PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thatcher Halverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halverson comes to the cage accompanied by Enter Sandman. White has chosen Schatten as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Halverson
vs
White

196 cm
25
200 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

186 cm
22
203 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 11 - 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Thomas White!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halverson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Halverson misses with a body shot.
Halverson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
White ducks under a wild hook from Halverson.
White doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
White leaves Halverson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A cross from Halverson lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White tries a head kick but it misses.
White slips a jab from Halverson.
Halverson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halverson.
A countering left hand to the body from White misses.
White fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
White lands a leg kick that knocks Halverson off balance momentarily.
Halverson fails with the takedown
and White counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thatcher Halverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halverson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Halverson gets a takedown into half guard.
Halverson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for White!
White really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Halverson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Halverson lands a big shot there that rocks White but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson landing shots from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Halverson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force White to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so White shrugs it off.
Halverson looking to control but White is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
White taking shots to the head.

Halverson goes for an armbar but White turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from White.

Halverson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but White can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Halverson keeping full guard, as White tries to pass.

Halverson working for a triangle but White defends it easily.
White's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Halverson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've been hearing good reports from Halverson's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

White avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
White must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Halverson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
White controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Halverson is trying to keep White in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thatcher Halverson dominated that round.
That's time! Halverson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Halverson shoots in for a takedown but White shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
White shapes to counter with a head kick.
White avoids the body shot from Halverson.
A chopping leg kick lands by White.
Halverson swings for the body but White moves out of range.
Halverson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by White.
White throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Halverson moves out of range as White throws a body kick.
White moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halverson was well out of range. Poor timing from White.
White uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Halverson.
Halverson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson misses with a looping right.
Halverson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from White.
Thomas White is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from White misses the target.
Halverson shoots in but no luck this time.
Halverson fails with the takedown
and White counters with a low kick, right behind Halverson 's knee.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thatcher Halverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halverson shoots in looking for a takedown. White tries to sprawl out of it but Halverson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. White manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Halverson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with White but White pushes him off and we're back to square one.
White swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halverson gets a takedown into half guard.
White is trying to escape back to his feet but Halverson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Halverson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Halverson working away.
Halverson is looking to take a break and control but White is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
White on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halverson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but White is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
White is trying to control Halverson's posture but Halverson avoids it.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.
White parries the strikes from Halverson easily there. Halverson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable White to escape.
Halverson cracks White with a big elbow.
Halverson wants to control but White is keeping him busy.
Halverson 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.
Halverson advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White wants to hold on but Halverson pushes him away.

White tries to improve his position but Halverson has taken his back! Halverson has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will White tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Halverson pushes White away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thatcher Halverson!
Post fight, Thatcher Halverson took to the microphone: 'I want a title fight. Show me any other fighter that has won 7 fights on the bounce. Time for the promoter to take his thumb out of his ass and book the match. There is nobody in this division that can beat me!'.