PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Titus Kahoohalphala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haral Dir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haral Dir is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kahoohalphala
vs
Dir

195 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

181 cm
30
205 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Titus Kahoohalphala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Haral Dir!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Kahoohalphala misses its intended target.
Kahoohalphala tries for a takedown but Dir circles away easily

and Dir counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Kahoohalphala has clasped his hands together around Dir's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kahoohalphala postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kahoohalphala fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kahoohalphala throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kahoohalphala creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dir sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kahoohalphala trying to control the action but Dir is working from the bottom.
Kahoohalphala will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kahoohalphala working the ground and pound but Dir is defending the strikes.
Kahoohalphala working the ground and pound but Dir is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala working the head with strikes.
Kahoohalphala creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dir sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Kahoohalphala seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kahoohalphala trying to control the action but Dir is working from the bottom.
Kahoohalphala working the ground and pound.
Kahoohalphala tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Dir avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kahoohalphala.
Dir stops Kahoohalphala from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dir keeps working.
Kahoohalphala creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dir sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kahoohalphala scores with punches from side control.
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!
Kahoohalphala creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dir sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kahoohalphala in side control, throwing shots but Dir defends.
Kahoohalphala wants to control but Dir is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala moves into full mount!
Kahoohalphala misses with a head shot.
Dir is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kahoohalphala sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kahoohalphala landing strikes from the mount.
Kahoohalphala throws some wild stikes that Dir manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala misses with a head shot.
Kahoohalphala throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kahoohalphala throwing strikes but Dir recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Kahoohalphala looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kahoohalphala throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Dir to regain full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kahoohalphala throws a big elbow that misses.
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!
Kahoohalphala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dir swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Kahoohalphala dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

An inside leg kick from Dir misses.
Dir stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dir wants it to stay on the feet.
Dir pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kahoohalphala connects with a body shot that sends Dir's belly button to the back.
Dir tries to land a front kick but Kahoohalphala steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dir walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kahoohalphala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dir sprawls well. Dir wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kahoohalphala gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice body punch from Kahoohalphala.

Dir moves into the clinch.
Kahoohalphala lands with a light punch inside.
Kahoohalphala is working for takedown but Dir is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Titus Kahoohalphala. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dir is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kahoohalphala can't fight it off and eventually Dir manages to take the fight to the floor. Kahoohalphala looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kahoohalphala swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dir wants to control from the top but Kahoohalphala keeps moving.
Kahoohalphala 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.
Kahoohalphala wants to sweep here but Dir controlling him for the moment.
Kahoohalphala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dir.
Kahoohalphala lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dir!
Kahoohalphala punching from mount but Dir doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Dir really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala looking to finish with strikes here!
Kahoohalphala lands a big elbow.
Kahoohalphala with good strikes from the mount here!

It looks like Haral Dir has been cut.
Dir wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kahoohalphala.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kahoohalphala is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Dir is looking to get to half guard.
Kahoohalphala in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala looking to control but Dir is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dir is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kahoohalphala pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kahoohalphala thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kahoohalphala takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kahoohalphala trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala scoring with strikes but Dir is staying in there.
Kahoohalphala lands with some strikes.
Kahoohalphala unloads with some shots from mount but Dir bucks and avoids them well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kahoohalphala unloading with bombs!
Dir holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kahoohalphala tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kahoohalphala throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kahoohalphala working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Kahoohalphala dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Haral Dir's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice jab there from Kahoohalphala.
Dir just misses with a punch to the body.
Dir throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kahoohalphala fails with the takedown.
Dir fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Dir looks to score with a jab to the body but Kahoohalphala is just out of range.
Kahoohalphala moves out of range of the leg kick from Dir.
Kahoohalphala shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dir but Dir pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kahoohalphala throws a body punch but Dir moves out of range.
Dir keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kahoohalphala.
Kahoohalphala works the jab nicely.
Kahoohalphala misses with a straight left.
Dir uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kahoohalphala.
Dir slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dir motions for Kahoohalphala to come forward. Dir throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Kahoohalphala manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Dir on his heels. He'll look to pass Dir's guard now, I'm sure.
Kahoohalphala distracts Dir with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kahoohalphala trying to control but Dir is working from the bottom.
Kahoohalphala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kahoohalphala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dir can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala trying to control but Dir is working from the bottom.
Dir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kahoohalphala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dir can do to turn this around?
Kahoohalphala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kahoohalphala throws a big elbow that misses.
Kahoohalphala stopping the sweep attempt from Dir.
Kahoohalphala works over Dir with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala throwing strikes from guard but Dir blocks nicely.
Dir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kahoohalphala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kahoohalphala wants to control from the top but Dir keeps moving.
Dir seems keen to control Kahoohalphala's posture.
Dir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Titus Kahoohalphala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahoohalphala postures up and lands a big shot to Dir's brow.
Kahoohalphala tries to free his leg and advance position but Dir is retaining full guard.
Kahoohalphala throwing strikes but missing.
Kahoohalphala scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kahoohalphala keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dir's head.
Kahoohalphala postures up in Dir's guard and throws a big left but Dir blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kahoohalphala lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dir has control of Kahoohalphala's left arm, preventing Kahoohalphala from doing any damage.
Haral Dir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kahoohalphala throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Titus Kahoohalphala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kahoohalphala, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:26
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Titus Kahoohalphala!