PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Efriam Haldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tico Ponce De Leon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ponce De Leon comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Los Lobos - Canción Del Mariachi kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Tico Ponce De Leon was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Haldi
vs
Ponce De Leon

167 cm
29
144 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

171 cm
28
149 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Efriam Haldi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tico Ponce De Leon!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponce De Leon blocks a head kick by Haldi.
Haldi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Good shot there by Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon throws a wild body kick that Haldi sees coming a mile off.
Haldi misses with a low kick as Ponce De Leon jumps back.
We've been hearing reports that Haldi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ponce De Leon.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haldi misses with a head kick.
Ponce De Leon just misses with a punch to the body.
Haldi scores with a head kick.
We've been informed that Ponce De Leon has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ponce De Leon lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ponce De Leon misses with a body shot.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a front kick but Haldi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ponce De Leon.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
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!
Haldi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ponce De Leon.

Haldi has closed the distance and engaged Ponce De Leon in a clinch.
Ponce De Leon lands an elbow inside that Haldi shrugs off.

It looks like Efriam Haldi has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Haldi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ponce De Leon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ponce De Leon throws an elbow but it misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ponce De Leon as Haldi tries to tie him up.
Haldi takes an elbow to the temple.
Ponce De Leon lands with a right to the head.
Haldi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ponce De Leon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haldi lands a right hand.
Ponce De Leon lands an uppercut.
Ponce De Leon managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Haldi prevents a body shot from Ponce De Leon.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ponce De Leon.
Haldi throws a head punch that misses.
Haldi avoids a wild elbow strike from Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haldi stalls.
Haldi misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Ponce De Leon is fighting off a takedown attempt but Haldi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ponce De Leon to the mat. Ponce De Leon regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ponce De Leon looking for a sweep. Not yet Ponce De Leon, not yet.
Haldi wants to control from the top but Ponce De Leon keeps moving.

Haldi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Haldi stopping the sweep attempt from Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon wants to stand up but Haldi is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon is trying to control the position but Haldi postures up.
Haldi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ponce De Leon is keeping the position for now.
Haldi won't allow Ponce De Leon to sweep him here.
Haldi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ponce De Leon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Haldi won't allow Ponce De Leon to sweep him here.
Haldi tries to free his leg and advance position but Ponce De Leon is retaining full guard.
Ponce De Leon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tico Ponce De Leon.

Haldi tries to keep at a distance but Ponce De Leon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ponce De Leon pushes off an throws an elbow but Haldi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon lands a damaging elbow.
Haldi wants a takedown but no success here.
Nice body punch from Ponce De Leon - that landed with a thud.
Ponce De Leon has a couple of punches blocked by Haldi.
Ponce De Leon scores with a shoulder strike.

Efriam Haldi's cut is getting worse.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haldi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ponce De Leon gets underhooks to prevent Haldi's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efriam Haldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ponce De Leon lands a body punch.
Ponce De Leon lands a right hand that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Ponce De Leon lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ponce De Leon swings wildly with an uppercut but Haldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Haldi lands a left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haldi misses with the head strike.
Ponce De Leon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ponce De Leon throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ponce De Leon trying to stall but Haldi improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Ponce De Leon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Efriam Haldi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ponce De Leon blocks a head kick by Haldi.
Haldi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Haldi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A good leg kick by Ponce De Leon.
Haldi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ponce De Leon stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ponce De Leon wants it to stay on the feet.
Ponce De Leon takes a kick to the side of the head.
Haldi thows a body shot but no joy.
Haldi takes one to the chin there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Haldi takes the fight into the clinch.

Ponce De Leon breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Haldi.
Danga de danga de dang - Haldi scores with a four punch combination!
Ponce De Leon looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ponce De Leon is looking to clinch but Haldi is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon connects with a looping right hand.
Ponce De Leon stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Haldi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ponce De Leon can pounce on him.
Ponce De Leon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Haldi.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ponce De Leon. That's going to slow Haldi down.
Haldi avoids the head kick by Ponce De Leon.
Haldi keeps the fight on the outside.
Ponce De Leon connects with a right hand. Haldi shakes it off.
Haldi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ponce De Leon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Haldi misses
and Ponce De Leon counters with a lovely shot to the body.
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!
Ponce De Leon throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Haldi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ponce De Leon's head.
Tico Ponce De Leon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Haldi.
Sloppy strikes from Haldi. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon leaves Haldi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efriam Haldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ponce De Leon's jab looks to have found its range, popping Haldi under the eye.
Haldi takes one to the chin there.
Ponce De Leon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ponce De Leon tries a head kick but it misses.
Haldi fails to land the takedown.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Haldi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ponce De Leon - the referee stops the clock and Haldi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ponce De Leon. Haldi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Tico Ponce De Leon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab by Ponce De Leon.
Haldi throws a lazy head kick
and Ponce De Leon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Haldi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ponce De Leon can pounce on him.
Ponce De Leon throws a sloppy head kick and Haldi moves out of range easily.
Haldi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ponce De Leon moves away from the strike by Haldi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon jabs Haldi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Haldi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ponce De Leon momentarily.
Ponce De Leon cracks the inside of Haldi's front leg.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ponce De Leon throws a front kick that sends Haldi stumbling back into the cage.
Ponce De Leon swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Haldi.

Efriam Haldi's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Ponce De Leon dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Haldi. That did some damage!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters circling a little - Ponce De Leon finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Haldi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ponce De Leon scoring well with a low kick there.
Ponce De Leon with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ponce De Leon cracks the inside of Haldi's front leg.
A good leg kick by Ponce De Leon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon cracks the inside of Haldi's front leg.
Ponce De Leon throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ponce De Leon lands with a nice body kick.
Ponce De Leon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Haldi moves away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ponce De Leon. That's going to slow Haldi down.
A big left from Haldi misses.
Ponce De Leon scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Haldi doesn't seem bothered though.
Ponce De Leon lands a glancing blow to the side of Haldi's head.
Haldi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ponce De Leon throws a nice outside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Ponce De Leon.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ponce De Leon.
Haldi misses with a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Ponce De Leon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Ponce De Leon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Efriam Haldi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Haldi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donk. Ponce De Leon catches Haldi right on the button with a cross.
Ponce De Leon tries to land a leg kick but Haldi saw it coming and moves away.
Ponce De Leon scores with a nice head shot.
Haldi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Haldi tries to clinch but Ponce De Leon moves out of range.

Haldi tries to keep at a distance but Ponce De Leon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ponce De Leon lands an uppercut.
Ponce De Leon pushes Haldi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ponce De Leon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot in the inside from Ponce De Leon.
Haldi trying to land knees to the body.
Haldi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ponce De Leon is defending well for now.
A short uppercut from Ponce De Leon.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ponce De Leon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haldi wants to stall.
Haldi blocking some punches.
Haldi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ponce De Leon gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Haldi.
Haldi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ponce De Leon misses with an elbow over the top.

Ponce De Leon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ponce De Leon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Haldi fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Efriam Haldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ponce De Leon scores with a leg kick.
Ponce De Leon connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Haldi moves out of range of the body kick from Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ponce De Leon fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Haldi on the side of the head.
Ponce De Leon connects with a solid leg kick.
Ponce De Leon blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Haldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haldi swats away the attempt to clinch by Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon with a hook.
A solid body kick from Ponce De Leon.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ponce De Leon, right into the meat.
Haldi has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ponce De Leon.
Haldi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ponce De Leon's waist but Ponce De Leon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Haldi off to one side.
Ponce De Leon looks to score with a jab to the body but Haldi is just out of range.

Ponce De Leon closes the distance and pushes Haldi back into the cage.
Haldi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ponce De Leon backwards.
Ponce De Leon lands a right hand that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Haldi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ponce De Leon pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tico Ponce De Leon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponce De Leon lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ponce De Leon throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Haldi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ponce De Leon's efforts to push away.
Ponce De Leon avoiding damage as Haldi throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Ponce De Leon.
Ponce De Leon creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Haldi's defenses.
Haldi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Haldi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ponce De Leon prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ponce De Leon just misses with a elbow thrown towards Haldi's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Ponce De Leon.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but Ponce De Leon blocks it.
Ponce De Leon misses with a body punch.
Ponce De Leon lands an elbow inside.

Jeez, Efriam Haldi's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Ponce De Leon misses with some punches.
Haldi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haldi looking for a takedown.
Ponce De Leon stops a takedown attempt from Haldi.
Ponce De Leon prevents a body shot from Haldi.
Ponce De Leon throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haldis head.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haldi is trying to maintain a safe position but Ponce De Leon gets an underhook and turns Haldi into the cage.
Haldi can't get the takedown.
Ponce De Leon misses with the head strike.
Efriam Haldi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ponce De Leon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tico Ponce De Leon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ponce De Leon winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tico Ponce De Leon!
Our winner, Tico Ponce De Leon, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.