PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kennith Haney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wakoko Wakeke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Haney
vs
Wakeke

221 cm
21
151 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kennith Haney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Wakoko Wakeke!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wakeke falls off balance throwing a combination

and Haney moves into the clinch.
Haney really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wakeke misses with a knee to the head.
Wakeke tries to land a knee to the head but Haney blocks with his arms.
Wakeke looking to throw knees to the head but Haney is blocking nicely.
Nice body punch from Wakeke - that landed with a thud.
Haney tries to pull guard but Wakeke holds him up against the cage and eventually Haney drops back down to his feet.
Wakeke working hard to break the clinch.
Haney avoiding damage as Wakeke throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haney tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wakeke smiles and moves away.
Wakeke throws a combination that misses
and Haney cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wakeke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Haney counters with a head kick.

Wakeke bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wakeke working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wakeke creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Haney sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Haney's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haney misses with a strike from the bottom.
Haney wants to control but Wakeke postures up.
Haney is looking for a sweep.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Haney striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Haney misses with a strike from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Wakeke connects with a leg kick. Haney looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wakeke throws a series of punches but Haney moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Haney.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kennith Haney. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haney on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wakeke thumps Haney with a low kick.
Haney looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wakeke misses with a double jab
and Haney counters with a nice body kick.
Wakeke looks winded!
Haney shoots in for a takedown but Wakeke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Haney. That did some damage!

Wakeke feints and as Haney raises his hands in defense, Wakeke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Haney lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Haney sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wakeke keeping moving, preventing Haney from controlling successfully.
Haney stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wakeke swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Haney decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke throws a head kick that misses.
Wakeke throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Haney counters with a nice uppercut.

Wakeke looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Haney tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Haney connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Haney moves into full guard.
Haney tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wakoko Wakeke dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Haney bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Haney is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wakeke is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Wakeke's face as Haney controls the position.
Haney wants to control but Wakeke is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haney thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Haney will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haney working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Haney wants to control but Wakeke is keeping him busy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Haney moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wakeke is not content to let Haney control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Haney avoids the head kick by Wakeke.
Haney swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Good leg kick by Wakeke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Wakeke throws a right hand that Haney ducks under and follows up with a left that Haney also avoids with ease.
Haney seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wakeke throws a left and a right that both miss
and Haney counters with a left and a right that stings Wakeke.
Wakeke is breathing heavily.
Wakeke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Haney shoots in looking for a takedown but Wakeke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Haney's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wakeke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wakeke just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHaney.
Wakeke throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Haney counters with a straight right hand.
Haney shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wakeke sprawls well. Wakeke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haney gets slowly back to his feet.
Despite the aggression on Wakeke's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Haney dives in for a single leg takedown but Wakeke sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Despite the aggression on Wakeke's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kennith Haney. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haney fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Wakeke.
Haney struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haney is trying to improve his position.
Haney struggling a bit here.

Wakeke stands up.
Wakoko Wakeke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haney shoots in for a takedown but Wakeke shows good takedown defense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wakeke throws a series of punches but Haney avoids them all with ease.
Haney wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Wakeke looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Haney thinks about countering with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Haney.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wakoko Wakeke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Haney's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Wakeke scores with a push kick.
Haney slips a jab and a cross from Wakeke.
Wakeke throws a lazy head kick
and Haney counters with a stiff right hand.
Wakeke throws a left and a right that both miss
and Haney counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Wakeke misses with a body kick.
Wakeke throws a left and a right that both miss

and Haney counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wakeke makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wakeke with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haney tries to pull guard but Wakeke forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Wakeke looking to throw knees to the head but Haney is blocking nicely.
Wakeke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Haney avoiding damage as Wakeke throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wakeke throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haney utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wakeke tries a knee to the head but Haney blocks it.
Wakeke being controlled against the cage.
Haney fails to pull guard.
Haney tries to pull guard but Wakeke holds him up against the cage and eventually Haney drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kennith Haney. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wakeke tries to land knees in the clinch but Haney avoids the damage to the body.
Wakeke prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke prevents the takedown attempt.
Wakeke pushes off an throws an elbow but Haney leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Knees to the body from Haney.
Wakeke with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short body shot lands from Haney as the two fighters clinch.
Wakeke tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Haney lands a left hand that snaps the head of Wakeke backwards.
Wakoko Wakeke seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Haney keeps control of Wakeke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Haney jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wakeke walks away with a smile on his face. Haney gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wakeke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Haney.
Haney seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wakeke throws a sloppy head kick and Haney moves out of range easily.
Haney is looking to counter with head kicks.
Wakeke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice takedown defense from Wakeke. No joy for Haney on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke throws the kick towards the body but Haney avoids it.
Haney shoots for a double leg takedown but Wakeke sprawls well. He's pushed Haney's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Despite the aggression on Wakeke's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Haney shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wakeke is trying to defend but Haney finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Haney is working for a submission of some sort.

Haney is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haney is trying to control the action in half guard but Wakeke is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Haney is looking to advance position but Wakeke won't allow it.
Haney wants to take a breather but Wakeke is having none of it.
Wakoko Wakeke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Haney is working for a submission of some sort.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kennith Haney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wakeke pushes Haney off looking to stand but Haney dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kennith Haney.
Well Wakeke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wakoko Wakeke!
A less than humble Wakoko Wakeke misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.