacks Haba on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sanders!
Sanders working the ground and pound.
Sanders working the ground and pound.
Sanders scores with punches from side control.
Sanders trying to control the action but Haba is working from the bottom.
Bernie Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haba tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders trying to control the action but Haba is working from the bottom.
Sanders lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Haba down.

Sanders tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sanders wants to control but Haba is keeping him busy.
Haba is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bernie Sanders will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Claus Haba's cut.
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.

Haba lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Haba.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sanders. Haba does a little dance to reset his feet.

Haba closes the distance and clinches.
Haba is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sanders is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Haba lands a nice knee to the body.
Haba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sanders backwards.
Haba holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sanders blocks a body shot from Haba.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haba misses with a series of wild punches.
Haba lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Haba.
Haba throws a combination. Sanders tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sanders keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Haba.
Sanders is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanders keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Haba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanders moves away.
Haba just misses with a punch to the body.
Haba slips a jab and a cross from Sanders.
Haba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sanders.

Sanders clinches with his opponent.
Haba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sanders taking a breather.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sanders lands a hook to the side of the head.

Haba breaks the clinch.
Haba keeps the fight on the outside.
Claus Haba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haba keeps the fight on the outside.
Haba looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanders is just out of range.
Sanders takes a swing at Haba's ribcage but misses.
Haba is looking to wear down Sanders with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sanders misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Haba.
Sanders throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haba misses with a double jab.

Sanders shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Haba napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Haba wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is dominant here and he's now got Haba's back!
Haba tries to escape the position.
Haba wants to get back to his feet.
Haba is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Sanders. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Sanders patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Sanders controls the action.
Sanders lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Haba hold on?!
I really don't envy Haba right now.
What can Haba do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Haba wants to get back to his feet.

Sanders looking to break Haba's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Haba remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sanders will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haba wants to escape the position.
Sanders lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Haba is really stuck here.
Sanders throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Haba!
Haba prevents Sanders from getting a body triangle.
Sanders is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Sanders looking for the choke but no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haba takes a big shot to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Bernie Sanders just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Claus Haba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sanders swings for the body but Haba moves out of range.
Haba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanders drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Haba defends it well.

Haba clinches up with Sanders and pushes him back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Haba as the two fighters clinch.
Haba stalling in the clinch but Sanders improves position.
Sanders avoiding damage.
A head punch on the inside from Sanders fails to land.

Haba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Haba tries to bum rush Sanders with a series of wild strikes but Sanders uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Sanders gets tackled into the cage by Haba. Haba maintains the clinch.
Haba tries to work over Sanders's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haba working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haba.
Sanders blocking some punches.

Haba manages to break the clinch.
Sanders avoids the body shot from Haba.
Haba bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haba throws a series of punches but Sanders avoids them all with ease.
Haba throws a body punch but Sanders moves out of range.
Haba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanders manages to avoid it.
Haba throws a right and a left that Sanders avoids nicely.
Haba looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanders is just out of range.

Sanders drives through and clinches with Haba against the cage.
Sanders lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Haba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Haba with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Haba misses with a wild combination.
Haba misses with the combination.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Haba lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Haba tries to avoid it but Sanders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Haba to the ground. Haba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanders bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanders lands with an overhand left.
Haba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanders throws a body punch but Haba moves out of range.
Sanders looks to score with a jab to the body but Haba is just out of range.
Haba appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Haba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sanders showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Haba.
Claus Haba is winning the standup battle so far.

Haba rushes Sanders and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Haba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haba swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.

Sanders forces Haba back against the cage and clinches.
Haba missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haba pushes Sanders back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanders lands a shoulder strike.
Sanders leaning against his opponent.

Haba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Haba tries to clinch but Sanders is having none of it.
Sanders is looking for the big counter here.
Haba on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sanders will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sanders looks to land a combination. Haba sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sanders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Haba misses with a wild body shot.
Haba goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Haba throws a body punch but Sanders moves out of range.
Sanders throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders throws a series of punches but Haba avoids them all with ease.
Haba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanders manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haba misses with a jab to the body
and Sanders counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Haba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Sanders as he connects with a hook.
Sanders takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Haba wants to clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Haba 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Haba throws a front kick aimed at Sanders's knee but Sanders avoids it well.
The crowd cheers as Sanders lands an impressive looking overhand right. Haba doesn't seem phased though.

Haba gets a clinch.
Haba scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claus Haba had his way with Bernie Sanders in that round.
The cut man is working on Claus Haba's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Haba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanders tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Haba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Haba walks into a jab.
Sanders lands a jab.
Sanders keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanders changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A punch combination from Haba misses.

Sanders clinches with his opponent.

Haba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sanders wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Haba fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders dodges the punch combination from Haba.
Sanders is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A leg kick checked by Sanders.
Haba swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sanders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanders showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders working some strikes from top position.

Sanders avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Haba is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sanders is aware though and is defending well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Sanders slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sanders postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Haba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Haba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanders defends well.
Sanders sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Haba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanders landing with the ground and pound.
Sanders is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Haba is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Haba looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Claus Haba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Haba doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Haba swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Sanders has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanders misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haba is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Haba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haba looks to land a combination but Sanders avoids it well.

Sanders shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Haba napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Haba is looking to get back to his feet here but Sanders is keeping cool and he's managed to take Haba's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanders keeps control of the position as Haba tries to break free.
Bernie Sanders is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sanders tries to get the hooks in deep but Haba pushed the leg off.
Well, with Sanders on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Haba is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Haba tries to break free.
Sanders lands punches and elbows.
Sanders controls the action.
Haba is taking damage to the body and head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernie Sanders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sanders has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 46:49
Judge William Peck scores the fight 46:49
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernie Sanders!
A pretty intense looking Bernie Sanders took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.