PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacek Halman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Hastings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halman kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is How I Could Just Kill A Man . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Halman
vs
Hastings

180 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
216 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jacek Halman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Hastings!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halman swats away the attempt to clinch by Hastings.
Halman circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hastings scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hastings is trying to control the action in half guard but Halman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hastings throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hastings is just content to waste time from the top position. Halman takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Hastings postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Halman is trying to keep Hastings in close.
Hastings scoring with some ground and pound.
Hastings looking to sit in guard and control but Halman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Halman tries to free his leg and advance position but Hastings is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hastings wants to get back to his feet but Halman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Halman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Halman trying to control the position from guard on top but Hastings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hastings can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hastings is looking to stand up but Halman isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hastings scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hastings thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Halman's head.
Hastings missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hastings lands with a punch from half guard.
Hastings trying to control from Halman's half guard. Halman has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Halman looking for a sweep. Not yet Halman, not yet.

Halman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hastings doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hastings manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hastings lands a couple of elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hastings working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hastings controlling from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hastings accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hastings wants to control from the top but Halman keeps moving.
Hastings postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Halman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hastings can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Halman wants to sweep but no luck.
Hastings chips away with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Halman is on top in guard.
Hastings wants to stand up but Halman is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halman works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Halman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hastings defending well though.
Halman trying to mount his opponent but Hastings defends it.
Nice strikes from Halman there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hastings keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hastings dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Halman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hastings.
Hastings shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Halman sprawls well. Halman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hastings gets slowly back to his feet.
Hastings tries to clinch up

and Halman counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hastings's guard now.
Hastings wants to stand and escape but Halman is having none of it.
Josh Hastings has got the better of the ground game so far.
Halman trying to control but Hastings is working from the bottom.
Halman looking to pass the guard.
Halman controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Jacek Halman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Halman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hastings sprawls well. Hastings wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Halman gets slowly back to his feet.
Hastings shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Halman but Halman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jacek Halman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Hastings.

Hastings gets the takedown into side control.
Hastings wants to lay and pray for a moment but Halman keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halman wants to control but Hastings postures up.
Halman is looking for a sweep.
An elbow from Hastings crashes against the mat.
Hastings creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Halman is not content to let Hastings control the position.
Hastings landing a few strikes.
You can see the frustration on Halman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hastings is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hastings scores with a couple of short elbows.
Halman manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hastings is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halman is pressing down on Hastings's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hastings is holding on for now.
Hastings wants to get back to his feet.
Hastings tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Halman manages to move to mount!
Hastings is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Halman throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hastings because Halman loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hastings really wants to buck Halman off and get back to his feet.
Halman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You get the feeling that Hastings really doesn't like being in this position too much.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halman wants to control the pace but Hastings is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Josh Hastings will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hastings is looking to clinch but Halman is avoiding it.
Hastings tries to clinch but Halman is having none of it.
Hastings tries to close the distance and clinch but Halman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hastings fails with a takedown attempt.
Hastings tries to clinch up.
Jacek Halman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Halman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hastings.
Hastings doesn't manage to clinch there - Halman circles away.
Halman shoots in looking for a takedown but Hastings manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hastings tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Halman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Halman looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hastings is trying to stand back up but Halman is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hastings is not content to let Halman control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hastings is trying to stand up here but Halman is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Halman gets a takedown into half guard.
Halman trying to control from half guard but Hastings is working away.
Hastings is trying to stand back up but Halman is controlling him
Josh Hastings is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Halman working over Hastings with some ground and pound. Hastings looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Halman is trying to control. Hastings wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hastings pushes Halman off looking to stand but Halman dives back in and keeps control.

We're going to have a standup here because Jacek Halman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Halman stuffs the takedown attempt from Hastings. Hastings gets slowly back to his feet.
Halman slaps away a takedown attempt from Hastings, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jacek Halman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Hastings.
Hastings takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hastings tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Halman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hastings drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Halman gets back to half guard.
Hastings really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Halman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hastings thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hastings is trying to control. Halman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hastings is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Still in half guard, Hastings seems content to control.
Halman trying to control but Hastings postures up.
Hastings wants to take a breather but Halman is having none of it.
Hastings perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hastings is trying to control. Halman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hastings must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hastings wants to control from the top but Halman keeps moving.
Jacek Halman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Josh Hastings.
Halman stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Josh Hastings.
Well Hastings has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Hastings!
A relieved looking Josh Hastings thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.