PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thatcher Halverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halverson comes into the arena with Enter Sandman blaring out of the sound system. Ward has chosen Spazz - Crush Kill Destroy as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Halverson
vs
Ward

196 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

180 cm
20
193 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Ward!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Halverson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Halverson slips a nice elbow through Ward's hands, connecting with Ward's forehead.
Halverson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Halverson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Halverson is pressing down on Ward's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ward is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward is refusing to be controlled, as Halverson sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ward is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Halverson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Halverson not doing much here.
Halverson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Still in half guard, Halverson seems content to control.
Halverson wants to free his trapped foot but Ward is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Well, if Halverson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two 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.
Halverson trying to control from half guard but Ward is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ward takes one to the side of the head.
Ward closes the distance and clinches up with Halverson, looking for a takedown. Ward pushes Halverson against the cage but Halverson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Halverson gets the takedown into side control.
An elbow from Halverson crashes against the mat.
Ward is being controlled here.
Ward tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Halverson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ward is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ward and Halverson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is not content to let Halverson control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halverson scoring with punches and elbows.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ward keeps working.

Halverson tries for a kimura but Ward is defending well.
Halverson laying and praying for a moment but Ward takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Halverson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ward avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Halverson.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Halverson connects with a nice short shot to Ward's temple.
Ward won't allow Halverson to pass to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Halverson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Halverson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Halverson throwing shots but Ward is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thatcher Halverson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ward shoots in but no luck this time.
Ward shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ward takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ward takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ward with a poor takedown
and Halverson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ward thinking.
Thatcher Halverson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Ward.
Halverson leaves Ward with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ward shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Halverson as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward walks into a left hand.
Halverson tests Ward's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Halverson counters with a straight right hand.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Ward shoots in but no luck this time.

Halverson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Halverson prevents Ward from standing back up.

Halverson is trying to work for a kimura but Ward is defending well.
Halverson trying to mount his opponent but Ward defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson is trying to control the action in half guard but Ward is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Halverson working over Ward with some ground and pound. Ward looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ward is trying to stand.
Halverson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ward's head.
Halverson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ward with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Halverson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ward defending well though.
Halverson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thatcher Halverson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Halverson has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Ward defend it? Halverson steps over the head and cranks it - Ward is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Halverson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thatcher Halverson!
An intense looking Thatcher Halverson took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'I shall rise to the top again! Thanks to all my teammates for the training! Also thanks Jackson for taking the fight. To all my faithful fans, thanks for sticking in there with me!'.