PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Panther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mercury Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Panther
vs
Hayes

191 cm
37
205 lbs
10 - 20 - 0

190 cm
24
208 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Panther!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mercury Hayes!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Panther momentarily.
Panther with a poor takedown

and Hayes counters by clinching up.

Hayes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Panther fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Panther misses with a hook. Hayes ducked under it nicely.
Panther has a takedown stuffed.
It seemed like Hayes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Panther. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panther misses with an uppercut.
Hayes feints the counter takedown.
Hayes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hayes has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Panther is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes slips a straight right by Panther.
Hayes steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Panther.
Panther tries for a takedown but Hayes circles away easily

and Hayes counters with a shoot takedown. Panther fights it but they end up in guard.
Hayes throws a big elbow that misses.
Hayes throwing strikes but missing.
Hayes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hayes controlling from the top position.
Panther avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hayes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes is working Panther over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Panther avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hayes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Panther keeping moving, preventing Hayes from controlling successfully.
Panther utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hayes content to stall in guard here.
Hayes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hayes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Panther works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hayes postures up in Panther's guard and throws a big left but Panther blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes throwing strikes but missing.
Hayes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hayes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hayes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hayes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hayes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Panther utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hayes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hayes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Panther preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Panther is breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hayes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panther working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hayes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hayes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hayes pushing down on Panther's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hayes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hayes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hayes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hayes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hayes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Panther's head.
Hayes thows a huge punch but Panther dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hayes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Panther's head.
Panther avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hayes.
Hayes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mercury Hayes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Panther misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Hayes to counter with a crisp jab.
Panther displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hayes.
Hayes shoots in looking for a takedown. Panther tries to sprawl out of it but Hayes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Panther manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panther misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Hayes to counter with a crisp jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Panther is defended easily by Hayes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Panther. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panther missing with a left hand there. Hayes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hayes scores with a nice strike.
Hayes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Panther counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Hayes manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Hayes scores with a shoulder strike.

Hayes breaks from the clinch.
Panther with a poor takedown
and Hayes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Panther fails to land the takedown.
Hayes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes shoots in and drives through. Panther sprawls well.
Panther shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hayes as he avoids it easily.
Panther shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hayes sprawls well. Hayes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Panther gets slowly back to his feet.
Mercury Hayes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hayes moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Panther's head backwards.

Panther drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hayes tries to buck Panther off but Panther is having none of it.
Hayes keeps trying to improve his position.
Hayes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hayes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hayes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hayes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Still in half guard, Hayes seems content to control.
Hayes throwing shots but Panther is blocking nicely.
Mercury Hayes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hayes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hayes thows a huge punch but Panther dodges it nicely.
Hayes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hayes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Panther's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hayes connects with a nice short shot to Panther's temple.
Panther knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hayes on the ground.
Hayes working Panther over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mercury Hayes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Panther misses with a takedown
and Hayes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Panther closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hayes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Panther fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Hayes coming out on top.
Panther looks to throw the jab but Hayes is out of range.
Hayes drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Panther defends it well.
Nice takedown defense from Panther. No joy for Hayes on that attempt.

Panther changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hayes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Panther lands an elbow.
Panther working the strikes but Hayes uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hayes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Panther won't allow Hayes to sweep him here.

Hayes pushes Panther off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Panther fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Panther. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hayes lands an overhand right.
Panther fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hayes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A nice combination there by Hayes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panther slaps away a takedown attempt from Hayes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hayes scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hayes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Panther on the side of the head.
Panther misses with a lunging right hand

and Hayes counters by moving into the clinch.
The referee calls for Hayes to work.

Hayes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mercury Hayes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayes slaps away a takedown attempt from Panther, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A nice side step and Hayes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A jab from Hayes does it's job there.
Hayes scores with a jab. Panther acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hayes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Panthers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Panther has a takedown stuffed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mercury Hayes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hayes 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mercury Hayes!