PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timo Ayla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayden OKeeffe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hayden OKeeffe will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ayla
vs
OKeeffe

167 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Timo Ayla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hayden OKeeffe!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OKeeffe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Ayla gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ayla wants to break free but OKeeffe has control.
Ayla tries to break the clinch but OKeeffe is controlling the position.
Ayla drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

OKeeffe jumps guard and drags Ayla to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ayla stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. OKeeffe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
OKeeffe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ayla stops OKeeffe from standing up.
Ayla is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OKeeffe keeping moving, preventing Ayla from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OKeeffe wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OKeeffe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

OKeeffe kicks Ayla off and gets to his feet.
OKeeffe doesn't manage to clinch there - Ayla circles away.
OKeeffe tries to clinch up but Ayla circles away and keeps his distance.
Ayla dodges the punch combination from OKeeffe.

Ayla gets the takedown into side control.
OKeeffe is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ayla off and has taken his back!
Ayla tries to roll but OKeeffe sticks to his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OKeeffe really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Ayla.
Ayla might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ayla tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

OKeeffe stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
OKeeffe misses with an uppercut. Ayla saw that one coming.
OKeeffe tries for a takedown but Ayla circles away easily
and Ayla counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ayla throws a head kick that OKeeffe semi-blocks.
OKeeffe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ayla counters with a nice body shot.

Ayla closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OKeeffe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ayla avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Timo Ayla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayden OKeeffe.
Ayla can't break the clinch.
Ayla is trying to stall.
OKeeffe looking for a takedown.
OKeeffe keeps control of Ayla as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ayla jumps guard but OKeeffe stands there with Ayla around his waist. Ayla gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

OKeeffe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ayla moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ayla moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ayla dodges the punch combination from OKeeffe.
OKeeffe fails with the takedown

and Ayla counters with a single leg into guard. OKeeffe didn't expect that.

OKeeffe uses the cage to get back to his feet.
OKeeffe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OKeeffe blocks a head kick by Ayla.

Ayla gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ayla swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ayla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ayla fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ayla wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
OKeeffe closes the distance and clinches up with Ayla, looking for a takedown. OKeeffe pushes Ayla against the cage but Ayla circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ayla stuffs the takedown.
Ayla is looking to land body kicks.
Ayla dips to his left and cracks OKeeffe with an uppercut!
A cross from Ayla lands.
Ayla bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps OKeeffe's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Ayla tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ayla.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
OKeeffe fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Ayla 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.

OKeeffe fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ayla sprawls well initially but OKeeffe persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

OKeeffe postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ayla to stand up.
OKeeffe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ayla misses with a takedown attempt - OKeeffe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
OKeeffe wants to clinch.

Ayla clinches up with OKeeffe and pushes him back against the cage.

Ayla manages to break the clinch.

Ayla shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ayla was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ayla landing shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayla trying to control but OKeeffe is having none of it.
OKeeffe flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ayla tries to control but OKeeffe wriggling away.

Ayla swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and OKeeffe is now in Ayla's guard. A big mistake from Ayla there, giving up the dominant position!
Ayla keeping moving, preventing OKeeffe from controlling successfully.

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.
Ayla tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ayla manages to escape and get back to his feet.
OKeeffe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
OKeeffe avoids a kick to the body.
OKeeffe avoids the head kick by Ayla.
Ayla throws a combination that misses
and OKeeffe counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ayla looks to clinch

and OKeeffe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hayden OKeeffe has got the better of the ground game so far.
OKeeffe trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ayla's guard.
OKeeffe is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OKeeffe trying to control but Ayla is working from the bottom.

OKeeffe gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
OKeeffe misses with a combination
and Ayla counters with a big head kick but OKeeffe shrugs it off.
Ayla lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ayla slips under a jab.
OKeeffe swats away the attempt to clinch by Ayla.
Ayla misses with a wild combination.
Ayla goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ayla could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four 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.
Ayla tries to clinch up
and OKeeffe counters with a nice uppercut.
OKeeffe shoots in and drives through. Ayla sprawls well.
OKeeffe avoids the head kick by Ayla.
Some wild striking there from OKeeffe.
Ayla misses with a double jab

so OKeeffe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ayla tries to strike from the bottom.
OKeeffe preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ayla wants to stand but OKeeffe is controlling the position.
OKeeffe wants to stand but Ayla is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayden OKeeffe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ayla closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

OKeeffe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
OKeeffe wants to get back to full guard.
OKeeffe moves into full guard.

OKeeffe pushes Ayla off and scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ayla stuffs the takedown attempt from OKeeffe. OKeeffe gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OKeeffe closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ayla wants to get back to his feet.
Ayla is looking to reverse the position.
OKeeffe has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
OKeeffe takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Ayla wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayla can't escape the position.
OKeeffe has good solid back control here.
OKeeffe lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

OKeeffe is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ayla knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ayla for a finish.
Ayla manages to reverse the position and now he's in OKeeffe's guard. Nice work there by Ayla.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OKeeffe is looking for a triangle but Ayla pushes his legs off easily.
OKeeffe working a defensive guard here.
OKeeffe wants to sweep here but Ayla controlling him for the moment.
OKeeffe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Ayla postures up and lands a big shot to OKeeffe's brow.
Ayla throwing strikes but missing.
Ayla won't allow OKeeffe to get back to his feet.
OKeeffe 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.
OKeeffe is trying to control the position but Ayla postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
OKeeffe misses with a double jab.
Ayla scores with a jab to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hayden OKeeffe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think OKeeffe 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hayden OKeeffe!