PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sirus Hall (ranked 1129 p4p, 3821 weight class) and Bruno Souppe (ranked 169 p4p, 485 weight class). Hall comes to the cage accompanied by Thin Lizzy - Cold Sweat. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hall
vs
Souppe

183 cm
33
180
15 - 10 - 0

185 cm
33
185
4 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sirus Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruno Souppe!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hall misses with a wild combination.
As Hall backs off Souppe throws a huge counter combo but Hall manages to avoid it all.
Hall misses with a body punch
and Souppe counters with a left and a right that stings Hall.
A swing and a miss from Hall.
We've been told by Hall's head coaches at The Scrap Squad that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Hall rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Souppe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Souppe.
Hall can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Souppe controls the pace.

Hall looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Souppe trying to control but Hall is working from the bottom.
Souppe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Souppe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souppe slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Souppe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Souppe trying to control the action but Hall is working from the bottom.
Hall sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hall is pressing down on Souppe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two 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.

Hall throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Souppe postures up in Hall's guard and throws a big left but Hall blocks it.
Souppe trying to control but Hall is working from the bottom.
Souppe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Souppe trying to control but Hall is working from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hall escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Souppe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall looking for a guillotine here but Souppe defends easily.
Souppe trying to control but Hall is working from the bottom.
Souppe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Souppe is in close to Hall's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Souppe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Souppe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Souppe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hall works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Souppe trying to control but Hall is working from the bottom.
Souppe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hall throws a one two combo.

It looks like Bruno Souppe has been cut.
Hall misses with an uppercut

and Souppe counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Souppe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hall trying to control but Souppe postures up.
My spies in Hyperbolic Time Chamber inform me that Souppe has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hall is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Souppe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruno Souppe's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Souppe moves away from the strike by Hall.
As Hall backs off Souppe throws a huge counter combo but Hall manages to avoid it all.

Souppe moves into range and clinches up with Hall.
Hall lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hall can't find room to land a body shot as Souppe controls the action.
Hall lands a nice shot to the body.

Souppe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Souppe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hall's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Souppe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Souppe blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hall misses with a double jab

and Souppe counters with a single leg into guard. Hall didn't expect that.
Souppe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Souppe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souppe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Souppe throws an elbow that misses. Hall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Souppe's guard. Nice move by Hall!

Souppe had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hall defends it easily.
Souppe keeping moving, preventing Hall from controlling successfully.
Hall throws an elbow that misses. Souppe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hall's guard. Nice move by Souppe!

Hall keeping moving, preventing Souppe from controlling successfully.
Souppe scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hall is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Souppe is aware though and is defending well.
Souppe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bruno Souppe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souppe.
Souppe wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.
Souppe is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Hall is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Souppe is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souppe passes Hall's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Souppe wants to take a breather but Hall is having none of it.
Hall is trying to get back to full guard.
Souppe wants to take a breather but Hall is having none of it.
Souppe is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Souppe looking to control but Hall is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souppe with the ground and pound from mount.
Souppe controlling from the full mount.
Souppe landing punches.
Hall slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Souppe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hall does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Souppe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Souppe is taking a breather. Hall says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hall is not content to let Souppe control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Souppe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bruno Souppe's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Souppe moves away from the strike by Hall.
Souppe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hall looks to land a right hand but Souppe moved out of range.
Souppe is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hall lands a nice shot that snaps Souppe's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hall. Souppe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Despite the aggression on Souppe's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hall misses with a combination

and Souppe counters with a shoot takedown. Hall fights it but they end up in guard.

Hall throws his legs up looking for a submission but Souppe uses it to pass to side control.
Hall tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souppe trying to control the position but Hall is working away.
Hall tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Souppe wants to control but Hall is keeping him busy.
Souppe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall seems a little lost for a moment, as Souppe dominates the positioning.
Hall is trying to get back to half guard.
Souppe wants to control but Hall is keeping him busy.
Souppe throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Souppe creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hall sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Souppe is looking to take a break and control but Hall is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Hall is looking to reverse the position.
Souppe is looking to take a break and control but Hall is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Souppe might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hall haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Souppe takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bruno Souppe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sirus Hall is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Souppe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Souppe throws a counter combo.
Hall lands a jab to Souppe's midsection.
Hall lands a nice shot to the body.
Sirus Hall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souppe scores with a leg kick.
Sirus Hall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hall wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hall swings for the body but Souppe moves out of range.
Souppe takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Souppe moves away.
Hall throws a right and a left that both miss.
Souppe feints the counter takedown.
Hall misses with a left hand
and Souppe counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Souppe looks for a takedown but Hall sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Souppe moves away.
Hall throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Souppe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souppe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Souppe with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hall keeping moving, preventing Souppe from controlling successfully.
Souppe wants to stand but Hall is controlling his posture from full guard.

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 Sirus Hall.
I think Souppe 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Souppe!
Bruno Souppe was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.