PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Haynes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haynes comes to the cage accompanied by Song 2 by Blur. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Haynes
vs
Gracie

182 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Haynes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ronaldo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haynes throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie clinches up with Haynes and pushes him back against the cage.
Haynes looking for a takedown.
Haynes wants to take the fight to the mat but Gracie manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Haynes wants the takedown. Gracie is fighting it off but Haynes persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gracie's guard against the cage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gracie trying to control the position here.
Haynes postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Haynes tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Haynes throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gracie trying to control but Haynes is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ronaldo Gracie has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Haynes slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Haynes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gracie manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Haynes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gracie 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Haynes tries to pass.
Haynes cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.
Haynes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Haynes won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Haynes throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Haynes tries to pass.
Haynes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Haynes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haynes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Haynes content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haynes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Haynes trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is trying to keep Haynes in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Haynes drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haynes stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haynes content to stall in guard here.
Haynes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Haynes postures up.
Haynes trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Haynes connects with a couple of short punches.
Haynes lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haynes trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Haynes is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie trying to strike off his back.
Haynes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Haynes throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haynes tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Haynes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Haynes.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Haynes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Haynes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haynes controlling from the top position.
Haynes distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Haynes throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Gracie looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haynes works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.
Haynes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Haynes throws an elbow that misses. Gracie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Haynes's guard. Nice move by Gracie!
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ronaldo Gracie.
Haynes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gracie avoids it really well and circles away.

Haynes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haynes throws a strike but Gracie avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Haynes slips nicely into half guard.
Haynes is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Haynes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haynes winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Haynes is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Haynes is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Haynes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haynes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Haynes is controlling the pace.
Haynes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Haynes.
Haynes sitting in guard here, content to control.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Haynes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Haynes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haynes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Haynes is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gracie trying to hold on to Haynes's head to control him but Haynes postures up.
Haynes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Haynes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie wants to control but Haynes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Haynes wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Haynes 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!

Haynes fails to land the takedown.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Haynes.

Gracie has Haynes up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie tries to stall but Haynes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gracie lands an uppercut.
Haynes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gracie after a bit of a struggle.

Haynes lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Daniel Haynes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Haynes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie wants to control but Haynes is keeping busy.
Haynes trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haynes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Gracie pushes Haynes off looking to stand but Haynes dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Haynes is working away from the top position though.
Haynes thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Gracie is looking to control Haynes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Haynes throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Haynes connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Haynes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Haynes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haynes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Haynes is keeping busy.
Haynes is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
Haynes is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie won't allow Haynes to pass to mount.
Haynes trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Gracie tries to kick Haynes off but Haynes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Haynes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haynes lands with a punch from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Haynes sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haynes trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Haynes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Haynes is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haynes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Haynes wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Haynes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Haynes postures up.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Haynes from controlling successfully.
Daniel Haynes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haynes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Haynes from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haynes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haynes works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Haynes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haynes, 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Daniel Haynes!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Daniel Haynes!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Daniel Haynes!

Daniel Haynes wins by unanimous decision!
Daniel Haynes made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Thanks to my family for all the support and sacrifices they have made'.