PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erasmo Bezerra (ranked 2237 p4p, 3801 weight class) and Clay Hayden (ranked 286 p4p, 446 weight class). Erasmo Bezerra could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Clay Hayden's chin.

Bezerra
vs
Hayden

178 cm
23
164
8 - 1 - 0

174 cm
33
159
8 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erasmo Bezerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Clay Hayden!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bezerra goes for a double leg but Hayden avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hayden continues to drive forward.
Bezerra lands a right hand.
Bezerra can't get the takedown.
Hayden lands a good knee to the midsection. Bezerra won't want to take too many of those.

Bezerra gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Bezerra thows a huge punch but Hayden dodges it nicely.
Hayden is trying to control but can't.
Bezerra wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hayden keeps working.
Bezerra tries to pass to full mount but Hayden defends it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bezerra lands a nice short elbow.
Bezerra is keen to just control but Hayden is a slippery customer.
Hayden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bezerra takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hayden controlling the position well.
We've been hearing that Bezerra has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hayden is looking for a sweep. Bezerra is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bezerra is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hayden doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bezerra.
Bezerra has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hayden is trying to control but can't.
Bezerra trying to control the pace.
Hayden is pressing down on Bezerra's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bezerra trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bezerra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hayden has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bezerra has managed to get both his arms back between Hayden's legs - danger averted.
Bezerra trying to control but Hayden is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Bezerra drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bezerra jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hayden working a defensive guard here.
Bezerra tries to free his leg and advance position but Hayden is retaining full guard.
Bezerra trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bezerra throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bezerra cracks Hayden with a solid left hand.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hayden holds on and takes a little breather.
Bezerra lands a couple of digs.
Bezerra throwing strikes but missing.
Bezerra lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra trying to control but Hayden is working from the bottom.
Hayden has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at JAG Battle Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Hayden looking for a guillotine here but Bezerra defends easily.
Bezerra trying to control but Hayden is working from the bottom.
Bezerra working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hayden's head.
Bezerra trying to control but Hayden is working from the bottom.
Hayden utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bezerra working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hayden's head.
Hayden can't keep his opponent in guard - Bezerra advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Bezerra is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hayden has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hayden wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Bezerra there.
Hayden tries to roll over but Bezerra keeps him under control.
Bezerra seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hayden does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayden is in trouble now - Bezerra has advanced to mount!
Hayden tries to lock up and control but Bezerra gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bezerra looking for a guillotine from mount but Hayden is having none of it.
Hayden reaches up and holds on to Bezerra to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hayden is looking to improve his position but Bezerra isn't that keen on the idea.

Bezerra looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Erasmo Bezerra dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bezerra misses with a takedown attempt
and Bezerra takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hayden stuffs the takedown.
Bezerra shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hayden defends it nicely.
Hayden throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erasmo Bezerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bezerra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hayden counters with a good low kick that Bezerra was not able to check.
Erasmo Bezerra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hayden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bezerra has his takedown stuffed
and Hayden counters with an inside leg kick.
Hayden pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bezerra is out of range and Hayden settles back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bezerra manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hayden on his heels. He'll look to pass Hayden's guard now, I'm sure.
Bezerra with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bezerra trying to control but Hayden is working from the bottom.

Bezerra is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bezerra trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hayden is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bezerra controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hayden is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bezerra wants to control from the top but Hayden keeps moving.
Erasmo Bezerra overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bezerra postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bezerra lands a couple of digs.

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.
Bezerra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hayden is keeping the position for now.

Hayden has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bezerra can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bezerra slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hayden wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bezerra postures up.

Bezerra avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bezerra showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra connects with a jab.
Bezerra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hayden but Hayden pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hayden throws a low kick but Bezerra moves out of range easily.
Bezerra fails with the takedown.
Hayden pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bezerra is out of range and Hayden settles back down.
Bezerra moves out of range as Hayden strikes.

Bezerra feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bezerra slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hayden controls Bezerra momentarily but Bezerra frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bezerra looking to pass the guard.
Bezerra advances to half guard.
Hayden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bezerra scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bezerra is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bezerra is looking to take a break and control but Hayden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bezerra looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hayden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hayden wants it to stay on the feet.
Bezerra uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hayden.
Bezerra gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hayden counters with a straight right hand.
Bezerra is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hayden can do to turn this around?

Hayden gets caught napping as Bezerra dives in and scores a takedown. Hayden manages to retain guard.
Hayden is controlling Bezerra's posture.

Bezerra drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bezerra jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hayden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bezerra is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayden controls Bezerra momentarily but Bezerra frees himself.
Hayden keeping full guard, as Bezerra tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bezerra is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Bezerra is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bezerra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hayden is keeping the position for now.
Hayden trying to keep a closed guard but Bezerra is proving a slippery customer.
Bezerra wants to control from the top but Hayden keeps moving.

Hayden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bezerra stays in close to Hayden's body and controls the position.

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.
Bezerra postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bezerra closes the distance and clinches up with Hayden, looking for a takedown. Bezerra pushes Hayden against the cage but Hayden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erasmo Bezerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hayden takes a swing at Bezerra's ribcage but misses.

Bezerra drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hayden stops Bezerra from passing to mount.
Clay Hayden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bezerra passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hayden!
Bezerra working Hayden over with strikes here.
Hayden regains half guard.
Bezerra lands strikes from half guard.
Bezerra 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bezerra.

Bezerra is trying to work for a kimura but Hayden is defending well.

Bezerra is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Hayden as he works his way to full guard.
Bezerra is fighting to break Hayden's control of his arms but Hayden is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bezerra wants to control from the top but Hayden keeps moving.
Hayden has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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.
Bezerra sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hayden's guard.

Bezerra is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hayden still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hayden has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Hayden trying to control the action but Bezerra is working from the bottom.
Bezerra struggling a bit here.
Erasmo Bezerra is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bezerra is not content to let Hayden control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erasmo Bezerra showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bezerra, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erasmo Bezerra!
A very excited looking Erasmo Bezerra made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.