PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bennie Haley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Lombard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Haley
vs
Lombard

172 cm
24
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bennie Haley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hector Lombard!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Haley looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lombard!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Haley is looking to take a break and control but Lombard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lombard is trying to improve his position.
Lombard is still trying to improve position.
You can see the frustration on Lombard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lombard tries to improve position but can't.

Haley decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lombard to his feet.
Haley throws a head kick but Lombard moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lombard scores with a takedown into Haley's guard.
Lombard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lombard lands a couple of digs.
Lombard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lombard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lombard landing some decent shots from guard.
Lombard preventing the sweep.
Lombard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lombard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Haley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lombard.
Lombard working some strikes from top position.
Lombard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lombard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lombard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lombard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Haley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lombard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lombard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lombard is working Haley over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Haley controls Lombard momentarily but Lombard frees himself.
Haley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lombard wants to control from the top but Haley keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombard preventing the sweep.
Lombard connects with a couple of short punches.
Haley trying to keep a closed guard but Lombard is proving a slippery customer.
Lombard distracts Haley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Haley striking off his back but it's not causing Lombard any problems.
Lombard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lombard lands a couple of elbows.
Lombard connects with a couple of short punches.
Haley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Haley is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Haley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lombard slips nicely into half guard.
Haley tries to get to full guard but Lombard has control of the leg.
Haley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lombard is working away from the top position though.
Haley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Haley is looking for a triangle but Lombard pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Lombard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lombard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lombard with the ground and pound but Haley uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Haley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lombard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Lombard is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Haley is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Haley has escaped and now he's on top!
Lombard is looking to sweep but instead, Haley has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley controlling the action here.
Lombard manages to get to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lombard can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

Haley shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Haley showed some decent athleticism there.
Lombard is breathing heavily.
Lombard is not content to let Haley control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombard is looking to escape.
Haley throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lombard trying to control here.
Haley seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lombard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bennie Haley wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Haley closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lombard to the mat! Lombard manages to get full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lombard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lombard is trying to control the position but Haley postures up.

Haley is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lombard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lombard has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haley tries to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lombard throws an elbow that misses. Haley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lombard's guard. Nice move by Haley!
Haley wants to stand but Lombard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lombard working a defensive guard but Haley manages to pass into side control anyway.
Lombard managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Haley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haley decides to stand back up. Haley steps back and let's Lombard get back to his feet.
A shot to the liver by Haley. Beautiful body shot.

Lombard gets caught napping as Haley dives in and scores a takedown. Lombard manages to retain guard.
Haley pushes down on Lombard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lombard trying to get back to full guard but Haley takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Bennie Haley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Haley looking for a guillotine from mount but Lombard is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haley sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bennie Haley dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lombard wants to land a leg kick but Haley is out of range.

Lombard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Lombard looking for a guillotine here but Haley defends easily.
Lombard keeping moving, preventing Haley from controlling successfully.
Lombard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lombard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haley preventing the sweep.
Haley controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lombard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Haley puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Haley is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Lombard tries to get to full guard but Haley has control of the leg.

Lombard actively working from the bottom here.
Lombard wants to improve his position but Haley is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haley trying to control the action but Lombard is working from the bottom.
Lombard tries to roll over but Haley keeps him under control.
Lombard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Haley.
Lombard is refusing to be controlled, as Haley sits in half guard.
Lombard wants to improve his position but Haley is controlling well.

Haley looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombard is refusing to be controlled, as Haley sits in half guard.

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.
Haley stalling.
Lombard is staying active underneath Haley, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lombard wants to improve his position but Haley is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bennie Haley.
Haley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lombard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Haley misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lombard 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 Lombard off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bennie Haley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Haley has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

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