PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hale Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frankie Campbell had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Hale Storm is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Campbell
vs
Storm

200 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 Sydney, Frankie Campbell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hale Storm!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm thows a body kick. Campbell tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Campbell throws a sloppy head kick and Storm moves out of range easily.
Storm throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Campbell throws a head kick that misses
and Storm counters with a slapping leg kick.
Campbell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Storm's coach down at Barbell Brigade - $700 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Storm's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Storm tries to clinch but Campbell is having none of it.

Campbell moves into the clinch successfully.
Storm looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Storm breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Storm throws a head kick but Campbell moves out of range.
Frankie Campbell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm is looking to land body kicks.
Storm throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Storm.
Storm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm moves out of range of the leg kick from Campbell.
Storm appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Campbell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Storm lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hale Storm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Campbell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Campbell showed some decent athleticism there.

Storm manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Storm lands a head kick!

Campbell moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Storm is trying to push Campbell away but Campbell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell is struggling to control the position.
Campbell stalling against the cage.
Campbell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Campbell breaks the clinch.
Storm delivers a nice body kick.
Campbell throws a body kick that misses
and Storm counters with a nice leg kick.
Campbell is breathing heavily.
Storm misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Storm.
Campbell is looking to counter the offense by Storm and move into the clinch.
Campbell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Storm swivels and escapes.
Campbell takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Campbell is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Storm fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Campbell, pushing him back against the cage.
Storm is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Storm has had enough of the clinch but Campbell keeps him there for the moment.

Campbell manages to pull guard.
Campbell 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.
Campbell wants to stand but Storm is controlling the position.
Campbell has Storm pulled in close to control his posture.
Storm is looking to stand up but Campbell won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Campbell is looking for a triangle but Storm pushes his legs off easily.
Storm slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Campbell wants to sweep here but Storm controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Campbell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hale Storm dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Campbell throws a leg kick that is checked
and Storm counters with a body kick that stops Campbell in his tracks momentarily.
A head kick by Storm misses

and Campbell counters with a takedown into side control.
Frankie Campbell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Campbell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Storm knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Storm really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Campbell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Campbell decides to stand back up. Campbell steps back and let's Storm get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Storm throws a sloppy head kick and Campbell moves out of range easily.
Storm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Campbell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Campbell is looking to counter the offense by Storm and move into the clinch.

Campbell takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm tries to break the clinch but Campbell is controlling the position.
Campbell is trying to pull guard but Storm turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Campbell has Storm pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Storm manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Campbell tries to pull guard but Storm won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Campbell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Storm breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Campbell blocks a head kick by Storm.
Campbell drops down looking for a counter takedown but Storm sprawls and moves away.
Storm throws a head kick that half lands.
Storm moves out of range of the strikes.
Storm tries a head kick but it misses.
Storm moves in looking to clinch but Campbell pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Campbell shoots for a takedown but Storm saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Storm shapes to counter with a head kick.
Campbell stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Storm.
Storm swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.
Storm misses with a head kick.
Storm has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Campbell blocks a head kick by Storm.
Frankie Campbell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Storm throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Campbell.
Storm feints and then cracks Campbell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Campbell down.
Storm misses with a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Campbell closes the distance and clinches up with Storm, looking for a takedown. Campbell pushes Storm against the cage but Storm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm throws a head kick but Campbell moves out of range.

Storm has taken the fight to the clinch.
Campbell fails to pull guard.
Campbell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Storm has had enough of the clinch but Campbell keeps him there for the moment.
Storm prevents the takedown attempt.

Campbell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Campbell darts in trying to clinch
and Storm counters with a big head kick but Campbell shrugs it off.
Oh Campbell is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Storm throws a head kick but Campbell moves out of range.
Storm wants to clinch but Campbell slips to the side

and Campbell counters with a shoot takedown. Storm fights it but they end up in guard.
Campbell seems to have got his legs back now.

Storm uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hale Storm seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Storm throws a head kick but Campbell moves out of range.
Storm scores with a push kick.
A good leg kick by Storm.
Storm throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Storm rushes Campbell and presses him up against the cage.
Storm throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Campbell blocks it with crossed arms.
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!

Storm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Campbell.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown but Storm shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Campbell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Storm counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Campbell is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Campbell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A big head kick from Storm and Campbell is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Storm stands and steps away. Campbell gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A head kick from Storm lands but Campbell takes it in his stride.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Storm throws a head kick that misses.
A solid body kick from Storm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Storm throws a nice inside leg kick.
Storm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Campbell will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Campbell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Storm, pushing him back against the cage.
Campbell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Storm fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A head kick from Storm lands but Campbell takes it in his stride.
Storm throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Campbell scores with a takedown into Storm's guard.
Campbell throwing strikes from guard but Storm blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell throws a strike but Storm rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Campbell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Storm won't allow Campbell to sweep him here.
Storm prevents Campbell from getting back to his feet.
Storm throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell has a closed guard, preventing Storm from standing up.
Campbell is striking but Storm is not phased and passes to half guard.

Storm stands up and beckons Campbell to join him on the feet.
Campbell tries to clinch but Storm is having none of it.
Campbell blocks a head kick by Storm.

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.
Storm throws a head kick but Campbell moves out of range.
Campbell feinted with a counter takedown.
Campbell misses with a takedown
and Storm counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Storm throws a nice head kick!
Storm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Campbell went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Storm pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Storm feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Campbell's calf.
Campbell 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.
Campbell swats away the attempt to clinch by Storm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hale Storm comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Storm winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

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