PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Clay Hayden (ranked 2692 p4p, 2388 weight class) and Jon Rambo (ranked 277 p4p, 251 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jon Rambo was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hayden
vs
Rambo

174 cm
36
159
11 - 13 - 1

180 cm
30
149
14 - 27 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Clay Hayden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 27 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Rambo!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hayden connects with a leg kick.
Rambo closes the distance but Hayden moves to the side

and Hayden counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hayden throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rambo has his hands on Hayden's head, controlling the position.
Hayden passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rambo trying to control here.
Rambo is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Hayden is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hayden working over Rambo with some ground and pound. Rambo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rambo wants to improve his position but Hayden is controlling well.
Rambo pushes Hayden off looking to stand but Hayden dives back in and keeps control.
Hayden thows a huge punch but Rambo dodges it nicely.
Rambo gets full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hayden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Rambo keeping moving, preventing Hayden from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hayden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rambo moves away.
Hayden scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Hayden. Beautiful body shot.
Rambo throws a leg kick

and Hayden counters with a shoot takedown. Rambo fights it but they end up in guard.

Rambo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hayden defends it easily.
Hayden trying to control the position from guard on top but Rambo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rambo has his hands on Hayden's head, controlling the position.
Hayden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayden wants to control from the top but Rambo keeps moving.
Hayden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rambo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rambo trying to keep a closed guard but Hayden is proving a slippery customer.
Hayden wants to pass the guard but Rambo is keeping the position.
Rambo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hayden is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A nice leg kick from Hayden, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hayden swats away the attempt to clinch by Rambo.
Hayden will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hayden sets himself, and Rambo steps forward looking for the clinch! Hayden avoids it this time.
Rambo thows a leg kick but Hayden checks it
and Hayden counters with a stiff right hand.
Hayden scoring well with a low kick there.
Hayden thuds a left hand into Rambo's body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rambo darts in trying to clinch
and Rambo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hayden throws out a powerful jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Hayden dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hayden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hayden.
Rambo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hayden defends well and Rambo ends up having to push Hayden into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hayden cracks Rambo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hayden connects with a solid leg kick.
Hayden lands a nice shot that snaps Rambo's head back.
Hayden looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rambo tries to clinch up but Hayden circles away and keeps his distance.
Hayden feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Hayden does it's job there.
Hayden fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rambo shoots and misses
letting Hayden counter with a right hand.
Clay Hayden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Rambo.
Rambo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hayden seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rambo tries to clinch up
and Hayden counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hayden.
Rambo misses with a takedown attempt - Hayden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rambo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hayden looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hayden fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rambo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hayden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hayden lands a jab.
Rambo goes for a double leg but Hayden avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hayden continues to drive forward.
Rambo throws a chopping leg kick but Hayden manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hayden feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Rambo is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hayden presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rambo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hayden, as that shot connected.
Rambo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rambo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hayden.
Rambo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hayden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rambo misses with a low kick.

Hayden dives in and scores a takedown into Rambo's guard.
Rambo is wriggling around but Hayden manages to pass to half guard.

Hayden is trying to control. Rambo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hayden is thwarting Rambo's attempts to control the position.
Rambo has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rambo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hayden is trying to control. Rambo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hayden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rambo can do to turn this around?
Rambo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hayden stalling.
Hayden thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rambo's head.

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.
Hayden looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Clay Hayden overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hayden is keen to just control but Rambo is a slippery customer.
Hayden is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rambo!
Hayden won't let Rambo get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rambo is desperately trying to improve his position but Hayden has a good base and remains in mount.
Hayden controlling the pace for now.
Hayden landing punches.
Rambo wants to control but Hayden is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Hayden dominated that second round.
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. And we move into the final round!

Hayden connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rambo fails with the takedown
and Hayden counters with a nice uppercut.
Rambo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rambo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
That kick from Hayden tenderised Rambo's leg. Rambo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rambo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hayden.
Hayden lands a nice looking body shot.
Rambo doesn't manage to clinch there - Hayden circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayden looks to land a combination but Rambo avoids it well.
Rambo closes the distance but Hayden moves to the side
and Hayden cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hayden throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rambo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rambo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hayden can pounce on him.
Clay Hayden is winning the standup battle so far.

Rambo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rambo is looking to take a break and control but Hayden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rambo trying to pass the guard but Hayden defending well.
Hayden is trying to maintain the position but Rambo is very close to passing his half guard.
Hayden holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rambo is looking to advance position but Hayden won't allow it.

Hayden looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayden tries to roll over but Rambo keeps him under control.
Rambo content to control rather than advance.

Rambo escapes and gets back to his feet.
Rambo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hayden connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Rambo clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rambo jumps guard but Hayden turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Clay Hayden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Rambo.
Hayden scores with a knee to the head.
Hayden is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hayden tries to land a knee to the head but Rambo blocks with his arms.
Jon Rambo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rambo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rambo is looking to clinch but Hayden is avoiding it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rambo enables Hayden to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rambo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hayden trying to control but Rambo is working from the bottom.
Hayden is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rambo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rambo controls Hayden momentarily but Hayden frees himself.
Hayden throws an elbow that misses. Rambo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hayden's guard. Nice move by Rambo!

Rambo tries to free his leg and advance position but Hayden is retaining full guard.
Hayden can't keep his opponent in guard - Rambo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hayden keeping hold of Rambo's head, controlling as best he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clay Hayden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hayden has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clay Hayden!
A very excited looking Clay Hayden made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.