PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thatcher Halverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Kalashnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halverson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Enter Sandman. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Halverson
vs
Kalashnikov

196 cm
26
200 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

187 cm
26
200 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikhail Kalashnikov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalashnikov has a takedown stuffed.
Kalashnikov shoots in for a takedown but Halverson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kalashnikov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Halverson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kalashnikov somewhat.
Thatcher Halverson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Kalashnikov.
Nice takedown defense from Halverson. No joy for Kalashnikov on that attempt.
Halverson is looking to counter punch.
Halverson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kalashnikov throws out the jab.
Halverson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kalashnikov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kalashnikov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalashnikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halverson is keeping the position for now.
Halverson 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.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalashnikov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Halverson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kalashnikov postures up and lands a big shot to Halverson's brow.
Kalashnikov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kalashnikov stays in close to Halverson's body and controls the position.
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.
Kalashnikov stopping the sweep attempt from Halverson.
Kalashnikov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kalashnikov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kalashnikov trying to control but Halverson is working from the bottom.
Kalashnikov preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kalashnikov cracks Halverson with a solid left hand.
Kalashnikov throwing strikes but missing.
Kalashnikov postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kalashnikov landing with the ground and pound.
Kalashnikov sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kalashnikov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kalashnikov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kalashnikov postures up and lands a big shot to Halverson's brow.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Halverson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kalashnikov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalashnikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kalashnikov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Halverson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Halverson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kalashnikov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Halverson advances position into side control!

Halverson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kalashnikov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kalashnikov regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kalashnikov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Halverson works his way into full mount!
Kalashnikov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Halverson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kalashnikov looks a forlorn figure.
Halverson with the ground and pound from mount.
Halverson tries to control but Kalashnikov wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kalashnikov tries to hold on but Halverson pushes him away.
Halverson lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thatcher Halverson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kalashnikov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Halverson momentarily.
Kalashnikov shoots in and drives through. Halverson sprawls well.

Halverson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kalashnikov wants to control the position but Halverson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kalashnikov moves into full guard.
Thatcher Halverson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kalashnikov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Halverson defends it easily.
Kalashnikov 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kalashnikov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Halverson content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Kalashnikov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Halverson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Halverson pushing down on Kalashnikov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kalashnikov is doing well to control the position and prevent Halverson from advancing to side control.
Halverson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Still in half guard, Halverson seems content to control.
Halverson working Kalashnikov over with strikes.
Kalashnikov manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kalashnikov is looking for a triangle but Halverson pushes his legs off easily.
Halverson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kalashnikov's head.
Halverson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kalashnikov keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.
Kalashnikov controls Halverson momentarily but Halverson frees himself.
Halverson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Kalashnikov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson trying to control but Kalashnikov is working from the bottom.

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

Kalashnikov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Halverson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kalashnikov's guard.
Kalashnikov is trying to control but can't.
Halverson trying to control from half guard but Kalashnikov is working away.
Kalashnikov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kalashnikov keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.

Kalashnikov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalashnikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Halverson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thatcher Halverson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Halverson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Kalashnikov tries to sprawl but Halverson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kalashnikov is trying to maintain the position but Halverson is very close to passing his half guard.
Halverson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kalashnikov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kalashnikov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kalashnikov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Halverson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kalashnikov is in a horrible position here. Halverson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson working the ground and pound effectively.
Kalashnikov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Halverson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kalashnikov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
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.
Kalashnikov is squirming around, avoiding Halverson's attempts to control the action.
Halverson prevents Kalashnikov from getting the reversal.
Halverson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Halverson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kalashnikov's face.
Halverson lands a heavy elbow.
Halverson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kalashnikov can do to turn this around?
Halverson cracks Kalashnikov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson unloading with bombs!

Kalashnikov is rocked!
Kalashnikov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halverson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Halverson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kalashnikov is still in real trouble! Can Halverson finish him?
Halverson landing strikes from the mount.
Halverson loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Kalashnikov scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Halverson land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Halverson stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thatcher Halverson!