PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Halloway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ston Hardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ston Hardson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Halloway
vs
Hardson

177 cm
24
212 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Pure Nutrition

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jeff Halloway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ston Hardson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardson is looking to clinch but Halloway is avoiding it.
Hardson fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Halloway slips a jab and a cross from Hardson.
Halloway circles away from the clinch attempt.
Halloway is looking for a counter combo.
A combination from Hardson does no damage.
Hardson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Halloway counters with a shoot takedown. Hardson fights it but they end up in guard.
Halloway pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hardson is keeping the position for now.
Halloway is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Halloway won't allow Hardson to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halloway 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.
Halloway passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halloway tries to advance to mount but Hardson denies him.

Halloway tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Halloway has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Halloway is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Halloway swings around for an armbar but Hardson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Halloway's guard.
Halloway on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Halloway tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Halloway working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hardson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hardson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hardson wants to stand but Halloway has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Hardson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Halloway has taken the fight to the clinch.

Halloway breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hardson tries to clinch up but Halloway circles away and keeps his distance.
Hardson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hardson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardson cracks a nice hook into Halloway's ribs.

Halloway rushes Hardson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hardson manages to break the clinch.
Hardson tries to clinch

and Halloway counters with a single leg into guard. Hardson didn't expect that.
Halloway has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hardson is proving hard to escape from.
Halloway is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Halloway is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halloway postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hardson wants to get back to his feet but Halloway passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halloway is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Halloway 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.

Halloway fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hardson to the ground. Halloway is now in Hardson's guard.
Halloway missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Halloway showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halloway wanted to stand there but Hardson had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halloway slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hardson wants to get back to his feet but Halloway is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Halloway pushes down on Hardson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Halloway perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hardson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Halloway not doing much here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hardson wants to clinch
and Halloway counters with a straight right hand.

Halloway rushes Hardson and presses him up against the cage.
Hardson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hardson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hardson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Halloway pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ston Hardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halloway takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hardson lands a jab to Halloway's midsection.

Halloway drives through and clinches with Hardson against the cage.

Halloway escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Halloway shoots in for a takedown but Hardson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hardson misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardson works over Halloway's head and body with a nice combination.
Hardson misses with a wild combination.
Halloway takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hardson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Halloway pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hardson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hardson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Halloway looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hardson pushes Halloway off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hardson is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hardson chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halloway looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Halloway throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hardson pushes Halloway off looking to stand but Halloway dives back in and keeps control.
Halloway perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Jeff Halloway overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hardson trying to control but Halloway postures up.
Halloway landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Halloway wants to free his trapped foot but Hardson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Halloway is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hardson has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ston Hardson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hardson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Halloway counters with a one-two to the body.
Hardson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hardson throws a right and a left that Halloway avoids nicely.
Hardson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Halloway backs up against the cage.
A punch combination from Hardson misses.
Halloway ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hardson throws a combination. Halloway tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hardson. Halloway does a little dance to reset his feet.
Halloway walks into a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halloway avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hardson fails to land with a series of punches.
Hardson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hardson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Halloway eats them both and turns towards Hardson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Halloway bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Halloway controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halloway decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Halloway looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hardson!
Hardson is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hardson pushes Halloway away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Halloway gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Halloway creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halloway cracks Hardson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Halloway staying calm.

Halloway is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hardson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halloway working the head with strikes.

Halloway is trying to get an arm triangle but Hardson is defending well.
Halloway wants to stand but Hardson is controlling his arm.
Halloway cracks Hardson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Halloway passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hardson!
Halloway content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halloway's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hardson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Halloway scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hardson?
Halloway fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Halloway controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jeff Halloway.
I think Halloway has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jeff Halloway!
During a confident post fight interview, Jeff Halloway thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.