PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Clyde Haley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Patrick Stephens enters the cage!

Haley
vs
Stephens

165 cm
27
162 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

179 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clyde Haley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Patrick Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stephens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haley is fending him off so far but Stephens persists. Nope, Haley circles away and we're back to standing.
Stephens cracks Haley with an open hand slap.

Stephens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stephens has had enough of the clinch but Haley keeps him there for the moment.
Haley is trying to drag Stephens to the mat but Stephens just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stephens manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Haley is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haley breaks the clinch.

Stephens moves into the clinch.
Haley tries to pull guard but Stephens holds him up against the cage and eventually Haley drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clyde Haley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens goes for a takedown in the clinch but Haley prevents it.

Stephens gets control of Haley's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stephens will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stephens's head.
Stephens wants to stand and escape but Haley is having none of it.

Haley got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stephens has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Haley has managed to get both his arms back between Stephens's legs - danger averted.
Haley stops Stephens from standing up.
Stephens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephens wants to stand and escape but Haley is having none of it.
Stephens working a defensive guard but Haley manages to pass into side control anyway.

Haley wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stephens, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Haley working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Haley swings around for an armbar but Stephens sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Haley's guard.

Haley looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Stephens has picked Haley up and slammed him! Haley can't keep hold of the triangle and Stephens manages to pass to side control!
Stephens throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Haley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Haley is trying to control Stephens's posture but Stephens avoids it.
Haley gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Haley tries to get to full guard but Stephens has control of the leg.
Haley tries to kick Stephens off but Stephens keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stephens is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Haley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Haley is looking for a sweep. Stephens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stephens trying to pass the guard but Haley defending well.
Stephens thows a huge punch but Haley dodges it nicely.
Stephens works his foot free and advances to mount.
Stephens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haley blocking the ground and pound.
Stephens controlling the position easily from mount.
Haley tries to improve his position but instead Stephens has taken his back!
Haley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stephens trying to control.

Haley is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Haley stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Patrick Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Haley.

Haley closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Stephens dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Stephens darts in and clinches Haley up against the cage.
Stephens tries to break free but Haley pushes him back against the cage.
Stephens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Haley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Haley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stephens, pushing him back against the cage.

Haley wants the takedown. Stephens is fighting it off but Haley persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stephens's guard against the cage.
Stephens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Patrick Stephens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haley with a flurry of punches that miss.

Haley is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haley drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Stephens manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Haley has Stephens in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephens drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stephens jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Haley wants to sweep but no luck.
Haley throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Haley working a defensive guard here.
Stephens trying to control but Haley is working from the bottom.

Haley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stephens defends well.

Stephens avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Haley looking to control but Stephens passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Haley is refusing to be controlled, as Stephens sits in half guard.
Stephens tries to pass the half guard into mount. Haley knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Haley wants to get back to his feet.

Stephens decides to stand up.
Stephens throws a low kick but Haley avoids it.
Stephens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Haley counters with an inside leg kick.
Haley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stephens.
It looked like Haley wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Clyde Haley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haley stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Stephens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Haley's waist but Haley gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stephens off to one side.
Clyde Haley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Stephens.
Stephens is breathing heavily.

Haley rushes Stephens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stephens pulls his leg out and moves away.
Haley tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheers as Haley lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stephens doesn't seem phased though.
Haley stuffs the takedown.
Stephens closes this distance looking for a takedown but Haley circles away.
Stephens just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHaley.
Stephens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haley is fending him off so far but Stephens persists. Nope, Haley circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens takes one to the side of the head.

Stephens instigates a clinch.
Stephens stops a takedown attempt from Haley.

Haley is trying to trip Stephens. He has hold of a leg but Stephens is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Haley persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Stephens is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Haley dives into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Haley throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Haley goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Stephens has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Haley but great work by Stephens.
Haley gets back to half guard.
Haley trying to hold on to Stephens's head to control him but Stephens postures up.

Stephens stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Haley to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Clyde Haley will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stephens shoots for a takedown but Haley saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches up with Haley, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes Haley against the cage but Haley circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stephens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Clyde Haley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Stephens.
Stephens shoots for a double leg takedown but Haley sprawls well. He's pushed Stephens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Haley throws a series of punches but Stephens avoids them all with ease.
Stephens shoots and misses
and Haley counters with a head kick.
Stephens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clyde Haley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens misses with a body shot.
Haley misses with a head kick.
Haley swinging wildly here.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Haley tries a head kick but it misses.
Clyde Haley is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice uppercut there from Haley.
Stephens blocks a head kick by Haley.
Stephens tries to counter by closing the distance.
Haley scores with a shot to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A body shot lands from Haley.
Haley prevents the takedown attempt.
Haley looking for a takedown.
Haley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haley breaks from the clinch.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Haley as he avoids it easily.
Haley appears to be looking for a big counter.
Haley moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.
Haley's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haley tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stephens is trying to break the clinch but Haley is controlling him.

Haley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Haley. No joy for Stephens on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haley throws a right and a left that Stephens avoids nicely.
Stephens steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Haley.
Haley misses with a looping left.
A telegraphed right hand from Haley misses the target.
Haley plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Stephens has taken the fight to the clinch.

Haley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stephens connects with a body shot.
Haley is looking to clinch.
Stephens drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Haley defends it well.
Haley throws a sloppy head kick and Stephens moves out of range easily.
Haley tries to clinch
and Stephens counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stephens has taken the fight to the clinch.

Haley breaks from the clinch.
Haley tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Haley as Stephens shoots in.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stephens circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stephens lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Haley misses with a left hand
and Stephens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Stephens gets a clinch.
Haley fails to pull guard.
Haley has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stephens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Haley breaks the clinch.
Haley throws a lazy head kick
and Stephens counters with a left and a right that stings Haley.

Stephens clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clyde Haley showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Haley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

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