PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kasey Haynes (ranked 7558 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Spalding (ranked 5098 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Spalding has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Haynes
vs
Spalding

215 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kasey Haynes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Spalding!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spalding leaves Haynes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Spalding closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Haynes is looking to get back to is feet but Spalding passes into side control.
Haynes parries the strikes from Spalding easily there. Spalding is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Haynes to escape.
Haynes is trying to control Spalding's posture but Spalding avoids it.

Spalding stands up and beckons Haynes to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haynes lands with a kick to the temple. Spalding shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Spalding pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haynes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spalding swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Haynes tries to keep at a distance but Spalding has taken the fight into the clinch.
Haynes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Spalding is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Spalding slows down the pace here.
Spalding should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Spalding lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Haynes backwards.
Haynes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Spalding smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kasey Haynes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spalding pushes Haynes up against the cage in a clinch.

Spalding has Haynes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Spalding pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Haynes tumbling to the mat - Spalding dives into Haynes's guard.

Spalding thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Spalding wants to control from the top but Haynes keeps moving.
Haynes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spalding controls from within his opponent's guard.
Spalding must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Spalding's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Haynes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Haynes controlling the position.
Spalding sitting in guard here, content to control.
Spalding throwing strikes from guard but Haynes blocks nicely.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Spalding shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Haynes keeping full guard, as Spalding tries to pass.
Spalding is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Spalding is looking to work some ground and pound but Haynes has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haynes 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.
Spalding's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Spalding dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Spalding keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Haynes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Spalding is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Spalding keeping control of the position.
Spalding tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Haynes has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spalding is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spalding wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Spalding wants to control his opponent's hands but Haynes gets his hands free.
Haynes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Haynes controlling well, preventing Spalding from escaping the position.
Spalding has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Spalding trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Haynes working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Haynes patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spalding rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Spalding is looking for a sweep. Haynes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Haynes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Spalding's head.
Spalding tries to get to full guard but Haynes has control of the leg.

Spalding has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Haynes is on him like a limpet, forcing Spalding back against the cage.
Spalding manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The referee calls for Haynes to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spalding wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Haynes has him pressed against the cage.

Spalding jumps guard and drags Haynes to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Spalding is controlling Haynes's posture.
Haynes throws a big right hand that misses.
Haynes throwing strikes but missing.
Spalding is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spalding landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Spalding is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Haynes defends it well.
Spalding tries to pass to full mount but Haynes defends it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Well, if Spalding is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Spalding showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Haynes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Spalding shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Spalding showed some decent athleticism there.

Haynes kicks Spalding off and gets back to his feet.

Spalding fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Haynes to the ground. Spalding is now in Haynes's guard.
Haynes wants to sweep here but Spalding controlling him for the moment.
Joe Spalding has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haynes keeping moving, preventing Spalding from controlling successfully.
Haynes 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spalding is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Spalding throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Haynes holds on and takes a little breather.

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

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

Haynes has one foot on Spalding's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spalding misses with a low kick as Haynes jumps back.
Haynes is looking for a counter combo.
Haynes shoots in and drives through. Spalding sprawls well.
Haynes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spalding manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spalding misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Haynes appears to be looking for a big counter.
Haynes blocks a head kick by Spalding.

Spalding looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Spalding takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haynes keeping moving, preventing Spalding from controlling successfully.
Haynes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spalding wants to control from the top but Haynes keeps moving.
Haynes wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Spalding is now in half guard.

That's four 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.

Spalding seems to be working for a kimura but Haynes defends the submission attempt.
Spalding sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Spalding decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haynes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kasey Haynes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Spalding is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Haynes throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Spalding.
Well Spalding 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Spalding!