PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Haley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Sunderland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sunderland has chosen Placebo - Running up that hill as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Haley
vs
Sunderland

180 cm
27
178 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
182 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Backyard Fighting
KO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Haley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Sunderland!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sunderland scores with a spinning back kick!
Nice takedown defense from Sunderland. No joy for Haley on that attempt.
Haley misses with a wild body shot.
Haley fails with a takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Sunderland.
Haley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sunderland manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sunderland needs to keep his hands up - Haley had a free shot at his head there.
Haley wants to clinch up but Sunderland keeps it at a distance.
Sunderland scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nice shot by Haley.
Haley slips under a jab from Sunderland.
Haley attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sunderland takes a swing at Haley's ribcage but misses.
Haley misses with a low kick.
Haley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sunderland lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Haley throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sunderland as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Haley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Haley dives in and scores a takedown into Sunderland's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sunderland is adopting a defensive guard.
Sunderland controls Haley momentarily but Haley frees himself.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Sunderland hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sunderland tries to land a leg kick but Haley saw it coming and moves away.
Haley checks a leg kick.
Haley checks a low kick from Sunderland.
Sunderland throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Haley closes the distance and pushes Sunderland back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland looking to stall.
Sunderland manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Haley can't find room to land a body shot as Sunderland controls the action.
Haley lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Haley fails to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haley lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sunderland backwards.
Stalling in the clinch from Haley.
Haley misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sunderland.
Haley throws a head punch that misses.
Sunderland tries to stall but Haley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Haley tries to score a body lock takedown but Sunderland shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sunderland is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
I was talking to Haley's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sunderland looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sunderland can't break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sunderland.
Haley pushes Sunderland back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Haley makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sunderland trying to stall but Haley improves his position.
Sunderland tries a body shot but Haley blocks it.
Haley has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sunderland is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sunderland breaks from the clinch.
Haley takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Haley. That snapped Sunderland's head back.
Sunderland tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Haley is able to avoid easily.
Haley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sunderland swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Haley closes the distance and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Haley as the two fighters clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sunderland swings wildly with an uppercut but Haley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sunderland letting Haley take a breather here.
Sunderland softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Haley misses with a punch on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Haley has Sunderland pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Haley pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sunderland tumbling to the mat - Haley dives into Sunderland's guard.
Haley wants to control from the top but Sunderland keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Haley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sunderland lands a head shot.
Sunderland uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Haley cracks Sunderland with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A big left from Sunderland misses.
Sunderland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Haley was well out of range. Poor timing from Sunderland.
Sunderland throws a leg kick

so Haley counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sunderland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Haley is one step ahead there.
Haley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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!
Haley wants to pass the guard but Sunderland is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sunderland trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Sunderland hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sunderland looks to score with a jab to the body but Haley is just out of range.
Sunderland throws a leg kick but Haley sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sunderland, as that shot connected.
Haley misses with a wild body shot.
Sunderland throws a front kick that sends Haley stumbling back into the cage.

Haley looking to score a takedown here. Sunderland is defending well but Haley drives through and ends up in Sunderland's guard.
Haley won't allow Sunderland to get back to his feet.
Sunderland keeping moving, preventing Haley from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland can't keep his opponent in guard - Haley advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sunderland is in trouble now - Haley has advanced to mount!
Sunderland tries to hold on but Haley postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haley landing shots from mount.
Haley with a couple of short strikes.
Dan Haley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sunderland is desperately trying to improve his position but Haley has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sunderland wants to control but Haley is having none of it.
Haley punishing his opponent with strikes.
Haley avoids the attempt from Sunderland to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Haley cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Haley is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sunderland can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sunderland manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Haley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Sunderland manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Haley tries a low kick but Sunderland avoids it.
James Sunderland is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sunderland misses with a low kick.
Haley bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sunderland tries to score with a low kick but Haley moves his leg out of the way.
Haley takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Haley closes the distance and clinches.
Haley blocks the elbow strike.
Haley working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Haley lands a shot to the body.
Sunderland is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haley softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sunderland is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Haley blocks an uppercut.
Haley lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sunderland is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sunderland looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Haley softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sunderland looking to throw knees to the head but Haley is blocking nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sunderland is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Haley is keeping busy.
Haley lands a body shot in the clinch.
Haley lands with a left to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Haley dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Haley misses with a wild body shot.
Haley just misses with a punch to the body.
Sunderland tried to score with a low kick but Haley checks it.
Haley throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sunderland slaps away a takedown attempt from Haley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Haley checks a leg kick.
Sunderland misses the jab.
Sunderland misses with an uppercut. Haley saw that one coming.
Sunderland misses with a low kick.
Good work by Haley as he checks the leg kick.
Haley checks the leg kick nicely there.
Haley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haley misses with a wild body shot.
Sunderland walks into a jab.
Sunderland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Haley was well out of range. Poor timing from Sunderland.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sunderland throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Haley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sunderland was well out of range. Poor timing from Haley.
Sunderland throws a front kick that sends Haley stumbling back into the cage.
Haley throws a lazy right hand but Sunderland sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Haley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Good exchange - Haley coming out on top.
Sunderland is looking to score with low kicks.
Haley tries to clinch but Sunderland moves out of range.
Haley throws a jab but it's blocked by Sunderland.
Sunderland attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A solid leg kick lands there for Haley.
Haley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sunderland.

Haley gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haley digs a right hand into Sunderland's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sunderland's gas tank.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Haley creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sunderland lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haley struggles to land a body shot inside as Sunderland controls his hands.
Haley misses with some punches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sunderland - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A body shot lands from Haley.
Haley misses with a punch to the body.
Sunderland looking to throw knees to the head but Haley is blocking nicely.
Haley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sunderland fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sunderland throws a nice looking combination but Haley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A lazy left from Haley finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland throws a leg kick

and Haley counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Haley looking to pass the guard.
Sunderland pulls Haley in to control the position.
Haley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Haley trying to control the position from guard on top but Sunderland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haley postures up in Sunderland's guard and throws a big left but Sunderland blocks it.
Haley wants to control from the top but Sunderland keeps moving.

Dan Haley has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice uppercut there from Sunderland.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haley shoots in looking for a takedown but Sunderland manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Haley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Haley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sunderland misses with a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sunderland throws a leg kick

and Haley counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short right from Haley on the inside.
Haley tries for a takedown but Sunderland manages to get underhooks.
Haley lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Haley wants a takedown but no success here.
Sunderland blocking some punches.
Haley misses with a punch on the inside.
Haley blocks a body shot from Sunderland.
Sunderland is looking to control Haley's arms but Haley gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sunderland has his back to the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dan Haley has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Haley lands a hook to the side of the head.
Haley lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Haley clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Haley's corner calls for a 1-2. Haley obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Sunderland is rocked!
A clash of legs there as Haley blocks the low kick.
Haley shoots for a double leg takedown but Sunderland sprawls well. He's pushed Haley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Haley tries to clinch up but Sunderland circles away and keeps his distance.
Sunderland throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Haley takes the fight into the clinch.
Haley has Sunderland pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sunderland manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Haley pushes off an throws an elbow but Sunderland leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Haley tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sunderland wants to stall.
Haley slowing the pace effectively.
Sunderland is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Haley is keeping busy.
Haley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sunderland's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sunderland can't break the clinch.
Haley lands a left hand.
Sunderland misses with a body punch.
Haley blocks the elbow strike.
Sunderland wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Haley misses with a short punch on the inside.
Haley tries to score a body lock takedown but Sunderland shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Haley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haley has a couple of punches blocked by Sunderland.
Sunderland holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sunderland is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Haley misses with the head strike.
Haley lands with a right to the head.
Still in the clinch, Haley scores with a nice short uppercut.
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!
Haley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sunderland's efforts to push away.
Sunderland pushes off an throws an elbow but Haley leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Haley prevents Sunderland from breaking the clinch.
Haley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sunderland fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Haley rushes Sunderland and presses him up against the cage.
Haley misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haley stalling in the clinch.
Sunderland prevents a body shot from Haley.
Haley throws a head punch that misses.
Haley misses with the head strike.
Sunderland blocks an elbow strike from Haley.
Haley lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Haley tries for a takedown but Sunderland manages to get underhooks.
A short uppercut from Haley.
Haley lands a right hand.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sunderland is trying to break the clinch but Haley is controlling him.
Sunderland unloads a knee to the mid-section. Haley lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short body shot lands from Haley as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Haley makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Haley is leaning against Sunderland and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sunderland stalls.
Haley working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Haley as Sunderland tries to tie him up.
A right hook to the body lands for Haley.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Haley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sunderland can do to turn this around?
Haley lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Haley had his way with James Sunderland in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Haley is looking to chop away at Sunderland's legs.
Haley looks for a takedown but Sunderland sprawls well.
Sunderland throws a looping overhand right but Haley ducks down to avoid it.
Sunderland lands with a kick to the ribs.
Haley swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Sunderland.
Sunderland dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Haley. That did some damage!
Sunderland looks to score with a jab to the body but Haley is just out of range.
Sunderland circles away from the clinch attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sunderland.
Sunderland slaps away a takedown attempt from Haley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sunderland throws a leg kick but Haley moved away.
Haley throws an overhand right that lands on Sunderland's shoulder, as Sunderland tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Haley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haley moves out of range of the body kick.
Haley moves forwards but Sunderland connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sunderland throws a low kick, looking for Haley's leg but Haley calmly moves out of range.
Haley checks a leg kick.
Sunderland throws a leg kick

and Haley counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sunderland is looking to control Haley's arms but Haley gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sunderland has his back to the cage.
Haley goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sunderland misses with some punches.
Sunderland stalling in the clinch but Haley improves position.
A head punch on the inside from Haley fails to land.
Sunderland leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Haley.
Haley tries to land knees in the clinch but Sunderland avoids the damage to the body.
Haley tries to work over Sunderland's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sunderland taking a breather.
James Sunderland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sunderland misses with a knee to the head.
Haley has a couple of punches blocked by Sunderland.
Sunderland looking to slow down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by James Sunderland.
Haley takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland throws a looping overhand right but Haley ducks down to avoid it.
No luck for Haley with that takedown attempt.
Haley moves out of range of the leg kick from Sunderland.
Haley wants to clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sunderland, right into the meat.

Haley gets the takedown into side control.
Haley wants to control but Sunderland is keeping him busy.
The strikes coming from Haley are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sunderland can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sunderland is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
You can see the frustration on Sunderland's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sunderland tries to escape but Haley is in control.
Sunderland tries to bench press Haley off him but Haley keeps the position.
Haley working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haley lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sunderland down.
Sunderland tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Haley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sunderland is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Haley lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haley controlling from side mount.
Haley works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dan Haley.
Well Haley 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 50:45
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 50:45
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Haley!