PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Bartholomew Roberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xiomar Halo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Roberts
vs
Halo

194 cm
33
291 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

205 cm
41
270 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Heavy handed

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartholomew Roberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xiomar Halo!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roberts clinches up against the ropes.
Halo blocks an elbow strike.
Roberts lands with a right to the head.
Roberts takes a knee right on the jaw!
Roberts lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Xiomar Halo has been cut.
Halo cracks Roberts with a nice body shot.
Halo misses with a knee strike.
Roberts trying to land knees to the body.
Roberts looking to throw knees to the head but Halo is blocking nicely.
Halo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Halo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Halo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roberts's elbow.
Roberts lands a right hand that snaps the head of Halo backwards.
Halo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Halo blocks a body shot from Roberts.
Roberts lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Roberts is defending well for now.
A short right from Halo.
Halo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts lands with a light punch inside.
Halo is working Roberts over against the ropes.
Halo has Roberts pressed against the ropes.
Halo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Roberts looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Roberts scores with a nice hook to the head.
Roberts wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Halo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Halo connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Bartholomew Roberts has been cut.
Halo misses with a punch to the body.
Roberts working Halo over with knees to the body.
Halo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Halo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Roberts breaks from the clinch.
Roberts avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Roberts throws a quick counter kick to the body but Halo avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts just misses with a punch to the body.
Roberts tries to clinch up.
Halo blocks a head kick by Roberts.
Roberts swings for the body but Halo moves out of range.
Roberts tries to clinch but Halo moves away
and Halo counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halo throws a right hand that misses
and Roberts counters with a left and a right that stings Halo.
Halo looks to score with a jab to the body but Roberts is just out of range.
Halo walks into a straight right hand from Roberts.
Bartholomew Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Roberts slips a jab from Halo.
Roberts tries to clinch there but Halo circles away.
Roberts throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Roberts scores with a head kick. Halo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Roberts just misses with a punch to the body.
As Roberts backs off Halo throws a huge counter combo but Roberts manages to avoid it all.
Roberts lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Halo circles away quickly and effectively.
Halo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Roberts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Halo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Roberts misses with a head kick.
Roberts throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Halo throws a hook but Roberts avoids it easily.
Roberts fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Roberts throws a body kick that misses.
Despite the aggression on Halo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Roberts misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halo.
A decent looking cross lands there for Halo.
Roberts moves away from the strike by Halo.
Roberts ducks under a wild hook from Halo.
Halo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Halo scores with a leg kick.
Roberts is looking to wear down Halo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Halo misses with a hook. Roberts ducked under it nicely.
A head kick from Roberts lands but Halo takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halo looks to land a right hand but Roberts moved out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roberts throws a push kick but Halo slaps the foot to one side.
Halo blocks a head kick by Roberts.
Halo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Roberts tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Roberts.
Roberts pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Roberts slips a jab from Halo.
Roberts misses with a body shot.
Halo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Halo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halo stuns Roberts with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halo misses with a straight left.
It looked like Roberts was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Roberts cracks the inside of Halo's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartholomew Roberts dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Roberts avoids the body shot from Halo.
Halo throws a hook but Roberts blocks it.
Bartholomew Roberts is winning the standup battle so far.
Halo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roberts.
Roberts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halo tries to land a leg kick but Roberts saw it coming and moves away.
Roberts throws a head kick that misses.
Halo connects with a looping right hand.
Roberts slips a jab from Halo.
That kick from Roberts tenderised Halo's leg. Halo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Halo throws an overhand right that lands on Roberts's shoulder, as Roberts tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Halo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Roberts. Roberts obviously looking to wear him down.
Bartholomew Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Halo avoids the head kick by Roberts.
Roberts takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts throws a body punch but Halo moves out of range.
Roberts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halo.
Roberts throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roberts throws a low kick but Halo moves out of range easily.
Halo moves out of range as Roberts throws a body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Halo. That's going to slow Roberts down.
Roberts moves out of range of the leg kick from Halo.
Halo cracks Roberts with an open hand slap.
Halo throws the left hand but Roberts avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Halo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Roberts blocks a leg kick.
Roberts scores with a crisp jab that stopped Halo in his tracks.
Roberts fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Halo connects with a looping right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roberts. Halo does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberts gets tackled into the ropes by Halo. Halo maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halo throws a punch but it's blocked by Roberts.
Halo tries to land knees in the clinch but Roberts avoids the damage to the body.
Halo can't find room to land a body shot as Roberts controls the action.
Halo misses with a knee strike.
Roberts misses with a hook to the ribs.
Halo lands a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halo.
Roberts lands an elbow inside that Halo shrugs off.
Roberts wants to get back to striking at distance but Halo won't allow it.
Halo lands with a light punch inside.
Halo blocks a body shot from Roberts.
Roberts lands an elbow inside.
Roberts takes a knee right on the jaw!
Roberts lands a right hand that snaps the head of Halo backwards.
Halo swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Halo is breathing heavily.
Halo takes an elbow to the temple.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Roberts.
Xiomar Halo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Roberts creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Halo's defenses.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roberts tests Halo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Roberts digs a good body shot into Halo's ribs.
Roberts fails with an attempt to clinch.
Halo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Halo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Robertss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Halo lands with an uppercut that bounces Roberts off the ropes and back into range.
Roberts closes the distance but Halo moves to the side
and Halo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice jab there from Halo.
Halo lands a glancing blow to the side of Roberts's head.
Roberts slips a jab from Halo.
Roberts throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Halo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Halo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Roberts has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Roberts and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Roberts takes a swing at Halo's ribcage but misses.
Halo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Roberts throws a nice inside leg kick.
Roberts swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Halo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Roberts swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Halo managing to block the knees to the body from Roberts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiomar Halo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Roberts fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Halo manages to avoid it.
Halo cracks Roberts with a right hand to the side of the head.
Roberts swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Roberts throws the kick towards the body but Halo avoids it.
Halo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Roberts clinches up with Halo and pushes him back against the ropes.
Roberts misses with the head strike.

Roberts breaks the clinch.
Roberts checks a low kick from Halo.
Halo throws a leg kick
and Roberts counters with a series of strikes. Halo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Roberts throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roberts tries to clinch up but Halo circles away and keeps his distance.
Roberts pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Halo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roberts fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roberts scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roberts moves away from the strike by Halo.
Halo misses with a looping left.
It looked like Roberts wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Roberts's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roberts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Halo looks to land a right hand but Roberts moved out of range.
Roberts needs to keep his hands up - Halo had a free shot at his head there.
Halo works the jab nicely.
Halo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Roberts is looking to slow Halo down with leg kicks.
Halo slips a jab and a cross from Roberts.
Roberts throws a head kick that misses.
Nice cross by Roberts.
Halo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Halo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Roberts was well out of range. Poor timing from Halo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo tries to land a front kick but Roberts steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Roberts dodges the punch combination from Halo.
Halo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roberts throws a shot to the body.
Halo throws an overhand right that lands on Roberts's shoulder, as Roberts tries to avoid the shot.
Halo lands a jab to Roberts's midsection.
Roberts tries to clinch up.
Halo swings for the body but Roberts moves out of range.
Roberts throws a head kick that misses.
Halo misses with a straight left.
A punch lands to the side of Roberts 's head but he takes it in his stride.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Halo misses with a body shot.
Roberts appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Roberts throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Halo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Halo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Roberts misses with a wild combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for Roberts.
Roberts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halo.
Halo looks to throw the jab but Roberts is out of range.
Halo cracks Roberts with an open hand slap.
Good leg kick by Halo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Roberts lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts blocks a jab.
Roberts ducks under a wild hook from Halo.
Roberts tries to clinch up.
Halo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Halo swinging wildly here.
Roberts throws a head kick but Halo moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roberts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halo.
Roberts looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A swing and a miss from Halo.
Roberts throws a big counter combination but Halo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Roberts darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Halo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Halo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Roberts.

Roberts clinches.

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 Bartholomew Roberts.
I think Roberts 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Bartholomew Roberts!
A very excited looking Bartholomew Roberts rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.