PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Farrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hale Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donovan Farrell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Farrell
vs
Storm

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Donovan Farrell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hale Storm!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Farrell misses with a two punch combination.
Storm is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Farrell wants to clinch
and Storm counters with a head kick. That will keep Farrell thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Farrell closes the distance and clinches up with Storm, looking for a takedown. Farrell pushes Storm against the cage but Storm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Farrell tries to clinch up.
Farrell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Farrell dives in for a single leg takedown but Storm sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Storm throws a head kick that half lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farrell takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Farrell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Storm as he avoids it easily.
As Farrell backs off Storm throws a huge counter combo but Farrell manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donovan Farrell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Storm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm stuffs the takedown.
Storm circles away from the clinch attempt.
Storm throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Farrell's head.
Storm goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Storm misses with a head kick.
Farrell moves in looking to clinch but Storm pushes him off.
Storm is looking for the big counter here.
Storm slaps away a takedown attempt from Farrell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Farrell with a lazy takedown attempt

and Storm counters by clinching up.
Farrell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Storm is defending well.

Storm's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Donovan Farrell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farrell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Storm is fending him off so far but Farrell persists. Nope, Storm circles away and we're back to standing.
Storm connects with a solid leg kick.
Storm fails with a takedown attempt.
Farrell throws a combination that misses

and Storm decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Farrell's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Storm is fighting to break Farrell's control of his arms but Farrell is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Farrell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Farrell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Storm really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Farrell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farrell is looking to stand up but Storm isn't so interested in that idea.

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

Farrell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Storm can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Storm stands up and waves to Farrell to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Farrell tries a head kick but it misses.
Farrell with a poor takedown
and Storm counters with a big head kick but Farrell shrugs it off.
Nice sprawl there from Storm as Farrell shoots in.
Storm lands with a slapping head kick.
Farrell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Storm counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Storm lands with a slapping head kick.
Storm lands with a kick to the ribs.
Farrell misses with a head kick.
Farrell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Storm is fending him off so far but Farrell persists. Nope, Storm circles away and we're back to standing.
Storm lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hale Storm dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick from Storm lands but Farrell takes it in his stride.
Farrell misses with the combination.
Storm throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Farrell misses with a two punch combination.
Farrell tries to clinch there but Storm circles away.
Storm lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Farrell.
Despite the aggression on Storm's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Farrell fails with a takedown attempt.
Farrell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Storm manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farrell takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Farrell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Farrell avoids the head kick by Storm.
Farrell with a lazy takedown attempt
and Storm counters with a good, hard body kick but Farrell shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donovan Farrell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Storm pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donovan Farrell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Storm avoids the head kick by Farrell.
Horrible takedown attempt by Farrell or perhaps it was just good defense by Storm, which made it look bad.
Storm lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Storm lands but Farrell takes it in his stride.
Storm scores with a push kick.
No luck for Farrell with that takedown attempt.
Farrell throws a head kick but Storm moves out of range.
Farrell misses with a takedown
and Storm counters with a head kick. That will keep Farrell thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Storm has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Farrell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Farrell doesn't manage to clinch there - Storm circles away.
Farrell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Farrell shoots in looking for a takedown. Storm tries to sprawl out of it but Farrell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Storm manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Storm scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Storm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Storm blocks a head kick by Farrell.
Storm stuffs the takedown.
Storm lands a head kick!
Farrell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Storm swivels and escapes.
Storm has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Farrell finds it's way round the side to connect with Storm's head.
Storm showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Farrell.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Farrell tries to clinch up but Storm circles away and keeps his distance.
Storm raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Farrell looks to throw a body kick
and Storm counters with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hale Storm showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Farrell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Farrell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Farrell goes for a double leg but Storm avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Storm continues to drive forward.
Storm changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Farrell tries to avoid it but Storm manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Farrell to the ground. Farrell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Farrell is looking to counter with head kicks.
Storm moves out of range of the body kick.
Farrell loads up on a big right hand but Storm slips the punch.

Storm has closed the distance and engaged Farrell in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm wants a takedown.
Farrell tries to circle away but Storm has him pinned against the cage.

Storm's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farrell with a lazy takedown attempt

and Storm counters by clinching up.
Storm has Farrell pressed against the cage, preventing Farrell from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Farrell wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donovan Farrell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Storm breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Farrell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Storm circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Storm avoids the head kick by Farrell.
Farrell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Storm manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Farrell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Storm avoids the head kick by Farrell.
Farrell takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Storm is trying hard to land a takedown here. Farrell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Farrell with a poor takedown
and Storm counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Farrell wants to clinch but Storm slips to the side
and Storm counters with a thumping low kick.
Storm throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Farrell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Storm paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Farrell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Storm plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A left lands for Farrell.
Farrell dives in and grabs Storm's left leg, looking for a takedown. Storm pushes down on Farrell's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm misses with a head kick.
Farrell swinging wildly here.
Storm throws a counter combo.
Farrell is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Farrell has his takedown stuffed
and Storm counters with an outside leg kick.

Storm instigates a clinch.
Farrell tries to circle away but Storm has him pinned against the cage.

Storm breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Farrell.
Farrell will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Storm stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Storm displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Farrell.
Storm is looking for the big counter here.
Farrell darts in trying to clinch
and Storm counters with a thumping low kick.
Farrell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Storm counters with a head kick.
Storm lands with a slapping head kick.
Storm throws a nice head kick!
Donovan Farrell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hale Storm is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Storm throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hale Storm comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Storm 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

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