PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keiran Corkhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burley Haines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Corkhill
vs
Haines

170 cm
27
135 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

177 cm
29
152 lbs
12 - 4 - 2

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Powerful

GREEN!160

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keiran Corkhill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Burley Haines!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Reed Andrews and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Corkhill closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Corkhill tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Corkhill has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Corkhill is looking to take a break and control but Haines is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Haines manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Corkhill is working for a submission of some sort.
Haines moves into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Corkhill trying to control but Haines is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haines 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.
Haines is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Corkhill works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Corkhill trying to control from Haines's half guard. Haines has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Haines wants to sweep but no luck.
Corkhill wants to pass the guard but Haines is keeping the position.
Corkhill trying to control but Haines is working from the bottom.
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.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Corkhill won't allow Haines to sweep him here.

Corkhill got a little sloppy there for a moment and Haines has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Corkhill has managed to get both his arms back between Haines's legs - danger averted.
Corkhill pushing down on Haines's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

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

Corkhill is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Haines doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Corkhill.

Corkhill is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Corkhill has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Corkhill is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Haines sees it coming and defends easily.

Haines looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Corkhill tries to pass to full mount but Haines defends it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Corkhill is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Haines has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Corkhill is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Haines closes the distance and clinches.
Corkhill on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Corkhill gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Haines regains guard.
Haines wants to sweep but no luck.

Haines looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Haines wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Haines looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Haines pulls Corkhill in close to his closed guard and prevents Corkhill from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Corkhill with that takedown attempt.

Haines instigates a clinch.
Haines stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Haines prevents a takedown attempt there.
Corkhill is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Haines is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keiran Corkhill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice right hand lands inside from Haines.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haines pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haines shoots for a takedown but Corkhill saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Corkhill shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Haines appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Haines slaps away a takedown attempt from Corkhill, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Corkhill gets the takedown into side control.
Haines manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Haines is looking for a sweep. Corkhill is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Corkhill tries to pass the half guard into mount. Haines knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Haines wants to get back to full guard.

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

Corkhill is working for a kimura but Haines is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Corkhill is looking for a kimura but Haines is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Corkhill to get the leverage.
Haines has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Haines is trying to maintain the position but Corkhill is very close to passing his half guard.
Haines works his way to full guard. Good work.
Corkhill wants to control from the top but Haines keeps moving.
Haines keeping full guard, as Corkhill tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Haines holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corkhill tries to free his leg and advance position but Haines is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Corkhill shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haines as he jumps to the side.
Corkhill shoots in for a takedown but Haines shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Corkhill scores with a takedown into Haines's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Haines is on top in guard.

Haines controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Haines trying to control the position from guard on top but Corkhill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haines tries to free his leg and advance position but Corkhill is retaining full guard.
Keiran Corkhill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Haines wants to control from the top but Corkhill keeps moving.
Haines postures up in Corkhill's guard and throws a big left but Corkhill blocks it.

Corkhill working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Haines doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Haines manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Corkhill looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Corkhill avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Burley Haines 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck for Corkhill with that takedown attempt.

Haines rushes Corkhill and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Corkhill is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Haines pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Haines is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keiran Corkhill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Haines has Corkhill pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Haines pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Corkhill tumbling to the mat - Haines dives into Corkhill's guard.
Haines is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Corkhill is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haines defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Corkhill looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Corkhill is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Haines is aware though and is defending well.
Corkhill keeping moving, preventing Haines from controlling successfully.
Haines pushes down on Corkhill's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Haines is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Corkhill has managed to free his arm - good work.
Corkhill is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Haines tries to pass the half guard into mount. Corkhill knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Corkhill wants to get back to full guard.
Haines drops an elbow to the side of Corkhill's head.
Haines is looking to take a break and control but Corkhill is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Haines is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Corkhill defends it well.
Haines trying to control from Corkhill's half guard. Corkhill has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corkhill is trying to control the position but Haines postures up.

Corkhill working for a triangle but Haines defends it easily.

Corkhill had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Haines defends it easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Haines scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Corkhill throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Haines escapes and throws Corkhill's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Haines takes a little break here. Corkhill wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Haines scoring with punches from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Corkhill wants to control but Haines postures up.
Haines in side control lands a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burley Haines comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Haines has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burley Haines!
In his post fight interview, Burley Haines started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.