PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ike Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaun Hale has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Francis
vs
Hale

158 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

171 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ike Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shaun Hale!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hale shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Francis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hale takes a little break here. Francis wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
You can see the frustration on Francis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hale has control of an arm but Francis manages to advance to Hale's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Francis is trying to stick to Hale's back but Hale is turning into Francis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Francis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hale.
Hale must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Francis has his hands on Hale's head, controlling the position.
Francis really is a fat lump.
Hale is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Francis working for a triangle but Hale defends it easily.
Hale seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Francis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hale is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Hale postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Francis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hale, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale pulls Francis in close to prevent any damage.
Hale's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Francis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hale is trying to control but Francis passes into side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Francis is trying to ground and pound but Hale uses the momentary lack of control by Francis to regain half guard.
Francis wants to take a breather but Hale is having none of it.
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 Ike Francis will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Francis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hale as he jumps to the side.

Hale gets the takedown into side control.
Hale happy to just control the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A control attempt from Francis but he's now mounted!
Francis tries to hold on but Hale postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale controlling the pace for now.
Francis wants to hold on but Hale pushes him away.
Hale tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Francis swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hale tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Francis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Francis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hale controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Hale has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Hale.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hale takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Shaun Hale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Francis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hale controlling his opponent.
Hale with shots to the head and body - Francis looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hale looking to control but Francis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hale content just to control the position here.
Francis flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hale lands a couple of good shots and Francis has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Hale keeps control of the position easily here as Francis tries to buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Hale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hale fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Francis to the ground. Hale is now in Francis's guard.
Hale seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Francis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hale is aware though and is defending well.
Hale engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Francis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hale's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Francis trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hale closes the distance and pushes Francis back into the cage.

Francis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hale is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Francis to the mat. Francis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hale is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Francis has his foot on Hale's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hale works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hale looking to pass the guard.
Hale engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Francis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hale closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Francis's guard.
Hale controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Francis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hale is looking to work some ground and pound but Francis has wrist control.
Francis working a defensive guard here.
Francis is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hale is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hale is stalling in the full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Hale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hale 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Hale!