PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Peter Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burley Haines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Crazy Train. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Smith
vs
Haines

160 cm
20
150 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

177 cm
26
152 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Peter Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Burley Haines!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jonathan Paton and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Haines doesn't seem bothered though.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Haines moved out of range.
Haines avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Haines avoids the head kick by Smith.
Haines dives in for a single leg takedown but Smith sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Haines controls his hands.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Haines has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Haines avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haines displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Haines has him pressed against the cage.
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Haines avoids the head kick by Smith.
Peter Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haines avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Haines shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Haines's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Haines moves forwards but Smith connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Haines closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Smith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Haines can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith working the body and head with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Haines.
Smith lands a jab to Haines's midsection.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
A swing and a miss from Haines.
Haines slips under a jab.

Haines closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Haines lands in his opponent's guard.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haines postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Haines's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Haines looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smith staying calm.
Smith lands a few punches from side control.
Haines tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith tries for a kimura but Haines is defending well.
Haines is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Haines has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haines can't do much from the bottom here.
Haines takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haines is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Haines trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Smith dominated that 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.

Haines throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Smith throws a combination. Haines tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Smith.
Haines avoids the head kick by Smith.
Haines throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Haines tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Haines.
Haines doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Haines dives in and scores a takedown into Smith's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith keeping full guard, as Haines tries to pass.

Haines avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Smith wants to sweep here but Haines controlling him for the moment.
Haines passes Smith's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Haines seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.

Smith is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Haines pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haines is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Haines stalling away here and it's allowed Smith to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Haines stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haines trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Haines trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Haines from controlling successfully.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Haines slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith keeping full guard, as Haines tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Haines manages to get himself to full guard.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Haines's head.
Haines not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith passes into half guard.
Haines tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Haines is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!
Smith scoring with strikes but Haines is staying in there.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Haines taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith wants to control the pace but Haines is squirming around nicely.

Smith is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Haines to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Haines shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Haines really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Smith has hold of Haines's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Haines manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Smith has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Haines's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haines slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Smith 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!

Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
Smith slips under a jab.
Haines takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Haines on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Haines tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Haines misses the jab.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Haines's head back.
Haines is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Haines moves out of range easily.
Peter Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith stalks Haines and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Haines's face. Haines staggers backwards, shaken.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haines swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smith scores with a nice body kick.
Haines takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Haines throws a hook but Smith avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Haines manages to get back to half guard.
Haines is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.
Haines is looking to improve his position.
Burley Haines has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haines trying to control but Smith postures up.
Smith seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Haines does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Haines is defending well.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Smith is working for a submission of some sort.

Smith stands up and beckons Haines to join him on the feet.
A slow jab from Haines misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands with an overhand left.
Peter Smith is winning the standup battle so far.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Haines tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smith trying to control the position but Haines is working away.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Haines is defending well.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haines is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Smith's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Haines wants to get back to full guard.
Smith wants to control but Haines is keeping him busy.
Peter Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Haines blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.

Haines looking for submissions off his back.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Peter Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith wants to pass the guard but Haines is defending well.
Haines is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haines trying to get back to full guard but Smith takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Smith!
Peter Smith decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.