PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liam Haunts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Poulain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Poulain has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Haunts
vs
Poulain

170 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
158 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Liam Haunts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, David Poulain!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haunts is looking to clinch.
Poulain darts in trying to clinch
and Haunts counters with a one-two to the body.

Poulain closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haunts wants to get back to his feet but Poulain drags him back down.
Poulain throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Poulain wants to control but Haunts is keeping him busy.
Haunts tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Poulain wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Poulain has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haunts gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Poulain throwing strikes here but Haunts is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poulain is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Haunts has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Haunts!
Poulain has Haunts pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haunts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Poulain is trying to control the position but Haunts postures up.

Poulain kicks Haunts off and gets to his feet.

Haunts moves into the clinch successfully.
Haunts stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Poulain breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haunts throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Poulain.
Poulain wants to clinch.
Haunts moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Poulain shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Poulain looks gassed!
Haunts is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Haunts trying to keep a closed guard but Poulain is proving a slippery customer.
Haunts keeping moving, preventing Poulain from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poulain stands and steps away. Haunts gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Poulain looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Haunts!
Haunts tries to lock up and control but Poulain gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Poulain can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Haunts is looking to escape.
Haunts tries to hold on but Poulain postures up.
Haunts is looking to improve his position but Poulain isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haunts tries to lock up and control but Poulain gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Poulain trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Haunts is looking to get to half guard.

Poulain stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Haunts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Poulain counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Haunts!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haunts with a poor takedown

and Poulain counters by clinching up.
Poulain is trying to maintain a safe position but Haunts gets an underhook and turns Poulain into the cage.
Haunts tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Poulain smiles and moves away.
Haunts with a lazy takedown attempt

and Poulain counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Haunts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haunts drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Poulain lands a knee to the body.
Poulain pressing his opponent against the cage.
Poulain lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Poulain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Poulain throws a head kick that Haunts semi-blocks.
Haunts tries to clinch there but Poulain circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Haunts tries to keep at a distance but Poulain has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulain wants to break free but Haunts has control.
Haunts has Poulain pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Poulain manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Haunts letting Poulain take a breather here.
Poulain tries to pull guard but Haunts won't allow it.
Haunts tries to pull guard but Poulain holds him up against the cage and eventually Haunts drops back down to his feet.
Haunts scores a nice knee to the body.
Haunts misses with a punch to the body.
Poulain lands a hook that snaps the head of Haunts backwards.
Poulain pushes Haunts back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Poulain fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Haunts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Poulain wants to clinch.

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.
Haunts shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Poulain counters with a takedown into side control.

Poulain stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Poulain has a takedown stuffed.
Poulain shoots in for a double leg but Haunts sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Poulain swinging wilding here.
Haunts fails with the takedown.

Poulain closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haunts drops down looking for an ankle pick but Poulain pulls his leg out and moves away.
Horrible takedown by Poulain or perhaps it was just good defense by Haunts which made him look bad.
Haunts moves out of range of the body kick.
Poulain shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Haunts counters with a single leg into guard. Poulain didn't expect that.
Poulain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Poulain working for a triangle but Haunts defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poulain working a defensive guard here.
Haunts content to stall in guard here.
Poulain lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Haunts!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Poulain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Haunts forces Poulain back against the cage and clinches.
Poulain missing with knees to the body.
Haunts can't get the takedown.
Poulain working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Poulain looking to stall.
Poulain fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Poulain is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poulain tries to pull guard but Haunts won't allow it.
Poulain is trying to break the clinch but Haunts has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Haunts jumps guard and drags Poulain to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Poulain throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Haunts works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Poulain trying to control the position from guard on top but Haunts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haunts trying to control the position.
Haunts keeping full guard, as Poulain tries to pass.
Poulain controlling from the top position.
Haunts controls Poulain momentarily but Poulain frees himself.
Haunts tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Poulain gets to his feet. Haunts looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Poulain swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Haunts drives through and clinches with Poulain against the cage.
Haunts wants a takedown.

Haunts manages to break the clinch.
Poulain tries to close the distance and clinch but Haunts swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poulain misses with a wild combination.
Haunts tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Poulain swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Haunts. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poulain fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haunts lands with a kick to the temple. Poulain shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A head kick by Poulain misses
and Haunts counters with a leg kick.
Haunts misses with a takedown

and Poulain counters with a takedown into side control.
Haunts struggling a bit here.
Haunts tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Haunts is not content to let Poulain control the position.
Haunts struggling a bit here.
A control attempt from Haunts but he's now mounted!
Poulain controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Poulain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Poulain winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Poulain!