PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Don Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corey Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cormier has chosen Pharoahe Monch - Simon Says as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hall
vs
Cormier

175 cm
21
163 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

179 cm
24
161 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Don Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Corey Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Cormier does it's job there.

It looks like Don Hall has been cut.
Hall misses with a few strikes there.
Good shot there by Cormier.
Hall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cormier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hall will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A jab from Cormier misses.

Hall gets a takedown into half guard.
Hall with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cormier tries to kick Hall off but Hall keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hall content to control rather than advance.

Cormier is defending against the submission attempts here by Hall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier trying to hold on to Hall's head to control him but Hall postures up.
Cormier tries to get to full guard but Hall has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hall is trying to control. Cormier wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Hall is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cormier defends it well.
Hall uses his free foot to push down on Cormier's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cormier.

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.
Hall wants to take Cormier's back but he can't do it this time.
Cormier is trying desperately to improve position.

Hall swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cormier is now in Hall's guard. A big mistake from Hall there, giving up the dominant position!
Hall 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.
Hall trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cormier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hall swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cormier throwing strikes but missing.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.

Cormier stands up and waves to Hall to follow him.
Hall does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A punch combination from Hall misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hall throws a right and a left that Cormier avoids nicely.
Hall tries to clinch but Cormier is having none of it.
Cormier throws a right and a left that Hall avoids nicely.
Cormier misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Cormier.
Hall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cormier throws a combination that misses
and Hall counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cormier thinking.
Cormier blocks the body kick.
Corey Cormier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cormier swats away the attempt to clinch by Hall.
Hall slips under a jab.

Hall gets a takedown into half guard.
Cormier looks like he's trying to stand up.
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 Don Hall will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Don Hall's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hall shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cormier sprawls well. Cormier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hall gets slowly back to his feet.

Hall takes the fight into the clinch.
Hall keeps control of Cormier as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hall.
Hall content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Cormier breaks from the clinch.
Cormier misses with a double jab

and Hall counters with a takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Hall are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet.
Hall throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Hall swings around for an armbar but Cormier sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hall's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier wants to stand but Hall is controlling his posture from full guard.

Hall throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cormier wants to stand but Hall is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cormier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hall looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Cormier has picked Hall up and slammed him! Hall can't keep hold of the triangle and Cormier manages to pass to side control!
Hall can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Hall gets back to half guard.
Cormier wants to advance to full mount but Hall doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Hall looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hall is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hall looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cormier wants to stand but Hall is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cormier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hall has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cormier has managed to get both his arms back between Hall's legs - danger averted.

Hall looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Cormier is defending well. Hall quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Cormier has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Hall celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Don Hall!