PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edgardo Cline (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hale Taumalolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hale Taumalolo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cline
vs
Taumalolo

184 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

177 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Edgardo Cline!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hale Taumalolo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cline has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taumalolo looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Taumalolo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cline pulls his leg out and moves away.
Taumalolo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cline sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taumalolo somewhat.
Hale Taumalolo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taumalolo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cline defends well and Taumalolo ends up having to push Cline into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Edgardo Cline has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hale Taumalolo.

Cline throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Taumalolo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cline is in Taumalolo's guard.
Cline lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cline accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Cline stands and steps away. Taumalolo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Taumalolo enables Cline to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Taumalolo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cline has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cline wanted to stand there but Taumalolo had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cline throwing strikes from guard but Taumalolo blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taumalolo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cline.
Cline connects with a couple of short punches.
Cline has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taumalolo is proving hard to escape from.

Cline decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Cline shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Taumalolo is trying to defend but Cline finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Taumalolo scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Cline manages to mount him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taumalolo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Cline is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Taumalolo has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Cline lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Cline is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Taumalolo to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Taumalolo shrugs it off.

Cline looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Cline punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cline is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Cline closes the distance and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cline taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

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.
Cline is looking for a takedown.

Cline's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cline shoots in looking for a takedown but Taumalolo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cline's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cline shoots in but no luck this time.
Taumalolo misses with a takedown

and Cline decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Taumalolo's guard.
Cline postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cline lands a couple of elbows.
Cline tries to stand but Taumalolo is controlling from the bottom.
Cline trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgardo Cline 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.

Cline shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Cline stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Cline throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taumalolo was covering up waiting for the punch and Cline finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cline makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taumalolo 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.
Edgardo Cline overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cline postures up and lands a big shot to Taumalolo's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taumalolo has momentary wrist control but Cline slips an elbow through the middle.
Taumalolo is breathing heavily.
Cline scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cline landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taumalolo working a defensive guard but Cline manages to pass into side control anyway.

Cline is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taumalolo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Cline is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Taumalolo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Cline thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taumalolo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Cline decides to stand back up. Cline steps back and let's Taumalolo get back to his feet.

Cline clinches with his opponent.
Taumalolo is trying to stall.
Cline stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cline has Taumalolo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Taumalolo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cline content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Cline is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Taumalolo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Taumalolo letting Cline take a breather here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Edgardo Cline.
Cline tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Taumalolo defends well and Cline ends up having to push Taumalolo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

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.
Cline shoots for a double leg takedown but Taumalolo sprawls well. He's pushed Cline's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edgardo Cline. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cline displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Taumalolo.

Cline clinches.

Cline gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Taumalolo is wriggling around but Cline manages to pass to half guard.
Cline is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taumalolo can do to turn this around?

Cline looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taumalolo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cline prevents Taumalolo from improving his position.
Cline tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Taumalolo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgardo Cline dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Cline moves into the clinch.
Cline stalling the fight.
Taumalolo wants to take the fight to the mat but Cline manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cline just leaning against Taumalolo, taking a breather.
A bit of stalling here from Cline.
Cline seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Cline escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cline bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Taumalolo tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Taumalolo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cline looking for a guillotine from mount but Taumalolo is having none of it.
Cline landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cline lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Taumalolo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cline.

Cline looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Cline lands a big shot there that rocks Taumalolo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Cline with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Cline sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cline has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Taumalolo is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Edgardo Cline!