PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darryl Hayes (ranked 24306 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Grundy (ranked 5264 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hayes
vs
Grundy

161 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

170 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darryl Hayes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dante Grundy!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grundy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hayes but Hayes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Grundy throws a right and a left that Hayes avoids nicely.

Grundy gets a double leg takedown into Hayes's guard.
Grundy trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hayes is trying to control the position but Grundy postures up.
Hayes seems keen to control Grundy's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hayes keeping moving, preventing Grundy from controlling successfully.
Grundy throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grundy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hayes has his hands on Grundy's head, controlling the position.
Grundy with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hayes gets a takedown into half guard.
Grundy wants to get back to full guard.
Grundy is concentrating on defense, preventing Hayes from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Hayes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Grundy has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hayes is trying to control. Grundy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Grundy controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Hayes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundy throws a leg kick

and Hayes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hayes.
Grundy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hayes postures up.
Grundy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hayes postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hayes stuffs the takedown attempt from Grundy. Grundy gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darryl Hayes will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hayes gets caught napping as Grundy dives in and scores a takedown. Hayes manages to retain guard.
Hayes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grundy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grundy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Grundy distracts Hayes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Grundy wants to control from the top but Hayes keeps moving.
Hayes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grundy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grundy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Grundy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Grundy throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Grundy drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Grundy is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hayes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Grundy throws a strike aimed at the side of Hayes's head but Hayes avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grundy misses with the ground and pound.
Hayes can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grundy throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hayes works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Hayes is refusing to be controlled, as Grundy sits in half guard.
Grundy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hayes's head.
Hayes is controlling Grundy's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Grundy is working for a kimura here but Hayes manages to reverse the position and he's now in Grundy's guard.
Hayes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hayes throws a strike but Grundy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Grundy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hayes is proving hard to escape from.
Grundy won't allow Hayes to sweep him here.
Hayes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Grundy wants to control from the top but Hayes keeps moving.
Grundy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grundy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four 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.
Hayes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Grundy is defending against the submission attempts here by Hayes.
Grundy holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hayes is working for a kimura here but Grundy manages to reverse the position and he's now in Hayes's guard.
Hayes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Grundy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Grundy darts in looking for a takedown but Hayes gets double underhooks and turns Grundy into the cage.
As Grundy tries to get set, Hayes tries to push him back and clinch up but Grundy manages to avoid the attempt.
Hayes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Grundy with a poor takedown
and Hayes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Darryl Hayes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dante Grundy.
A punch combination from Grundy misses.
Hayes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grundy fails with the takedown

and Hayes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Grundy's guard.
Hayes chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grundy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hayes trying to control the position from guard on top but Grundy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hayes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hayes throws a big right hand that misses.
Hayes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hayes throws a big right hand that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Grundy throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hayes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Grundy won't be happy with that.
Grundy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hayes throws an elbow but Grundy slips to the side and avoids it well.
Grundy is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hayes connects with a decent elbow.
Grundy can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hayes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hayes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Grundy wants to control but Hayes postures up.
Grundy taking punishment in the form of punches.

Hayes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hayes is looking to take a break and control but Grundy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hayes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Grundy's guard.
Grundy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grundy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hayes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darryl Hayes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hayes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

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