PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Haffie (ranked 4511 p4p, 399 weight class) and Thorn Drysdale (ranked 7796 p4p, 538 weight class). Jordan Haffie has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Haffie
vs
Drysdale

176 cm
22
157 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

167 cm
25
149 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Red Light Coffeeshop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jordan Haffie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thorn Drysdale!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drysdale takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Haffie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Haffie wants it to stay on the feet.
Haffie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Drysdale blocks a head kick by Haffie.
A little jabbing left from Drysdale on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Haffie displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Haffie looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A shot to the body from Haffie misses

and Drysdale counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Haffie!
Haffie is not content to let Drysdale control the position.
Haffie wants to control but Drysdale postures up.
Drysdale content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Drysdale tries to advance to mount but can't.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haffie wants to control but Drysdale postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drysdale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haffie keeps working.
Drysdale tries to move into full mount but can't pass Haffie's legs.
Drysdale working the ground and pound from side control.
Drysdale is putting a hurting on Haffie here, landing some big shots from side control.
Drysdale working the ground and pound from side control.
Drysdale landing strikes.
Haffie tries to bench press Drysdale off him but Drysdale keeps the position.
A lull in the action here as Drysdale stalls from top position.
Drysdale working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haffie is looking to regain half guard here but Drysdale keeps moving and retains side control.
Drysdale trying to control the action but Haffie is working from the bottom.
Drysdale lands a few punches from side control.
Drysdale landing strikes.
Drysdale cracks Haffie with a big elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drysdale is looking to take a break and control but Haffie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Haffie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haffie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Drysdale does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Haffie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drysdale is trying to get back to full guard.
Drysdale moves into full guard.
Haffie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drysdale is keeping the position for now.
Drysdale keeping moving, preventing Haffie from controlling successfully.
Drysdale trying to control the position.
Drysdale has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Haffie has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drysdale can't do much from the bottom here.
Drysdale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haffie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Drysdale tries to improve position but can't.
Haffie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drysdale keeps working.
Drysdale tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Drysdale is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Drysdale manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Drysdale passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thorn Drysdale will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Haffie lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Jordan Haffie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haffie pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Drysdale back to the cage. Haffie follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Drysdale is trying hard to land a takedown here. Haffie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Drysdale gets the takedown into side control.
Drysdale working away.
Haffie is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Drysdale is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Haffie is not content to let Drysdale control the position.
Haffie is looking to regain half guard here but Drysdale keeps moving and retains side control.
Drysdale wants to control but Haffie is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drysdale is chipping away with strikes.
Haffie tries to buck Drysdale off but Drysdale is having none of it.
Drysdale lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Drysdale lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Haffie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Drysdale off and has taken his back!
Drysdale has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Drysdale trying to control the position but Haffie manages to sink in the hooks.
Drysdale can't escape the position.
Haffie is punishing Drysdale with some ground and pound.
Drysdale tries to escape the position.
Drysdale turns into Haffie and is now in his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Drysdale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drysdale lands a couple of elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haffie keeping moving, preventing Drysdale from controlling successfully.
Drysdale might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Haffie haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Haffie looking for a sweep. Not yet Haffie, not yet.
Drysdale tries to free his leg and advance position but Haffie is retaining full guard.

Drysdale got a little sloppy there for a moment and Haffie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Drysdale has managed to get both his arms back between Haffie's legs - danger averted.

Haffie isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Drysdale stacks Haffie on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Drysdale!
Drysdale happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drysdale is putting a hurting on Haffie here, landing some big shots from side control.
Drysdale in side control lands a decent elbow.
Drysdale cracks Haffie with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Haffie tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Drysdale presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Drysdale lands a big shot there that rocks Haffie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Drysdale lands a big shot there that rocks Haffie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Haffie takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Drysdale putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Haffie regains half guard.
Drysdale lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haffie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are battling for position here. Haffie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Haffie working a defensive guard here.

Haffie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Drysdale trying to control but Haffie is working from the bottom.
Drysdale sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thorn Drysdale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Haffie lands a head kick!
Drysdale gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Haffie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Drysdale!
Haffie working the ground and pound but Drysdale is defending the strikes.
Drysdale is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Haffie off and has taken his back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Drysdale is hanging on to Haffie's back as he tries to escape.
Drysdale wants to control but Haffie is keeping busy.
Drysdale lands strikes to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drysdale doesn't have the hooks in and Haffie manages to turn into his guard.
Drysdale wants to sweep here but Haffie controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drysdale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Drysdale looking for subs off his back but Haffie has passed one foot through into half guard.
Drysdale is looking to improve his position.

Haffie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Drysdale doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Haffie.
Haffie is taking a breather. Drysdale says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Thorn Drysdale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Drysdale is trying to maintain the position but Haffie is very close to passing his half guard.

Haffie is working for a submission of some sort.
Drysdale regains full guard. Nicely done.
Drysdale is trying to control the position but Haffie postures up.
Haffie stopping the sweep attempt from Drysdale.

Drysdale has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Haffie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Haffie throws an elbow that misses. Drysdale uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Haffie's guard. Nice move by Drysdale!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drysdale scoring with some ground and pound.
Haffie is pulling down on Drysdale's head. It's preventing any offense from Drysdale, at least for the moment.
Drysdale distracts Haffie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Drysdale throws a big elbow that misses.
Haffie keeping moving, preventing Drysdale from controlling successfully.
Drysdale looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Haffie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Drysdale avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Drysdale looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haffie keeping moving, preventing Drysdale from controlling successfully.

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 Jordan Haffie.
I think Drysdale 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thorn Drysdale!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Thorn Drysdale made sure he mentioned Red Light Coffeeshop, along with how happy he was to win his fight.