PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vrajesh Ponnaganti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Haynes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ponnaganti
vs
Haynes

171 cm
27
156 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

165 cm
25
146 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vrajesh Ponnaganti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brandon Haynes!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haynes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ponnaganti momentarily.
Haynes lands with a right hand.
Ponnaganti misses with a jab to the body
and Haynes counters with a left to the body.
Haynes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Haynes lands with a cross.
Haynes throws a chopping leg kick but Ponnaganti manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ponnaganti attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Haynes darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ponnaganti wants to clinch up but Haynes keeps it at a distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Haynes lands a head shot.
Haynes blocks the body kick.
Haynes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ponnaganti motions for Haynes to come forward. Ponnaganti throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ponnaganti throws a leg kick which misses Haynes's front leg but catches the back leg as Haynes tries to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti misses with a leg kick.

Haynes tries to keep at a distance but Ponnaganti has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haynes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Haynes avoids the elbow strike from Ponnaganti, against the cage.
Ponnaganti misses with an elbow strike.
Ponnaganti has Haynes pushed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Haynes blocks the elbow strike.
Ponnaganti is stalling here.
Ponnaganti prevents the takedown attempt.
Ponnaganti misses with an elbow strike.
Haynes fails to pull guard.
Vrajesh Ponnaganti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Haynes.
Ponnaganti unloads a knee to the mid-section. Haynes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Haynes avoids the elbow strike from Ponnaganti, against the cage.
Ponnaganti landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Haynes takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ponnaganti working Haynes over with knees to the body.
Ponnaganti misses with an elbow over the top.
Haynes dodges an elbow strike from Ponnaganti.
Haynes avoids the elbow strike from Ponnaganti, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponnaganti throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ponnaganti lands a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Ponnaganti to work.
Haynes tries to stall but Ponnaganti uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Haynes has clasped his hands together around Ponnaganti's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ponnaganti is not content to let Haynes control the position.
Ponnaganti is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Haynes off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haynes trying to control the hands but Ponnaganti won't let him.
Ponnaganti biding his time, controlling Haynes.
Haynes trying to control but not successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Ponnaganti keeps control of the position easily here as Haynes tries to buck him off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ponnaganti controlling well, preventing Haynes from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vrajesh Ponnaganti will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Haynes throws a lazy uppercut
and Ponnaganti counters with a thumping low kick.
Haynes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ponnaganti throws a low kick, looking for Haynes's leg but Haynes calmly moves out of range.
Ponnaganti throws a low kick but Haynes avoids it.
A low kick from Haynes misses

and Ponnaganti holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ponnaganti misses with an elbow over the top.
Ponnaganti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haynes avoids it.
Ponnaganti looking to slow down the pace here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Haynes dodges an elbow strike from Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti misses with an elbow over the top.
Haynes tries to pull guard but Ponnaganti won't allow it.
Ponnaganti throws an elbow that misses.
Ponnaganti lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ponnaganti.
The referee is keeping an eye on Haynes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ponnaganti has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ponnaganti lands a nice elbow.
Ponnaganti lands an elbow just above Haynes 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Haynes looking to stall.
Haynes effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Brandon Haynes.
Some bone on bone action there as Haynes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Vrajesh Ponnaganti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ponnaganti has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Haynes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ponnaganti throws a leg kick which misses Haynes's front leg but catches the back leg as Haynes tries to avoid it.
Haynes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Haynes drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ponnaganti defending well as Haynes loads up on a big left hand.
Ponnaganti tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Haynes is able to avoid easily.
Ponnaganti tries a low kick but Haynes avoids it.
Ponnaganti lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ponnaganti takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haynes throws a hook to the side of Ponnaganti's head but Ponnaganti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A leg kick checked by Haynes.
Ponnaganti gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Haynes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ponnaganti counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ponnaganti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Haynes.
Haynes cracks Ponnaganti with an open hand slap.
A low kick from Ponnaganti is predictable there
and Haynes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Haynes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ponnaganti turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ponnaganti tries a head kick but it misses.
Haynes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ponnaganti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Haynes throws a right hand that Ponnaganti ducks under and follows up with a left that Ponnaganti also avoids with ease.
Ponnaganti wants to clinch.
Ponnaganti connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haynes tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Haynes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Haynes walks into a jab.
Ponnaganti attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Haynes throws a looping overhand right but Ponnaganti ducks down to avoid it.
Ponnaganti chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Haynes tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Haynes is breathing heavily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ponnaganti, right into the meat.
That kick from Ponnaganti tenderised Haynes's leg. Haynes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ponnaganti tests Haynes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ponnaganti, right into the meat.
Haynes misses with an uppercut. Ponnaganti saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haynes throws a poor cross that misses
and Ponnaganti counters with a right hand to the body.
Ponnaganti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Haynes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ponnaganti thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Haynes if he has to take too many more of those.
Ponnaganti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ponnaganti connects with a leg kick. Haynes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A bone on bone clash there as Haynes blocks the leg kick.
Haynes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ponnaganti misses with a head kick.
Haynes checks a low kick from Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti moves out of range of the body kick.
That kick from Ponnaganti tenderised Haynes's leg. Haynes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ponnaganti throws a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haynes blocks a low kick nicely.

Ponnaganti moves into range and clinches up with Haynes.
Ponnaganti throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haynes blocks an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vrajesh Ponnaganti dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ponnaganti moves in looking to clinch but Haynes pushes him off.
A nice combination there by Haynes.
Ponnaganti wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ponnaganti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haynes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ponnaganti takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Haynes swings widly with a right hand
and Ponnaganti counters with an inside leg kick.
Ponnaganti throws a push kick but Haynes slaps the foot to one side.
Ponnaganti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Haynes.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ponnaganti lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Haynes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Haynes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ponnaganti throws a front kick aimed at Haynes's knee but Haynes avoids it well.
A good leg kick by Ponnaganti.
Haynes throws a poor cross that misses
and Ponnaganti makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Ponnaganti has Haynes up against the cage in a clinch.
Haynes wants to stall.
Ponnaganti gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haynes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ponnaganti comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ponnaganti lands a nice elbow.
Haynes blocks the elbow strike.
Ponnaganti lands an elbow that stopped Haynes in his tracks for a moment.
Haynes takes an elbow to the temple.
Ponnaganti with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ponnaganti throws an elbow but it misses.
Ponnaganti throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Haynes blocks an elbow strike.
Ponnaganti pushes off an throws an elbow but Haynes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ponnaganti creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Haynes stalling in the clinch but Ponnaganti improves position.
Ponnaganti is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ponnaganti throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ponnaganti lands an elbow just above Haynes 's eye.
Haynes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ponnaganti misses with an elbow over the top.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ponnaganti just misses with a elbow thrown towards Haynes's brow.
Ponnaganti crunches a lovely knee into Haynes's ribcage.
Ponnaganti creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Haynes's defenses.
Haynes is trying to stall.
Ponnaganti lands an elbow inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ponnaganti just misses with a elbow thrown towards Haynes's brow.
Haynes avoids a wild elbow strike from Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti misses with an elbow strike.
Ponnaganti lands a nice knee to the body.
Ponnaganti throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ponnaganti lands an elbow inside.
Ponnaganti pushes off an throws an elbow but Haynes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ponnaganti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haynes avoids it.
Haynes blocks an elbow strike from Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti pushes off an throws an elbow but Haynes leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ponnaganti throws an elbow but it misses.
Vrajesh Ponnaganti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haynes tries to pull guard but Ponnaganti holds him up against the cage and eventually Haynes drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haynes tries to stall but Ponnaganti uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Haynes avoids the elbow strike from Ponnaganti, against the cage.
Ponnaganti holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ponnaganti as Haynes tries to tie him up.
Haynes seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Ponnaganti landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Haynes is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Haynes is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ponnaganti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Haynes is defending well for now.
Haynes avoiding damage.
Brandon Haynes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Brandon Haynes.
Ponnaganti misses with a hook to the body
and Haynes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A head kick from Ponnaganti lands but Haynes takes it in his stride.
Ponnaganti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Haynes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ponnaganti.
Ponnaganti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vrajesh Ponnaganti is winning the standup battle so far.
Haynes lands with a nice body punch.
Ponnaganti throws a leg kick but Haynes moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vrajesh Ponnaganti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ponnaganti, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vrajesh Ponnaganti!