PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Apacz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Halloway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Halloway will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Apacz
vs
Halloway

167 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
20
159 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matthew Apacz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Max Halloway!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halloway throws a good cross that connects.

Halloway has closed the distance and engaged Apacz in a clinch.

Halloway breaks the clinch.
Apacz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Halloway defends it nicely.

Halloway drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Halloway tries to stand but Apacz is controlling his head.
Halloway throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Apacz isn't going anywhere.

Halloway stands up.

Halloway shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apacz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Apacz sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Halloway prevents Apacz from improving his position.
Apacz is working hard here to advance position.
Apacz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Halloway.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halloway wants to lay and pray for a moment but Apacz keeps working.

Halloway is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Apacz looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like Halloway is going to stand back up.
Apacz wants to control but Halloway is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Apacz works his way to full guard. Good work.

Halloway drops back, looking for a kneebar! Apacz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Apacz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Apacz!

Apacz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Halloway has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halloway is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Halloway is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Apacz is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Halloway is looking to improve his position but Apacz isn't that keen on the idea.
Halloway is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Apacz content just to control the position here.
Halloway is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halloway tries to hold on but Apacz postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Apacz cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Halloway can do anything to dispel that myth.
Halloway flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Apacz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Apacz with good strikes from the mount here!
Apacz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halloway in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Halloway is looking to improve his position but Apacz isn't that keen on the idea.
Apacz controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halloway stops Apacz from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
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 Matthew Apacz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Apacz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Horrible takedown by Apacz or perhaps it was just good defense by Halloway which made him look bad.

Halloway manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Apacz on his heels. He'll look to pass Apacz's guard now, I'm sure.
Apacz has his hands on Halloway's head, controlling the position.
Apacz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Apacz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Apacz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Halloway manages to get himself to full guard.
Apacz stands and throws Halloway's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Apacz 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.
Apacz wants to control but Halloway is keeping him busy.
Matthew Apacz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halloway wants to control but Apacz postures up.
Halloway pushes Apacz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Apacz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Halloway can't do much from the bottom here.

Apacz is trying to get an arm triangle but Halloway is defending well.

Apacz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Apacz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Halloway really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Apacz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Apacz is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Halloway's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halloway tries to buck Apacz off but Apacz is having none of it.

Apacz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Apacz trying to control the position but Halloway is working away.
Halloway sneaks back into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halloway tries to roll over but Apacz keeps him under control.
Apacz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Halloway keeps working.
Halloway is looking to control Apacz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Halloway avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halloway has one foot on Apacz's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Halloway throws a head kick that misses.
Halloway tries to clinch but Apacz is having none of it.
Apacz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Halloway's waist but Halloway gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Apacz off to one side.
Halloway tries to clinch up but Apacz circles away and keeps his distance.
Halloway tries to clinch but Apacz is having none of it.
Apacz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Halloway avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Apacz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halloway moves in looking to clinch but Apacz pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halloway shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Apacz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Apacz struggling a bit here.
Apacz is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Halloway is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Halloway stands up.
Halloway uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Apacz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Halloway can pounce on him.
Max Halloway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halloway wants to clinch but Apacz slips to the side

and Apacz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Halloway won't be happy with that.
Halloway tries to bench press Apacz off him but Apacz keeps the position.
Apacz happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matthew Apacz will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Halloway explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Apacz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Halloway scores with a nice strike.
Halloway throws a head kick that half lands.

Halloway closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Apacz did well to prevent Halloway getting side control.
Apacz is looking to improve his position.
Apacz trying to hold on to Halloway's head to control him but Halloway postures up.
Halloway is looking to take a break and control but Apacz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halloway sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Halloway wants to stand but Apacz has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Apacz is trying to control but can't.
Apacz is doing well to control the position and prevent Halloway from advancing to side control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Max Halloway hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Halloway tries to close the distance and clinch but Apacz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Halloway lands a high kick!
Apacz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Halloway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Apacz gets caught flat footed, as Halloway shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Apacz pulls Halloway in close to prevent any damage.
Halloway wants to control from the top but Apacz keeps moving.
Apacz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Halloway trying to control but Apacz is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halloway stands and throws Apacz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Apacz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Halloway off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apacz keeps control of the position easily here as Halloway tries to buck him off.

Apacz is working for a rear naked choke. Halloway is not defending it well and Apacz has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Halloway refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Halloway's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matthew Apacz!