PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris De Owl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Halftard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gary Halftard told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

De Owl
vs
Halftard

225 cm
23
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Boris De Owl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gary Halftard!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Owl wants to clinch.
De Owl tries to close the distance and clinch but Halftard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Halftard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
De Owl fails with an attempt to clinch.
De Owl tries to clinch but Halftard is having none of it.
A little jabbing left from Halftard on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Halftard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
De Owl moves in looking to clinch but Halftard pushes him off.
De Owl closes the distance looking to clinch
and Halftard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Owl tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Halftard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Owl fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
De Owl misses with a few strikes there.
Halftard cracks De Owl with an open hand slap.
De Owl tries to clinch but Halftard is having none of it.
De Owl tries to close the distance and clinch but Halftard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
De Owl shoots and misses
and Halftard counters with a straight right hand.
Halftard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
De Owl is looking to counter the offense by Halftard and move into the clinch.
Halftard connects with a single shot there.
De Owl tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Halftard defends well and De Owl ends up having to push Halftard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Halftard lands with a good body shot.
Halftard bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of De Owl's head.
De Owl is breathing heavily.
De Owl shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Halftard as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris De Owl. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
The fight stays on the outside here - De Owl looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Halftard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
De Owl throws a head kick that half lands.
De Owl moves in looking to clinch but Halftard pushes him off.
De Owl shoots in and drives through. Halftard sprawls well.
Halftard lands a jab to the nose.
Halftard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Halftard lands with a right hand.
De Owl takes one on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halftard pressing his opponent against the cage.
Halftard lands an uppercut.
A short right from Halftard.
Halftard scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short uppercut from Halftard.
Halftard is stalling here.
Halftard gets through De Owl's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Halftard lands a shot to the body.
Halftard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Halftard scores with a shot to the side of De Owl's head.
Halftard throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
De Owl has Halftard pressed against the cage, preventing Halftard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Halftard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Halftard lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halftard leaning his opponent against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halftard.
Halftard lands a nice uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Halftard.
A short right from Halftard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Halftard lands a body shot.
Halftard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of De Owl backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Halftard.
Halftard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Halftard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halftard.
A nice left hand lands by Halftard.
Halftard lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Halftard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Halftard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Halftard lands with a nice combination. De Owl backs away looking to recover.
Halftard might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Halftard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Halftard counters with a nice uppercut.
Donk. Halftard catches De Owl right on the button with a cross.
De Owl takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
De Owl tries to clinch up.
Halftard throws out a counter right but De Owl avoids it with no problem.
Halftard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Halftard counters with a one-two to the body.
Halftard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between De Owl's hands.
Halftard throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck De Owl on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Halftard. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Halftard has closed the distance and engaged De Owl in a clinch.
Halftard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A nice left hand lands by Halftard.
Halftard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Halftard effectively controlling the action here.
Halftard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Halftard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Halftard as De Owl tries to tie him up.
Halftard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Halftard is pushing De Owl up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
De Owl looks to throw an elbow but misses.
De Owl tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Halftard just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halftard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Halftard.
Halftard stalling in the clinch.
A short right from Halftard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halftard slows down the pace here.
Halftard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Halftard leaning against his opponent.
Halftard leaning against his opponent.
Halftard lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Halftard.
A bit of stalling here from Halftard.
Gary Halftard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short left from Halftard.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halftard.
The referee calls for Halftard to work.
Halftard lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Halftard.
A hook to the body from Halftard.
Halftard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning De Owl up against the cage.
Halftard lands a right hand.
Halftard scores with a shot to the side of De Owl's head.
Halftard stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Gary Halftard.
De Owl walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Boris De Owl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Halftard clobbers De Owl with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Halftard lands with a nice body punch.
De Owl takes one to the chin there.
Halftard scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halftard throws out a powerful jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De Owl tries a low kick but Halftard avoids it.
Halftard misses with the combination.
Halftard jabs De Owl to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Halftard closes the distance and clinches.
Halftard has De Owl pressed against the cage.
Halftard's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd are getting on Halftard's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Halftard stalling the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Halftard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A clash of legs there as Halftard blocks the low kick.
Halftard is looking for the big counter here.
De Owl needs to keep his hands up - Halftard had a free shot at his head there.
De Owl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Halftard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
De Owl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Halftard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Halftard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Halftard feints a jab promting De Owl to slip. Halftard then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. De Owl slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
De Owl uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halftard.
De Owl seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Halftard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Owl jabs at Halftard's body.
De Owl fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boris De Owl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Owl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halftard lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
De Owl throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gary Halftard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halftard takes a shot to the body in his stride.
De Owl throws a head kick that misses.
Halftard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
De Owl takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
De Owl fails with an attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Halftard! But no joy.

De Owl tries to keep at a distance but Halftard has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halftard.
De Owl jumps guard but Halftard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Halftard lands a right hand.
A short right from Halftard on the inside.
A short right from Halftard.
Halftard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Halftard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but De Owl has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halftard has De Owl pressed against the cage.
Halftard holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Halftard controlling the action here for a moment.
The referee calls for Halftard to work.
Halftard pushes De Owl back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halftard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
De Owl throws a punch but it's blocked by Halftard.
Halftard is struggling to control the position.
Halftard lands a hook that snaps the head of De Owl backwards.
Halftard lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Owl takes a shot to the head.
De Owl pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Halftard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Halftard lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Halftard.
Halftard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Halftard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Halftard scores with a shoulder strike.
De Owl takes a shot to the head.
Halftard throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A left hand lands to the body for Halftard.
Halftard lands a right hand.
Halftard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Halftard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Halftard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halftard scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Halftard.
Halftard lands a right hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Halftard.
De Owl looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Halftard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Halftard is working De Owl over against the cage.
Halftard stalling.
De Owl's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Halftard lands a left hand that snaps the head of De Owl backwards.
Halftard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning De Owl up against the cage.
Halftard stalling.
Halftard letting De Owl take a breather here.
Halftard lands with a right to the head.
Boris De Owl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Owl can't find room to land a body shot as Halftard controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Halftard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Halftard 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 25:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Halftard!