PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Emile Hainesburg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Holyfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hainesburg
vs
Holyfield

172 cm
24
167 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

181 cm
24
169 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Conviction
Conviction

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 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Emile Hainesburg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nate Holyfield!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hainesburg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Holyfield paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Holyfield throws a leg kick but Hainesburg checks it.
Hainesburg looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hainesburg with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Holyfield checks a leg kick.
Hainesburg throws a front kick aimed at Holyfield's knee but Holyfield avoids it well.
Holyfield throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hainesburg throws a looping overhand right but Holyfield ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hainesburg throws a low kick but Holyfield moves out of range easily.
Holyfield displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hainesburg throws out the jab.
Holyfield shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holyfield shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hainesburg's guard.
Holyfield wants to pass the guard but Hainesburg is keeping the position.
Hainesburg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hainesburg trying to control the position here.
Holyfield is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hainesburg controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hainesburg wants to sweep here but Holyfield controlling him for the moment.

Emile Hainesburg has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A head kick by Hainesburg misses
enabling Holyfield to counter with a crisp jab.
Hainesburg throws a head kick that misses.
Hainesburg looks to land a right hand but Holyfield moved out of range.
Nice shot lands for Hainesburg.
Holyfield jabs Hainesburg to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hainesburg throws a leg kick
and Holyfield makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Holyfield uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hainesburg.
Emile Hainesburg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Holyfield closes the distance and clinches up with Hainesburg, looking for a takedown. Holyfield pushes Hainesburg against the cage but Hainesburg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hainesburg comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hainesburg throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hainesburg looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hainesburg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hainesburg throws a sloppy head kick

and Holyfield counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hainesburg won't be happy with that.
Hainesburg stops Holyfield from passing to mount.
Holyfield passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hainesburg!

Holyfield working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hainesburg is working to get back to half guard.

Holyfield working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hainesburg is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holyfield moves out of range of the leg kick from Hainesburg.
Good standup being displayed there by Holyfield as he connects with a hook.
Hainesburg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hainesburg misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hainesburg throws a front kick that sends Holyfield stumbling back into the cage.
Hainesburg misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hainesburg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hainesburg.
Holyfield comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hainesburg throws a leg kick but Holyfield checks it.
Hainesburg is looking to score with low kicks.
Hainesburg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hainesburg is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Holyfield's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Hainesburg walks into a jab.
Hainesburg avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Holyfield shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hainesburg pinned against the cage. Hainesburg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hainesburg darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Holyfield connects with a leg kick. Hainesburg looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Holyfield shoots in for a double leg but Hainesburg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Emile Hainesburg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Holyfield.
Hainesburg fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Holyfield throws a push kick but Hainesburg slaps the foot to one side.
Hainesburg fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Holyfield has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield checks a leg kick.
Hainesburg with a jab.
Hainesburg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Holyfield.
Holyfield shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hainesburg sprawls well. Hainesburg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Holyfield gets slowly back to his feet.
Holyfield fails with a takedown attempt.
Holyfield is breathing heavily.
Hainesburg jabs at Holyfield's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hainesburg stuffs the takedown attempt from Holyfield. Holyfield gets slowly back to his feet.
Hainesburg misses with a body shot.
Hainesburg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hainesburg checks a leg kick.
Holyfield will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Holyfield avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hainesburg connects with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emile Hainesburg dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Holyfield takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hainesburg tries to score with a low kick but Holyfield moves his leg out of the way.
Hainesburg slips under a jab.
Hainesburg avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hainesburg throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hainesburg wants to clinch up but Holyfield keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holyfield thows a body shot but no joy.
Emile Hainesburg is winning the standup battle so far.
Hainesburg looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hainesburg moves out of range as Holyfield strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holyfield throws a sloppy body shot
and Hainesburg counters with a low kick, right behind Holyfield 's knee.
Holyfield blocks a head kick by Hainesburg.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hainesburg.
Holyfield takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Holyfield takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hainesburg misses the shot to the body.
Holyfield chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hainesburg can pounce on him.
Holyfield checks the leg kick nicely there.
A low kick from Hainesburg is predictable there
and Holyfield counters with a nice uppercut.
Holyfield closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hainesburg pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hainesburg tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Holyfield is able to avoid easily.
A head kick misses from Hainesburg.
Hainesburg misses with a low kick.
Hainesburg tries a head kick but it misses.
Hainesburg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Holyfield will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hainesburg avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield fails with the takedown
and Hainesburg counters with a big head kick but Holyfield shrugs it off.
Hainesburg uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Holyfield.
Hainesburg is looking to slow Holyfield down with leg kicks.
A jab from Holyfield misses.
Hainesburg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hainesburg lands a nice leg kick that just misses Holyfield's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Holyfield.
Hainesburg pushes Holyfield away with a front kick.
Holyfield takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hainesburg swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Holyfield counters with a low kick, right behind Hainesburg 's knee.
Good standup being displayed there by Hainesburg as he connects with a hook.
Holyfield's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hainesburg avoids the body shot from Holyfield.
Hainesburg tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Holyfield blocks a head kick by Hainesburg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emile Hainesburg showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hainesburg 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emile Hainesburg!