PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Halford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robin Gaia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halford comes to the cage accompanied by Judas Priest - Grinder. Gaia has chosen Manowar- Battle Hymn as his entrance music. 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.

Halford
vs
Gaia

225 cm
22
353 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
28
300 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rob Halford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robin Gaia!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Halford sprawls well. Halford wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gaia gets slowly back to his feet.
Gaia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gaia misses with a hook. Halford ducked under it nicely.

Halford drives through with a takedown into guard.
Halford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Halford with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gaia looking to control.
Halford postures up in Gaia's guard and throws a big left but Gaia blocks it.
Gaia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Halford throws a strike but Gaia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gaia is fighting to break Halford's control of his arms but Halford is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gaia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Halford swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gaia drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Halford manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gaia has Halford in his guard.
Halford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gaia is trying to control the position but Halford postures up.
Halford stopping the sweep attempt from Gaia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gaia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Halford!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gaia goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Halford turns into him and now he's in Gaia's guard.
Gaia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Halford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gaia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halford with a nice head shot there.

Gaia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Halford is breathing heavily.
Halford content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Halford works over Gaia with some ground and pound from guard.
Halford landing with the ground and pound.
Halford wants to control from the top but Gaia keeps moving.
Halford won't allow Gaia to sweep him here.
Gaia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gaia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gaia is looking to stand up but Halford isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halford controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gaia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Halford!

Gaia goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Halford is on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gaia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Halford's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Halford dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gaia misses with a takedown attempt

and Halford counters with a single leg into guard. Gaia didn't expect that.
Gaia looking for a sweep. Not yet Gaia, not yet.

Gaia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Halford defends it easily.
Halford working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Halford won't allow Gaia to sweep him here.
Halford with a nice head shot there.
Gaia has momentary wrist control but Halford slips an elbow through the middle.

Gaia is looking for a triangle here but Halford uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gaia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halford working the ground and pound.
Gaia wants to control but Halford postures up.
Gaia is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gaia wants to control but Halford is keeping busy.
Rob Halford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Halford looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gaia on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Halford scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gaia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gaia moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halford postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gaia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gaia looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Halford puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Halford is controlling the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gaia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Halford manages to get himself to full guard.
Gaia tries to stand but Halford is controlling from the bottom.
Gaia tries to free his leg and advance position but Halford is retaining full guard.

Gaia is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Halford has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Gaia is looking to defend but Halford has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Gaia! Halford pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Gaia taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rob Halford!