PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Halo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halo comes to the cage accompanied by Squeeze 1st-Jay-Z. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Halo
vs
Soderberg

189 cm
30
182 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

179 cm
27
186 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halo takes one on the button.

Soderberg looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Halo looking for a sweep. Not yet Halo, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soderberg.
Soderberg content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Halo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Halo tries to strike from the bottom.
Halo looking for a sweep. Not yet Halo, not yet.
Soderberg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Halo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg got a little sloppy there for a moment and Halo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Soderberg has managed to get both his arms back between Halo's legs - danger averted.
Halo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Soderberg trying to control but Halo is working from the bottom.
Soderberg throws a strike but Halo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Soderberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Halo is one step ahead there.

Soderberg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Halo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Halo tries to free his leg and advance position but Soderberg is retaining full guard.
Halo is stalling in the full guard.

Soderberg working for a triangle but Halo defends it easily.
Halo trying to control the position from guard on top but Soderberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg wants to improve his position but instead Halo has moved into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soderberg is trying to get back to full guard.
Halo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Soderberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Halo is working away from the top position though.
Soderberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Halo is working away from the top position though.
Soderberg tries to roll over but Halo keeps him under control.
Soderberg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Halo is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Soderberg is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Michael Halo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Halo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Soderberg dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Halo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Soderberg stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Halo.
Halo avoids the body shot from Soderberg.
Soderberg takes a swing at Halo's ribcage but misses.
Michael Halo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halo throws a low kick, looking for Soderberg's leg but Soderberg calmly moves out of range.
Soderberg shoots in for a double leg but Halo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Good shot there by Halo.
Soderberg checks a leg kick.
Halo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A shot to the liver by Soderberg. Beautiful body shot.

Soderberg shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Soderberg showed some decent athleticism there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halo tries to roll over but Soderberg keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg works his way into side control.
Halo tries to buck Soderberg off but Soderberg is having none of it.
Rufus Soderberg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Halo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Soderberg is trying to move to mount but Halo reverses beautifully and ends up in Soderberg's guard.
Halo trying to control but Soderberg is working from the bottom.

Soderberg pushes a forearm under Halo's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Halo is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rufus Soderberg!
Rufus Soderberg took some time post fight to say the following; 'GOT you.'.