PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Runar Mathisen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clayton Hayward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clayton Hayward is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Mathisen
vs
Hayward

194 cm
22
240 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Runar Mathisen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Clayton Hayward!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayward swats away the attempt to clinch by Mathisen.
Mathisen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mathisen tries to clinch but Hayward moves out of range.
Hayward misses with a jab, cross combination.

Hayward is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mathisen's half guard.
Mathisen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hayward is pressing down on Mathisen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mathisen is holding on for now.

Hayward is trying to work for a kimura but Mathisen is defending well.
Mathisen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hayward tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mathisen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathisen is trying to stand back up but Hayward is controlling him
Mathisen is breathing heavily.
Hayward thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mathisen's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hayward prevents Mathisen from standing back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hayward moves into the clinch.
Hayward managing to block the knees to the body from Mathisen.
Mathisen looking to throw knees to the head but Hayward is blocking nicely.

Hayward breaks from the clinch.
Mathisen moves out of range of the body kick.
Mathisen clinches but Hayward breaks the clinch

and Hayward counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mathisen won't be happy with that.
Hayward is looking to take a break and control but Mathisen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mathisen is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayward moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Hayward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hayward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Hayward decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Hayward gets a takedown into half guard.
Hayward not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayward's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Hayward sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mathisen defending well though.
Still in half guard, Hayward seems content to control.

Mathisen is defending against the submission attempts here by Hayward.
Hayward tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mathisen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four 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.
Mathisen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hayward is working away from the top position though.
Mathisen wants to get back to his feet.
Hayward is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mathisen trying desperately to get to his feet.
Hayward wants to control the pace but Mathisen is squirming around nicely.
Mathisen wants to hold on but Hayward pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Hayward dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mathisen throws a head kick but Hayward moves out of range.
Mathisen tries to clinch up

and Hayward moves into the clinch.

Hayward has clasped his hands together around Mathisen's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Hayward stands up.
Hayward shoots in for a takedown but Mathisen shows good takedown defense.

Hayward drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hayward preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mathisen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mathisen wants to stand and escape but Hayward is having none of it.
Hayward preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hayward stands up from Mathisen's guard - Hayward perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hayward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mathisen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hayward counters with a single leg into guard. Mathisen didn't expect that.
Mathisen wants to stand but Hayward is controlling the position.
Hayward wants to control from the top but Mathisen keeps moving.
Hayward won't allow Mathisen to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathisen is looking to stand back up but Hayward counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mathisen.
Hayward takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mathisen controlling the position well.
Hayward trying to mount his opponent but Mathisen defends it.
Hayward prevents Mathisen from standing back up.
Mathisen trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Hayward manages to pass to mount!
Mathisen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayward controlling the position easily from mount.
Mathisen tries to hold on but Hayward postures up.
Hayward putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hayward tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mathisen working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Hayward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hayward has hold of Mathisen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mathisen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mathisen tries to reverse the position but Hayward maintains control.
Hayward controlling his opponent.
Mathisen's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clayton Hayward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Mathisen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hayward moves into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The referee calls for Hayward to work.
Mathisen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hayward smiles and moves away.

Hayward shoots in and bounces Mathisen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hayward tries to free his leg and advance position but Mathisen is retaining full guard.
Hayward stops Mathisen from standing up.
Hayward tries to free his leg and advance position but Mathisen is retaining full guard.
Hayward must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hayward stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayward misses with a wild combination.
Hayward looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hayward ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mathisen moves away.
Hayward shoots for a double leg takedown but Mathisen sprawls well. He's pushed Hayward's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mathisen wants to clinch but Hayward slips to the side

and Hayward counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hayward tries to land knees in the clinch but Mathisen avoids the damage to the body.
Mathisen is pressed up against the cage. Hayward has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mathisen down to the mat. Mathisen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Runar Mathisen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clayton Hayward.
Mathisen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hayward counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mathisen won't be happy with that.
Hayward is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Mathisen's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sloppy strikes there by Hayward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayward landing strikes.
Clayton Hayward has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hayward wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mathisen, who protects the arm well.
Hayward trying to control the action but Mathisen is working from the bottom.
Mathisen is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hayward is controlling him well.
Mathisen trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hayward closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hayward with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mathisen is looking to get back to is feet but Hayward passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayward has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Mathisen!
Hayward tries to control but Mathisen wriggling away.
Mathisen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mathisen moves into full guard.
Hayward won't allow Mathisen to get back to his feet.
Mathisen keeping moving, preventing Hayward from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayward prevents Mathisen from getting back to his feet.
Mathisen controlling Hayward's posture.
Hayward trying to control the position from guard on top but Mathisen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mathisen wants to get back to his feet but Hayward is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mathisen working a defensive guard here.
Runar Mathisen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clayton Hayward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hayward sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mathisen's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clayton Hayward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hayward 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clayton Hayward!