PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anti Happy (ranked 2146 p4p, 2384 weight class) and Keir Toal (ranked 159 p4p, 174 weight class). Happy kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bvana iz lagune & Mikri Maus - AntiHepi. Toal is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Irish Pub Song. Keir Toal struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 147.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Anti Happy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Happy
vs
Toal

172 cm
38
158
23 - 33 - 0

167 cm
39
159
10 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Dangerous GnP
Good kicks
Fast

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anti Happy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Keir Toal!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Happy fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Toal as Happy shoots in.
Toal misses with a body shot.
Happy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anti Happy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toal throws a body shot but no joy.
Happy attempts a counter takedown but Toal avoids it well and moves away.
Toal throws a poor cross that misses

and Happy counters with a nice double leg into side control. Toal won't be happy with that.

Toal throws Happy to one side and escapes!
Happy has been working on his boxing with his coaches at 3Band MMA in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick from Happy lands but Toal takes it in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Happy shoots in for a double leg but Toal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Happy sets himself, and Toal steps forward looking for the clinch! Happy avoids it this time.
Happy lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toal slaps away a takedown attempt from Happy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Happy closes the distance and clinches up with Toal, looking for a takedown. Happy pushes Toal against the cage but Toal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Toal throws a fast counter high kick but Happy manages to duck under it in time.
Toal connects with a body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Happy.
Toal takes a swing at Happy's ribcage but misses.
Toal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Happy.
Happy shoots in for a takedown but Toal shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed right hand from Toal misses the target.
Happy tries to counter with a takedown but Toal is quick to defend against it.
Happy lands with a kick to the temple. Toal shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toal looks to score with a jab to the body but Happy is just out of range.
Toal throws a leg kick but Happy moved away.
Happy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Happy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Toal sprawls well. Toal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Happy gets slowly back to his feet.
Toal is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Happy with a body shot.
Happy swings for the body but Toal moves out of range.
Toal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Happy is fending him off so far but Toal persists. Nope, Happy circles away and we're back to standing.
Toal ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Happy misses the jab.

Happy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Toal's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Happy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Happy trying to control but Toal is working from the bottom.
Happy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Toal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Happy trying to control the position from guard on top but Toal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Happy lands a couple of elbows.
Happy is working Toal over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Happy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Toal is trying to control the position but Happy postures up.
Happy advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Happy is looking for a kimura but Toal is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Happy to get the leverage.
Happy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Toal defending well though.
Happy trying to control from Toal's half guard. Toal has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Toal is trying to control the position but Happy postures up.
Happy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Happy throws an elbow that misses. Toal uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Happy's guard. Nice move by Toal!

Toal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Happy has his foot on Toal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Toal works his way back into a safe position though.

Happy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Happy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Toal defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anti Happy will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Toal shoots in and bounces Happy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Happy is looking for a triangle but Toal pushes his legs off easily.

Happy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Toal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Toal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Happy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Toal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Happy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Toal defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toal trying to control but Happy is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Happy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Toal is aware though and is defending well.
Toal controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Toal trying to control but Happy is working from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Toal working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Happy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Happy 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Happy is looking for a triangle here but Toal uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Happy tries to improve position but can't.
Toal tries to advance to mount but can't.
Happy gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Happy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Toal pulls his head out easily.
Happy missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Happy trying to hold on to Toal's head to control him but Toal postures up.
Toal prevents Happy from improving his position.

Happy looking for submissions off his back.
Toal is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Happy actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Happy is trying to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Happy shoots in and drives through. Toal sprawls well.
No luck for Happy with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Toal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Happy is fending him off so far but Toal persists. Nope, Happy circles away and we're back to standing.
Keir Toal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Happy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Toal misses with a jab to the body

and Happy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Toal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Happy is working away from the top position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Happy wants to take a breather but Toal is having none of it.
Anti Happy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Toal keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anti Happy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Toal changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Happy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Happy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Happy is working hard here to advance position.
Toal staying calm.
Happy is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Happy struggling a bit here.
Toal has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Happy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Happy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Toal working Happy over with strikes here.
Toal trying to control but Happy is having none of it.
Happy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Toal landing strikes, looking to finish!
Toal looking to control but Happy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Happy regains half guard.
Toal is trying to control the action in half guard but Happy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Happy actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Toal there.
Toal is just content to waste time from the top position. Happy takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Happy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Happy has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Toal is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Happy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Happy looking for a sweep but Toal has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Toal postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Happy looks a forlorn figure.
Keir Toal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Happy is trying to escape the mount.
Toal trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Toal looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toal prevents Happy from getting the reversal.
Happy in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Anti Happy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Happy wants to control but Toal is having none of it.
Toal controlling the position easily from mount.
Toal lands a heavy elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toal with a couple of short strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keir Toal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Happy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Keir Toal!
After winning the bout, Keir Toal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.