PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leigh Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Hairty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gibson
vs
Hairty

221 cm
20
151 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Leigh Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sean Hairty!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hairty tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hairty tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gibson defends well and Hairty ends up having to push Gibson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gibson is trying to break the clinch but Hairty is controlling him.
Hairty tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A bit of stalling here from Hairty.
Gibson is working for takedown but Hairty is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gibson is trying to drag Hairty to the mat but Hairty just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Hairty breaks from the clinch.
Hairty changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gibson tries to avoid it but Hairty manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gibson to the ground. Gibson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Leigh Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Hairty.

Hairty rushes Gibson and presses him up against the cage.
Gibson jumps guard but Hairty stands there with Gibson around his waist. Gibson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hairty pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hairty controls Gibson momentarily but Gibson frees himself.
Hairty utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hairty avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hairty has his hands on Gibson's head, controlling the position.
Gibson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hairty works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hairty wants to sweep but no luck.
Gibson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hairty working a defensive guard here.
Hairty tries to strike from the bottom.

Hairty is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gibson is aware though and is defending well.
Gibson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hairty throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson throws a strike but Hairty rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hairty wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Hairty has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hairty stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gibson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gibson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibson keeping moving, preventing Hairty from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leigh Gibson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hairty fails with the takedown

and Gibson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hairty fails to pull guard.
Gibson is trying to force a seperation but Hairty has the dominant position.

Hairty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hairty misses with a double jab
and Gibson counters with a nice uppercut.
Hairty shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gibson as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hairty.
Hairty looks winded!

Hairty forces Gibson back against the cage and clinches.
Hairty tries to stall but Gibson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hairty fails to pull guard.
Gibson wants a takedown but no success here.
Gibson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hairty walks away with a smile on his face. Gibson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Gibson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hairty on his heels. He'll look to pass Hairty's guard now, I'm sure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gibson distracts Hairty with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hairty working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gibson.
Hairty trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gibson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sean Hairty will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hairty goes for a double leg but Gibson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gibson continues to drive forward.
Hairty lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hairty wants to take the fight to the mat but Gibson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hairty drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Leigh Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Hairty.

Gibson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gibson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hairty defends it nicely.
Gibson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hairty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Hairty as Gibson shoots in.
Hairty shoots and misses

and Gibson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gibson.
Hairty jumps guard but Gibson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gibson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hairty is defending well.
Hairty stalling against the cage.

Hairty breaks from the clinch.
Hairty shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gibson as he jumps to the side.
Hairty is breathing heavily.
Gibson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hairty swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gibson shoots in for a double leg but Hairty sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson tries for a takedown but Hairty sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gibson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hairty tries for a takedown but Gibson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hairty avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hairty moves into range and clinches up with Gibson.

Hairty pulls guard effortlessly.

Hairty looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gibson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gibson is looking to work some ground and pound but Hairty has wrist control.

Gibson gets to his feet. Hairty looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hairty tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gibson is able to avoid easily.
Gibson wants to clinch.
Gibson shoots in looking for a takedown. Hairty tries to sprawl out of it but Gibson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hairty manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hairty misses with a takedown
and Gibson counters with a left to the body.
Gibson wants to clinch.

Hairty has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but Hairty turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hairty has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gibson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hairty fails to pull guard.
Gibson stalling in the clinch.
Gibson trying to control the position but instead, Hairty has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gibson into the cage.
Hairty tries to pull guard but Gibson won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hairty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gibson misses with a takedown attempt - Hairty sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sean Hairty will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hairty throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gibson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nice takedown defense from Gibson. No joy for Hairty on that attempt.
Hairty fails to land the takedown.

Hairty drives through and clinches with Gibson against the cage.

Hairty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hairty closes the distance and clinches.

Hairty has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gibson uses from the top position.
Hairty preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Gibson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hairty, up you get!
Hairty takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hairty shoots in looking for a takedown. Gibson tries to sprawl out of it but Hairty keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gibson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leigh Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Hairty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hairty swivels and escapes.

Hairty moves into the clinch.
Gibson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hairty after a bit of a struggle.

Hairty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sean Hairty seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hairty clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sean Hairty seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hairty fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson fails to pull guard.
Hairty tries to work over Gibson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gibson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hairty walks away with a smile on his face. Gibson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hairty circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gibson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hairty.
Hairty throws a head kick that misses.
Hairty fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gibson shoots in looking for a takedown but Hairty manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gibson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hairty as he jumps to the side.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown but Hairty shows good takedown defense.
Hairty dives in for a single leg takedown but Gibson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Gibson manages to pull guard.
Hairty wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Gibson controlling the position.
Hairty wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hairty controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sean Hairty wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hairty throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gibson's waist but Gibson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hairty off to one side.
Gibson shoots in but no luck this time.
Sean Hairty is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hairty shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gibson as he avoids it easily.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hairty sprawls well. Hairty wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gibson gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Hairty comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hairty 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Hairty!