PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Butcher (ranked 2328 p4p, 306 weight class) and Simo Hayha (ranked 2499 p4p, 328 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Butcher might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Won't Back Down. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Butcher
vs
Hayha

188 cm
35
210 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

184 cm
35
222 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

RAGS of a RONIN
Dauntless

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Billy Butcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Simo Hayha!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butcher scores with a jab to the jaw.
Butcher looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hayha bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hayha darts in trying to clinch
letting Butcher counter with a right hand.
Hayha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Butcher manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Butcher swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hayha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Butcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hayha takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hayha is looking to clinch.
Hayha with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hayha with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayha tries to clinch but Butcher is having none of it.

Hayha rushes Butcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hayha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Butcher using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hayha has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hayha pushes off an throws an elbow but Butcher leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayha lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hayha misses with a punch on the inside.
Butcher slowing the pace effectively.
Hayha misses with a punch to the body.
Butcher missing with knees to the body.
Hayha working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but Hayha blocks with his arms.
Hayha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hayha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hayha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hayha lands with a light punch inside.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hayha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Butcher blocking some punches.
Hayha scores with a shot to the side of Butcher's head.
A short right from Hayha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hayha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hayha avoids it.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hayha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hayha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hayha throws a punch but it's blocked by Butcher.
Hayha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hayha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hayha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Butcher with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hayha lands a right hand that snaps the head of Butcher backwards.
Hayha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Butcher blocks an uppercut.
Butcher blocks a body shot from Hayha.
Butcher can't find room to land a body shot as Hayha controls the action.
Hayha misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Butcher obliges.
Hayha managing to block the knees to the body from Butcher.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hayha avoids it.
Hayha pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Butcher lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Simo Hayha has been cut.
Hayha makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hayha avoids the elbow strike from Butcher, against the cage.
Butcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hayha misses with the head strike.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hayha lands with a right to the head.
Butcher blocks an uppercut.
Butcher is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hayha working aggressively here.
Butcher misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hayha lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hayha.
Butcher blocks an uppercut.
Hayha lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Butcher blocking some punches.
Butcher taking a breather.
Butcher leaning his opponent against the cage.
Butcher gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Hayha swings wildly with an uppercut but Butcher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hayha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Hayha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simo Hayha's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Butcher keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hayha.
Butcher was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hayha fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hayha checks a leg kick.
Hayha throws out a counter right but Butcher avoids it with no problem.
Hayha gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Butcher makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hayha slips a jab from Butcher.
Hayha has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Butcher misses with a hook.
Hayha keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Butcher.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hayha! But no joy.
Butcher avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayha throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Hayha throws a low kick but Butcher moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Butcher misses the target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short uppercut from Hayha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butcher stalling in the clinch.
Butcher fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hayha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Butcher scores with a knee to the head.
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hayha avoiding damage as Butcher throws knees to the body.
Butcher blocks an elbow strike from Hayha.
Hayha lands a left hand that snaps the head of Butcher backwards.
Butcher blocking some punches.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but Hayha blocks with his arms.
Hayha misses with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayha misses with the head strike.
Butcher leaning against his opponent.
Hayha misses with the head strike.
Hayha looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Simo Hayha seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Butcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hayha misses with a punch to the body.
Hayha misses with some punches.
Butcher looking to stall.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but Hayha blocks with his arms.
Butcher displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hayha up against the cage.
Hayha misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Butcher taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Hayha.
Butcher avoids the elbow strike from Hayha, against the cage.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but Hayha blocks with his arms.
Butcher blocks the elbow strike.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hayha avoids it.
Hayha lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hayha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hayha swings wildly with an uppercut but Butcher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hayha misses with a punch on the inside.
Hayha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
Hayha pushes Butcher back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Butcher comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hayha gets through Butcher's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hayha misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Butcher lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Butcher crunches a lovely knee into Hayha's ribcage.
Hayha misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
Butcher looking to stall.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
Hayha presses Butcher against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hayha works on Butcher's body with a couple of short punches.
Butcher avoiding damage.
Butcher prevents a body shot from Hayha.
Butcher creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hayha's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Hayha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Simo Hayha's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Butcher misses with a straight left.
Butcher lands an overhand right.
Hayha uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Butcher.
Hayha steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Butcher.
Hayha moves to clinch but Butcher breaks away
and Butcher counters with a stiff right hand.
Butcher misses with a hook. Hayha ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Butcher misses.
Hayha tries to clinch but Butcher is having none of it.
Hayha takes one to the chin there.

That has opened up Simo Hayha's cut even more.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Butcher clinches with his opponent.
Butcher is looking to control Hayha's arms but Hayha gets an underhook and turns him. Now Butcher has his back to the cage.
Hayha unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Butcher slows down the pace here.
Butcher blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayha misses with some punches.
Hayha has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Butcher seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Hayha can turn it around.
Butcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hayha blocks it with crossed arms.
Hayha has a couple of punches blocked by Butcher.
Butcher lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Butcher blocks the elbow strike.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but Hayha blocks with his arms.
Butcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Butcher holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Butcher throws a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
Butcher takes a shot to the head.
Hayha misses with the head strike.
Butcher is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hayha is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hayha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hayha struggles to land a body shot inside as Butcher controls his hands.
Hayha taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hayha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Butchers head.
Butcher trying to stall but Hayha improves his position.
Butcher with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hayha misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hayha misses with the head strike.
Hayha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hayha comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Butcher avoids the elbow strike from Hayha, against the cage.
Hayha lands a nice uppercut.
Butcher tries to land a knee to the head but Hayha blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher slows down the pace here.
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hayha misses with an elbow over the top.
Hayha takes a knee right on the jaw!
Butcher throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hayha blocks it with crossed arms.
Nice elbow from Butcher.
A head punch on the inside from Hayha fails to land.
Hayha on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Butcher is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Butcher stalling in the clinch.
Hayha misses with some punches.
Butcher looking to stall.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayha misses with the head strike.
Hayha working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Butcher - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hayha pushes off an throws an elbow but Butcher leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hayha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Butcher dodges an elbow strike from Hayha.
Butcher will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hayha up against the cage.
Billy Butcher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hayha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Butcher misses with a knee strike.

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 Billy Butcher.
I think Hayha 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simo Hayha!
Simo Hayha decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.