PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuel French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filip Hallander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

French
vs
Hallander

176 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Filip Hallander!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hallander fails with the takedown.
Hallander lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but French circles away quickly and effectively.
Hallander shoots for a takedown but French saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hallander tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but French defends well and Hallander ends up having to push French into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Samuel French has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Filip Hallander.
Hallander is defending well against a takedown attempt.
French stops a takedown attempt from Hallander.
A frustrated look appears on French's face as he tries to break the clinch.
French drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hallander gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hallander is trying to break the clinch but French is controlling him.

Hallander jumps into guard, dragging French to the mat.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hallander wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and French manages to pass to side control.
French missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hallander's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
French throwing shots but Hallander is blocking nicely.

French is working for a kimura but Hallander is defending it quite comfortably.

Hallander looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hallander wants to get back to full guard.
Hallander keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hallander regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hallander working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from French.
French postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hallander controls French momentarily but French frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallander looking to hit a scissor sweep but French is one step ahead there.
Hallander preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hallander has momentary wrist control but French slips an elbow through the middle.
French is in close to Hallander's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hallander throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
French postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
French working some strikes from top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hallander is trying to keep French in close.
French scoring with some ground and pound.
French throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallander has momentary wrist control but French slips an elbow through the middle.
French is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Hallander has eaten all the pies!

Hallander throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hallander looks winded!
French in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hallander trying to keep a closed guard but French is proving a slippery customer.
French postures up and lands a big shot to Hallander's brow.
French with a nice head shot there.
French lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
French postures up and lands a big shot to Hallander's brow.

Hallander has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes French off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
French throws a right and a left that Hallander avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hallander throws a series of punches but French moves out of range.
French wants to clinch up but Hallander keeps it at a distance.
Hallander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hallander has French up against the cage in a clinch.
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!
French tries for a takedown. No joy.
French goes for a takedown attempt but Hallander pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick by Hallander misses

and French holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hallander blocks a body shot from French.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel French dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hallander looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hallander throws a nice inside leg kick.

Hallander rushes French and presses him up against the cage.
Hallander drops down looking for an ankle pick but French pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hallander has managed to clinch.
Hallander blocks an elbow strike.
French drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hallander breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French tries to clinch up but Hallander circles away and keeps his distance.

French gets tackled into the cage by Hallander. Hallander maintains the clinch.

Hallander successfully pulls guard.
Hallander lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for French!
Hallander punching from mount but French doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hallander controlling from mount.
French is looking to improve his position but Hallander isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallander breaks from French's wrist control and lands an elbow.
French in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hallander has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of French's face.
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!
French is wriggling around trying to escape.
French is working hard here to advance position.
Filip Hallander has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hallander stands up from mount. Strange move.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hallander misses.

French clinches.
Hallander lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Samuel French has been cut.

Hallander pulls guard.
Hallander manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. French manages to get himself to full guard.
Hallander trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hallander slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

French has his foot on Hallander's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hallander works his way back into a safe position though.

Hallander stands up and waves to French to follow him.

Hallander clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Hallander showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Samuel French's cut.
That's time! French's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hallander throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. French was covering up waiting for the punch and Hallander finishes the takedown easily into guard.
French trying to control the position.
Hallander tries to free his leg and advance position but French is retaining full guard.
Hallander passes French's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Hallander stands up from half guard.
Hallander shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts French as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallander swats away the attempt to clinch by French.

Hallander pushes French up against the cage in a clinch.
French wants to break free but Hallander has control.

Hallander jumps guard and drags French to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
French trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hallander is trying to keep French in close.
Hallander takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hallander working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from French.
French won't allow Hallander to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French throwing strikes but missing.
Hallander has momentary wrist control but French slips an elbow through the middle.
Hallander pulls French in close to his closed guard and prevents French from doing any damage or advancing position.
French throwing strikes from guard but Hallander blocks nicely.
French trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
French loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hallander looking to control.
French won't allow Hallander to get back to his feet.
French wants to get up but he can't break Hallander's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells French's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
French won't allow Hallander to get back to his feet.
French makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hallander is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
French cracks Hallander with a solid left hand.
Hallander not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as French accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
French throws a big right hand that misses.
Hallander not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hallander avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hallander wants to get back to his feet but French is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hallander trying to keep a closed guard but French is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French works over Hallander with some ground and pound from guard.

Hallander had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. French defends it easily.
French with a flurry of punches that miss.
French won't allow Hallander to sweep him here.
French makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hallander has momentary wrist control but French slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
French has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hallander is proving hard to escape from.
French is in close to Hallander's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Filip Hallander.
Well Hallander 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Filip Hallander!