PBP Commentary

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

Haines
vs
Underwood

177 cm
30
152 lbs
14 - 5 - 2

178 cm
23
141 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Arcticus University: London
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 14 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Burley Haines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Francis Underwood!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Haines shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Underwood is trying to defend but Haines finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Haines is trying to control. Underwood wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Haines is looking to advance position but Underwood won't allow it.

Haines is trying to work for a kimura but Underwood is defending well.
Underwood has his hands clasped together around Haines's back. He's all about the action.

Haines is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Underwood tries to get to full guard but Haines has control of the leg.
Underwood wants to control but Haines is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haines is working for a kimura but Underwood is defending it quite comfortably.
Underwood wants to improve his position but Haines is controlling well.

Haines seems to be looking for submissions.
Underwood is looking to improve his position.
Underwood is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Underwood trying to control but Haines postures up.
Haines is pressing down on Underwood's thigh, looking to free his foot. Underwood is holding on 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.
Underwood is looking to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haines missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Underwood has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Haines is working away from the top position though.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Underwood is looking for a sweep. Haines is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Underwood is trying is best to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Underwood feints and then cracks Haines's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Haines down.
Underwood tries a low kick but Haines avoids it.
Haines appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Haines checks a low kick from Underwood.
As Underwood tries to get set, Haines tries to push him back and clinch up but Underwood manages to avoid the attempt.
Underwood feints and then cracks Haines's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Haines down.
A decent looking cross lands there for Underwood.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Underwood.
Underwood throws a body punch but Haines moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Underwood lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Haines moves out of range of the leg kick from Underwood.

Underwood tries to sprawl but Haines drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Haines is trying to work for a kimura but Underwood is defending well.

Haines is trying to work for a kimura but Underwood is defending well.
Underwood preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Underwood tries to roll over but Haines keeps him under control.
Underwood keeping control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haines stalling.
Underwood felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Underwood trying to hold on to Haines's head to control him but Haines postures up.
Haines trying to control from half guard but Underwood is working away.

Haines is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Underwood defends it well.
Underwood avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Haines.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Underwood trying to control from the bottom.
Underwood wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burley Haines dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Underwood lands with a slapping head kick.
Underwood throws a leg kick but Haines moved away.
Underwood throws a body punch but Haines moves out of range.
Haines drops down looking for a counter takedown but Underwood sprawls and moves away.
Haines misses with a hook.
Underwood is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Haines has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Underwood.
Haines blocks a low kick nicely.
Haines changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Good standup being displayed there by Haines as he connects with a hook.
Underwood feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Haines's calf.
Haines is trying hard to land a takedown here. Underwood sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Underwood avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Underwood lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Haines has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Haines and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Underwood turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Underwood throws a leg kick but Haines sees it coming and moves out of range.

Haines fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Underwood to the ground. Haines is now in Underwood's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haines wants to pass the guard but Underwood is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Underwood is pulling down on Haines's head. It's preventing any offense from Haines, at least for the moment.
Haines in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Underwood is controlling Haines's posture.
Haines pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Underwood is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Underwood looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Underwood pulls Haines in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.
A head kick by Underwood misses
and Haines counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Underwood moves out of range as Haines throws a body kick.
Francis Underwood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haines fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Underwood manages to avoid it.
Underwood misses with a hook. Haines ducked under it nicely.
Underwood thows a body kick. Haines tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Underwood lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Haines has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Haines and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Underwood feints and then cracks Haines's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Haines down.
Underwood pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Underwood misses with a body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Underwood, right into the meat.
Haines connects with a body shot that sends Underwood's belly button to the back.
Underwood thows a leg kick but Haines checks it

and Haines counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Underwood is trying to maintain the position but Haines is very close to passing his half guard.
Haines is trying to control the action in half guard but Underwood is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Underwood tries to roll over but Haines keeps him under control.
Underwood is positioning himself well to prevent Haines advancing to mount.
Haines looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Underwood is trying is best to control the position here.
Underwood is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Haines jumps into side control!
Haines wants to control but Underwood is keeping him busy.
Burley Haines overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Haines controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Underwood takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Underwood is being controlled here.
Haines scoring with punches from side control.
Underwood is not content to let Haines control the position.
Underwood gets back to half guard.
Underwood is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Underwood trying to control but Haines postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Burley Haines will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Haines throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Underwood connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Haines moves away from the strike by Underwood.
Haines avoids the head kick by Underwood.
Underwood throws the kick towards the body but Haines avoids it.
Haines half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Underwood throws a nice inside leg kick.
Haines moves out of range of the leg kick from Underwood.
Underwood throws a nice inside leg kick.
Haines ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Underwood moves away.
Haines is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Underwood throws a low kick but Haines avoids it.
Underwood plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Haines is looking to wear down Underwood with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Underwood connects with an inside leg kick.

Underwood tries to sprawl but Haines drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Underwood desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Haines is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Underwood!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Underwood is looking to get to half guard.
Underwood tries to hold on but Haines postures up.
Underwood tries to reverse the position but Haines maintains control.
Underwood taking shots to the head.
Underwood is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Haines wants to control the pace but Underwood is squirming around nicely.
The referee warns Underwood that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Underwood tries to hold on but Haines pushes him away.
Underwood is trying desperately to improve position.
Haines looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Francis Underwood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Burley Haines is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haines trying to control but Underwood is having none of it.
Haines lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Haines controlling from mount.
Underwood is working to get back to half guard.
Haines tries to control but Underwood wriggling away.

Haines working for a guillotine from mount but Underwood is in no mood to give up.
Haines can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Underwood is looking to escape.
Underwood looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Underwood looking very determined here, making life difficult for Haines.
Haines controlling well, preventing Underwood from escaping the position.
Haines is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Underwood can do to turn this around?
Haines trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Underwood defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Underwood is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Haines off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Underwood rolls, trying to escape but Haines keeps control of the position.
Underwood trying to control the hands but Haines breaks the grip.

Underwood is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Haines gets his way!
Haines throwing sloppy strikes.
Haines is hanging on to Underwood's back as he tries to escape.
Haines not allowing Underwood to control his hands.
Underwood is trying to break free.
Haines is looking to control Underwood but Underwood is wriggling around and keeping busy.
I really don't envy Underwood right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burley Haines showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haines, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

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.