PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vaai Finau (ranked 3685 p4p, 3557 weight class) and Daniel Hazlehurst (ranked 449 p4p, 445 weight class). Hazlehurst has chosen Queen - One Vision as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Finau
vs
Hazlehurst

196 cm
32
220
9 - 8 - 0

183 cm
36
202
22 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vaai Finau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Hazlehurst!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finau listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Hazlehurst shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Finau's guard.
Finau wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Finau wants to stand and escape but Hazlehurst is having none of it.
Finau is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Finau is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hazlehurst is trying to get back to full guard.
Finau trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau continues to stall.
Finau's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hazlehurst tries to get to full guard but Finau has control of the leg.
Finau is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hazlehurst wants to improve his position but Finau is controlling well.
Finau looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hazlehurst tries for a takedown but Finau circles away easily
and Finau counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Finau enables Hazlehurst to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Finau manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Finau 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.
Hazlehurst trying to control but Finau is working from the bottom.
Finau is controlling Hazlehurst's posture.
Hazlehurst must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hazlehurst is looking to work some ground and pound but Finau has wrist control.
Finau will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Finau has control of Hazlehurst's left arm, preventing Hazlehurst from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hazlehurst lands a couple of elbows.
Finau has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Further stalling from Finau.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finau looking for a sweep. Not yet Finau, not yet.
Finau wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
More hug and hope from Finau.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Finau looking for a sweep. Not yet Finau, not yet.
Finau is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finau controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hazlehurst displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Finau throws out the jab.

Hazlehurst closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vaai Finau dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hazlehurst shoots in for a takedown but Finau shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Hazlehurst.
Finau missing with a left hand there. Hazlehurst was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hazlehurst fails with the takedown
and Finau counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Hazlehurst closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Finau to the mat! Finau manages to get full guard.
Finau looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hazlehurst stops Finau from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hazlehurst looking to pass the guard.
Finau is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hazlehurst looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau is pulling down on Hazlehurst's head to control his posture.
Finau wants to sweep here but Hazlehurst controlling him for the moment.
Finau seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hazlehurst wants to control from the top but Finau keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hazlehurst dives in for a single leg takedown but Finau sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Vaai Finau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Hazlehurst.
Finau throws a solid leg kick but Hazlehurst takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Finau.
Finau connects with a body shot.

Hazlehurst shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Finau napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finau manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Finau tries to get to full guard but Hazlehurst has control of the leg.
Finau gets back to full guard.
Hazlehurst working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hazlehurst content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hazlehurst stopping the sweep attempt from Finau.
Hazlehurst throws a big right hand that misses.
Hazlehurst stopping the sweep attempt from Finau.
Finau is trying to control the position but Hazlehurst postures up.
Hazlehurst postures up in Finau's guard and throws a big left but Finau blocks it.
Finau looking for a sweep. Not yet Finau, not yet.
Finau has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hazlehurst has passed into side control.
Finau tries to bench press Hazlehurst off him but Hazlehurst keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst scoring with punches from side control.
Hazlehurst fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Finau can't do much from the bottom here.
Finau is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Finau's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hazlehurst throws a strike aimed at the side of Finau's head but Finau avoids it well.
Hazlehurst wants to control but Finau is keeping him busy.
Finau is looking for a sweep.
Finau is holding Hazlehurst down, trying to stall.
Finau tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hazlehurst wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finau is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Finau is looking for a sweep.
Hazlehurst is looking to take a break and control but Finau is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Finau is looking to regain half guard here but Hazlehurst keeps moving and retains side control.
Daniel Hazlehurst has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hazlehurst is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Finau is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finau sneaks back into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Hazlehurst 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!

Finau is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hazlehurst.
Finau throws a shot from downtown. Hazlehurst moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Finau misses.
Hazlehurst takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hazlehurst closes the distance and clinches up with Finau, looking for a takedown. Hazlehurst pushes Finau against the cage but Finau circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hazlehurst tries to score a power double leg takedown but Finau sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hazlehurst somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finau scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Finau scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau throws a lazy uppercut
and Hazlehurst counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hazlehurst tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Finau defends well and Hazlehurst ends up having to push Finau into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vaai Finau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Hazlehurst.
Finau connects with a single shot there.
Finau loads up on a big right hand but Hazlehurst slips the punch.
Finau throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Hazlehurst closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Finau moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Finau controlling Hazlehurst's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst won't allow Finau to sweep him here.
Hazlehurst wants to control from the top but Finau keeps moving.
Finau controlling Hazlehurst's posture.
Hazlehurst working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Finau is pulling down on Hazlehurst's head to control his posture.
Finau manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hazlehurst manages to get himself to full guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hazlehurst managing to control the position.
Finau controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finau postures up.
Finau is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hazlehurst can do to turn this around?
Finau sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.
Finau connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hazlehurst momentarily.

Finau gets caught flat footed, as Hazlehurst shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Finau wants to get back to his feet but Hazlehurst is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Finau holds on and takes a little breather.
Finau is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finau takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vaai Finau showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Finau has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vaai Finau!
A relieved looking Vaai Finau thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.