PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shinobu Hayabusa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robyn Phaneuf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robyn Phaneuf has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hayabusa
vs
Phaneuf

184 cm
24
193 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinobu Hayabusa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robyn Phaneuf!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phaneuf tries to close the distance and clinch but Hayabusa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Robyn Phaneuf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hayabusa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Phaneuf.
Hayabusa fails with the takedown.
Phaneuf is looking to clinch.
Phaneuf misses with a low kick as Hayabusa jumps back.
Phaneuf misses with a series of wild punches.

Phaneuf gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Phaneuf misses with a knee to the head.
Hayabusa dodges an elbow strike from Phaneuf.
Phaneuf has Hayabusa pressed against the ropes, preventing Hayabusa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phaneuf wants a takedown.
Phaneuf keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hayabusa's efforts to push away.
Phaneuf with a knee to the head.
Phaneuf misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hayabusa.
Phaneuf wants a takedown but no success here.
Shinobu Hayabusa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robyn Phaneuf.

Phaneuf escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phaneuf is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hayabusa.
Hayabusa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Phaneuf.

Phaneuf moves into the clinch successfully.
Phaneuf is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Phaneuf looks gassed!
Phaneuf with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Phaneuf keeps control of Hayabusa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hayabusa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hayabusa blocks an elbow strike.

Phaneuf breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hayabusa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Phaneuf takes a step back to recover.
Both fighters circling a little - Hayabusa finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hayabusa stuffs the takedown attempt from Phaneuf. Phaneuf gets slowly back to his feet.
Hayabusa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phaneuf takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Phaneuf moves in looking to clinch but Hayabusa pushes him off.
Hayabusa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hayabusa fails with a takedown attempt.
Hayabusa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hayabusa throws a head kick that misses.
Phaneuf on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hayabusa. Hayabusa obviously looking to wear him down.
Hayabusa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Phaneuf takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Hayabusa clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Hayabusa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Phaneuf tries to pull guard but Hayabusa won't allow it.

Phaneuf's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hayabusa throws a sloppy head kick and Phaneuf moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Hayabusa lands but Phaneuf takes it in his stride.
Phaneuf dives in and grabs Hayabusa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hayabusa pushes down on Phaneuf's head and hops out.
Hayabusa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Phaneuf tries to clinch up
and Hayabusa counters with a solid body kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hayabusa.
Phaneuf falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hayabusa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hayabusa scores with a three punch combo!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hayabusa - that will leave a mark!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Phaneuf crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hayabusa - the referee stops the clock and Phaneuf gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hayabusa. Phaneuf manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hayabusa scores with a three punch combo!
Hayabusa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Hayabusa.
Hayabusa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hayabusa looks for a takedown but Phaneuf sprawls well.

Hayabusa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hayabusa wants to stand up but Phaneuf is controlling the position.
Hayabusa is looking to take a break and control but Phaneuf is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hayabusa wants to stand but Phaneuf has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinobu Hayabusa dominated that round.
That's time! Hayabusa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hayabusa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Phaneuf has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hayabusa.
Phaneuf clinches but Hayabusa breaks the clinch

and Hayabusa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hayabusa.
Phaneuf missing with knees to the body.
Phaneuf throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hayabusa blocks it with crossed arms.
Hayabusa is trying to break the clinch but Phaneuf is controlling him.
Phaneuf throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hayabusa blocks it with crossed arms.
Phaneuf fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hayabusa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hayabusa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Phaneuf blocks a body shot from Hayabusa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phaneuf manages to break the clinch.
Phaneuf is breathing heavily.
Hayabusa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hayabusa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Phaneuf clinches but Hayabusa breaks the clinch
and Hayabusa counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hayabusa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Phaneuf throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Phaneuf tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hayabusa smiles and moves away.
Shinobu Hayabusa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robyn Phaneuf.
Hayabusa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Phaneuf tries for a takedown but Hayabusa circles away easily
and Hayabusa counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Phaneuf shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hayabusa sprawls well. Hayabusa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Phaneuf gets slowly back to his feet.
Shinobu Hayabusa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phaneuf is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hayabusa.
Hayabusa works over Phaneuf's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa lands a two punch combo.
Phaneuf tries to clinch but Hayabusa moves away
and Hayabusa counters with a body kick.
Nice body kick there by Hayabusa.
A low kick from Phaneuf is predictable there
and Hayabusa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hayabusa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Phaneuf showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hayabusa.
Hayabusa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Phaneuf takes a step back to recover.
Hayabusa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Phaneuf.
Phaneuf blocks a head kick by Hayabusa.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hayabusa.
Phaneuf closes the distance but Hayabusa moves to the side
and Hayabusa counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa delivers a nice body kick.
Hayabusa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phaneuf defends it nicely.
Phaneuf looks to clinch
and Hayabusa counters with a body kick that stops Phaneuf in his tracks momentarily.
Phaneuf looks to clinch
and Hayabusa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Crunch! Hayabusa slams his shin into Phaneuf's torso.
Phaneuf throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hayabusa's waist but Hayabusa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Phaneuf off to one side.
Hayabusa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hayabusa shoots for a double leg takedown but Phaneuf sprawls well. He's pushed Hayabusa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hayabusa lands a high kick!

Hayabusa forces Phaneuf back against the ropes and clinches.
Hayabusa managing to block the knees to the body from Phaneuf.

Hayabusa breaks the clinch.
Phaneuf has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hayabusa.
Hayabusa lands a head kick. Phaneuf smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phaneuf takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hayabusa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hayabusa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A nice combination there by Hayabusa.
Phaneuf is trying desperately to land a takedown but Hayabusa is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Phaneuf.
Phaneuf wants to clinch
and Hayabusa finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hayabusa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phaneuf fails with a takedown attempt.
Hayabusa bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hayabusa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hayabusa throws a head kick that half lands.
Phaneuf tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hayabusa counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinobu Hayabusa dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Phaneuf tries to clinch
and Hayabusa counters with a one-two to the body.
Phaneuf shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hayabusa defends it nicely.
Hayabusa throws a sloppy head kick and Phaneuf moves out of range easily.
Hayabusa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Phaneuf swivels and escapes.
Decent striking displayed by Hayabusa there.
Hayabusa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phaneuf tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hayabusa counters with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayabusa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hayabusa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hayabusa counters with a nice kick to the body.
Phaneuf takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phaneuf shoots in looking for a takedown. Hayabusa tries to sprawl out of it but Phaneuf keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Hayabusa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hayabusa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hayabusa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hayabusa throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Hayabusa shoots in for a takedown but Phaneuf shows good takedown defense.
Phaneuf shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hayabusa but Hayabusa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shinobu Hayabusa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robyn Phaneuf.
Phaneuf on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Phaneuf takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Phaneuf gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hayabusa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hayabusa lands a two punch combo.
Hayabusa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Phaneuf tries to clinch up
and Hayabusa counters with a nice body shot.
Hayabusa lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Phaneuf has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hayabusa.
Hayabusa stalks Phaneuf and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Phaneuf's face. Phaneuf staggers backwards, shaken.
Phaneuf leaves Hayabusa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hayabusa has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Phaneuf.
Hayabusa shoots for a takedown but Phaneuf saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Phaneuf. No joy for Hayabusa on that attempt.

Phaneuf looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Phaneuf wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hayabusa keeps working.

Phaneuf is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Phaneuf is looking for a kimura but Hayabusa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Phaneuf to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phaneuf seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Phaneuf stops Hayabusa from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hayabusa trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Robyn Phaneuf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shinobu Hayabusa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hayabusa is trying to control but can't.

Phaneuf is trying to work for a kimura but Hayabusa is defending well.

Phaneuf is looking for a kimura but Hayabusa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Phaneuf to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinobu Hayabusa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hayabusa, 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinobu Hayabusa!