PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Butlins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Haigh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bernard Butlins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Butlins
vs
Haigh

170 cm
23
216 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bernard Butlins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Haigh!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Butlins.
Haigh misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Haigh.
Butlins throws a hook but Haigh blocks it.
Haigh shoots for a takedown but Butlins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bernard Butlins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Haigh.
Haigh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Butlins's waist but Butlins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Haigh off to one side.
Butlins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Haigh.
Haigh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Butlins circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butlins doesn't manage to clinch there - Haigh circles away.
Haigh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Haigh is looking to clinch.
Haigh tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haigh shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Butlins defends it nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Haigh.
Butlins misses with a hook. Haigh ducked under it nicely.
Haigh shoots in for a takedown but Butlins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Haigh tries to close the distance and clinch but Butlins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Butlins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haigh swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Butlins thows a body shot but no joy.
Butlins closes the distance looking to clinch

and Haigh moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Butlins successfully pulls guard.
Haigh would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Butlins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Butlins is on top in guard.
Butlins seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Butlins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Butlins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Butlins trying to control but Haigh is working from the bottom.
Haigh is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butlins slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Haigh keeping moving, preventing Butlins from controlling successfully.
Haigh is looking to sweep but instead, Butlins has passed into half guard.
Butlins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Haigh defending well though.
Haigh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Haigh really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Butlins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Butlins is trying to control. Haigh wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Butlins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Butlins uses his free foot to push down on Haigh's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Haigh.

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.
Butlins lands a big elbow.
Butlins working the ground and pound effectively.
Butlins trying to control but Haigh is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haigh wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Butlins with the ground and pound from mount.
Butlins lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Butlins 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.

Butlins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Haigh.
A bone on bone clash there as Butlins blocks the leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Butlins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Butlins stops a takedown attempt from Haigh.
A short right from Butlins.

Butlins turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Butlins lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Haigh down.
Haigh is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Haigh can't do much from the bottom here.
Butlins wants to control but Haigh is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butlins in side control lands a decent elbow.
Haigh is not content to let Butlins control the position.
Haigh is trying to control Butlins's posture but Butlins avoids it.
Haigh is not content to let Butlins control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Butlins throws a leg kick but Haigh checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Haigh avoids the body shot from Butlins.
Butlins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Butlins as Haigh shoots in.
Bernard Butlins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Haigh.
Haigh lands a nice shot that snaps Butlins's head back.

Butlins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Haigh changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Butlins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Haigh tries for a takedown but Butlins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Haigh wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haigh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Butlins is fending him off so far but Haigh persists. Nope, Butlins circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Haigh does no damage.
Haigh tries to clinch up.
Butlins misses with a head kick.
Horrible takedown by Haigh or perhaps it was just good defense by Butlins which made him look bad.
Haigh moves in looking to clinch but Butlins pushes him off.

Butlins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Butlins works his way into side control.
Haigh is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haigh is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haigh is not content to let Butlins control the position.
Check out the look on Butlins's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Haigh is looking for a sweep.
Butlins working the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Haigh can do anything to dispel that myth.
Butlins trying to control the position but Haigh is working away.
Haigh is letting Butlins control him for a moment.
Butlins is working Haigh over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Butlins dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Butlins tries to clinch but Haigh moves out of range.
Butlins tries a head kick but it misses.
Butlins looks for the body kick but Haigh saw that one coming.
Haigh doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Butlins counters with a nice body kick.
Butlins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Haigh tries to avoid it but Butlins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Haigh to the ground. Haigh escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Butlins moves into the clinch.
Butlins tries for a takedown but Haigh manages to get underhooks.
Butlins is looking to control Haigh's arms but Haigh gets an underhook and turns him. Now Butlins has his back to the cage.

Butlins jumps guard and drags Haigh to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Haigh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Butlins throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Butlins has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Haigh should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Butlins has tightened it up now! Haigh should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Bernard Butlins!