PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Bova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Half (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bova comes to the ring accompanied by I came to bring the pain!. Tony Bova is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Bova
vs
Half

175 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

170 cm
19
159 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

►Schwarzenegger Nutrition

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 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Bova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Half!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bova gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Half to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bova trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bova tries to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Half wants to control from the top but Bova keeps moving.
Bova wants to sweep here but Half controlling him for the moment.
Bova can't keep his opponent in guard - Half advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Half is working for a submission of some sort.
Half seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bova does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Half works his way into full mount!
Half is stalling here but it's allowed Bova to get half guard.

Half is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bova has managed to free his arm - good work.

Half is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bova doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Half.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bova won't allow Half to pass to mount.

Half is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bova doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Half.
Half is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Half manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bova to take his back!
Well, with Half on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Bova is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Half is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Bova defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Half looks gassed!
Half wants to control but Bova is keeping busy.
Half is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bova tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Half can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bova is looking to escape.
Half mounts Bova! Really nice guard pass there!

Half working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Bova is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Half dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Bova as Half shoots in.

Half shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Half was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bova prevents Half from taking his back.
Half moves to take his opponent's back.
Bova rolls, trying to escape but Half keeps control of the position.
Half struggling to keep hold of the position.
Half wants to control the position but Bova frees himself and scrambles - Half manages to regain control in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Half tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bova wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Half works to advance to full mount. Bova defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Half working for a submission but Bova is keeping him at bay.
Half wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

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.
Bova is trying to escape the mount.
Half trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Half wants to control but Bova has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Half wants to take a breather but Bova is having none of it.
Half tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bova knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Half is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bova punching from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Half looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Half is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Half is trying to control. Bova wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Half is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bova defends it well.
Bova missing with punches from the bottom.
Half wants to pass to mount but Bova is defending the position.
Half works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Half is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bova is surviving well by controlling Half's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Half showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! 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.

Bova with a poor takedown

and Half counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Half postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bova is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Half, into his guard.
Bova throws and elbow that misses. Half uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bova's guard. Nice move by Half!
Bova keeping moving, preventing Half from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Half is pushing down on Bova's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bova is fighting to maintain full guard but Half has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Half is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bova has managed to free his arm - good work.
Half wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bova keeps working.
Half blocks the strikes from Bova.
Half is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bova!

Half goes for an armbar but Bova turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Bova.
Half is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Half utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Half is on top in guard.
Bova keeping moving, preventing Half from controlling successfully.

Half drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bova manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Half has Bova in his guard.
Half is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Half swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Half working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bova.
Half preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Half trying to control the position here.
Half manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bova manages to get himself to full guard.
Tom Half is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Half stays in close to Bova's body and controls the position.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Half just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Half looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Half passes into half guard.
Half is taking a breather. Bova 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Half comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Half winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Half!