PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Halo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Santiogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Santiogo's choice of entrance music: rock you like a hurricane. Arthur Halo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Halo
vs
Santiogo

187 cm
20
187 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

182 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

V-Mask Clothing + 10% laundry

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Victor Santiogo!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Halo, right into the meat.
Halo dodges the punch combination from Santiogo.

Santiogo dives in and scores a takedown into Halo's guard.
Santiogo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Halo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Santiogo defends well.
Santiogo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Halo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Halo is pulling down on Santiogo's head to control his posture.
Halo keeping full guard, as Santiogo tries to pass.

Halo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santiogo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Santiogo trying to control the position from guard on top but Halo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Halo seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halo is looking for a kimura here.
Santiogo trying to control from the bottom.
Halo thows a huge punch but Santiogo dodges it nicely.

Halo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Santiogo is just riding it out for now. Halo eventually gives up the hold.
Santiogo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Halo is working away from the top position though.

Halo seems to be working for a kimura but Santiogo defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Santiogo is doing well to control the position and prevent Halo from advancing to side control.

Halo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Santiogo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Halo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Santiogo wants to get back to full guard but Halo has mounted him!
Halo moves to back control.

Santiogo is having to fend off submission attempts from Halo, who is looking to sink in the choke. Halo doesn't have the hooks in though and Santiogo manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Halo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Halo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santiogo is one step ahead there.
Santiogo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Halo is proving hard to escape from.

Halo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Halo keeping moving, preventing Santiogo from controlling successfully.
Santiogo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Santiogo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Halo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Halo managing to control the position.
Halo wants to sweep here but Santiogo controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Halo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santiogo manages to get himself to full guard.

Halo throwing strikes from guard but Santiogo blocks nicely.
Halo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Halo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halo wants to control from the top but Santiogo keeps moving.
Santiogo looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Santiogo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Halo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santiogo pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Halo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Halo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Santiogo is out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Halo. No joy for Santiogo on that attempt.
Santiogo throws a shot from downtown. Halo moves away and avoids it.
Halo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Halo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A punch combination from Halo misses.
Santiogo stuffs the takedown attempt from Halo. Halo gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo shoots in for a takedown but Santiogo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Santiogo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Santiogo wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Halo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiogo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Halo gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santiogo breaks the clinch.
Santiogo has a takedown stuffed.
Santiogo blocks a jab.
Santiogo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Halo.
Santiogo throws a body punch but Halo moves out of range.
Halo fires out a quick counter leg kick but Santiogo just manages to avoid it.
Halo tries to land a leg kick but Santiogo saw it coming and moves away.
Halo misses with a kick to the body.
Halo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santiogo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo misses with a body shot.
Santiogo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Santiogo looks for a takedown but Halo sprawls well.
Santiogo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Santiogo feints the counter takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Santiogo. No joy for Halo on that attempt.
Santiogo goes for a double leg but Halo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Halo continues to drive forward.
Santiogo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Halo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Halo ducks under a wild hook from Santiogo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santiogo misses with a low kick.
Santiogo throws a shot to the body.
Santiogo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Santiogo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Victor Santiogo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A punch lands to the side of Halo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Santiogo fails with a takedown attempt.
Halo feinted with a counter takedown.
Halo throws a low kick, looking for Santiogo's leg but Santiogo calmly moves out of range.
Santiogo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Halo.

Halo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Santiogo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Santiogo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Halo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Santiogo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Santiogo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Halo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Santiogo, who protects the arm well.

Santiogo throws Halo to one side and escapes!
Santiogo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Victor Santiogo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Halo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Santiogo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Halo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Halo is looking to land body kicks.
Santiogo is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Halo. Santiogo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Halo misses with a hook to the body
letting Santiogo counter with a right hand.
Santiogo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halo.
And Halo counters with a quick kick to the body but Santiogo blocks it.
Halo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santiogo is looking to chop away at Halo's legs.
Santiogo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Halos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Halo throws a wild body kick that Santiogo sees coming a mile off.
Santiogo misses with an uppercut. Halo saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiogo feints and then cracks Halo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Halo down.
Halo misses with an uppercut. Santiogo saw that one coming.
Santiogo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Halo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Santiogo sprawls well. Santiogo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Halo gets slowly back to his feet.

Halo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Santiogo was covering up waiting for the punch and Halo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santiogo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Santiogo trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Halo postures up.

Santiogo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Halo postures up.
Santiogo wants to sweep here but Halo controlling him for the moment.
Halo trying to control but Santiogo is working from the bottom.
Halo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo preventing the sweep.
Arthur Halo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santiogo wants to stand but Halo is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Santiogo misses the jab.
Santiogo misses with a wild body shot.
Halo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santiogo as he avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick from Halo misses.
Nice takedown defense from Santiogo. No joy for Halo on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Halo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santiogo digs a good body shot into Halo's ribs.
Santiogo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Halo is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santiogo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Halo moves away from the strike by Santiogo.
Halo feinted with a counter takedown.
Halo throws a chopping leg kick but Santiogo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Santiogo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halo was well out of range. Poor timing from Santiogo.
Santiogo lands a right hook to the body.
Halo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Santiogo.

Halo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Santiogo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
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!
Santiogo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Santiogo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santiogo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Arthur Halo!
Arthur Halo bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.