PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timur Umarov (ranked 1050 p4p, 163 weight class) and Joe Halifax (ranked 2469 p4p, 377 weight class). Umarov comes to the cage accompanied by Timur Mucuraev - Anthem. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Umarov
vs
Halifax

178 cm
26
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
170 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Juggernaut And Gladiators
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Timur Umarov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Halifax!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Umarov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Halifax misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Halifax lands a body shot.
Halifax tries for a takedown but Umarov circles away easily

and Umarov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Umarov passes Halifax's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Umarov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Halifax defends it well.
Halifax is doing well to control the position and prevent Umarov from advancing to side control.
Umarov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Halifax tries to roll over but Umarov keeps him under control.

Umarov is working for a submission of some sort.
Halifax has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Arvins Bootcamp. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halifax is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Umarov lands a nice short elbow.
Halifax is staying active underneath Umarov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Halifax manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Umarov postures up in Halifax's guard and throws a big left but Halifax blocks it.
Umarov wants to control from the top but Halifax keeps moving.
Umarov 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.
Umarov stopping the sweep attempt from Halifax.
Halifax wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Halifax looking to hit a scissor sweep but Umarov is one step ahead there.
Umarov connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umarov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Umarov lands a couple of digs.
Umarov working some strikes from top position.
Halifax 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.
Umarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Halifax is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Umarov lands a couple of digs.

Umarov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Halifax pulls Umarov in close to his closed guard and prevents Umarov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Umarov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Halifax is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Halifax can do anything to dispel that myth.
Halifax manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Umarov manages to get himself to full guard.

Halifax chips away with some ground and pound.

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

Umarov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Halifax gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Halifax postures up in Umarov's guard and throws a big left but Umarov blocks it.
Halifax landing some decent shots from guard.
Halifax works over Umarov with some ground and pound from guard.

Umarov has his foot on Halifax's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Halifax works his way back into a safe position though.
Halifax really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Umarov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Umarov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Umarov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Halifax pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Umarov is keeping the position for now.
Umarov keeping moving, preventing Halifax from controlling successfully.
Umarov is trying to keep Halifax in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halifax trying to control but Umarov is working from the bottom.
Halifax content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Umarov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Halifax throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Umarov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Halifax has his takedown stuffed

and Umarov counters with a shoot takedown. Halifax fights it but they end up in guard.
Umarov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Umarov tries to free his leg and advance position but Halifax is retaining full guard.
Halifax pulls Umarov in to control the position.
Halifax keeping moving, preventing Umarov from controlling successfully.
Halifax controls Umarov momentarily but Umarov frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umarov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Umarov is looking to work some ground and pound but Halifax has wrist control.
Halifax controls Umarov momentarily but Umarov frees himself.
Umarov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Halifax can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halifax throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Umarov escapes and throws Halifax's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Umarov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Halifax's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Halifax might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Umarov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Halifax tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Umarov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Umarov lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umarov is chipping away with strikes.
Halifax tries to buck Umarov off but Umarov is having none of it.
Timur Umarov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Halifax prevents Umarov from improving position.
Umarov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Halifax down.
Halifax struggling a bit here.
Halifax tries to improve position but can't.
Halifax manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Halifax content to control rather than advance.
Umarov wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Halifax not doing much here.

Umarov actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halifax is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Halifax winds up and cracks Umarov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Umarov is trying to control but can't.
Umarov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Eagle Wolf Combat Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Umarov wants to improve his position but Halifax is controlling well.
Umarov trying to control here.
Halifax trying to control from half guard but Umarov is working away.
Umarov gets full guard.

Umarov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halifax is aware though and is defending well.
Halifax won't allow Umarov to sweep him here.
Halifax stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Umarov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halifax trying to control but Umarov is working from the bottom.
Halifax missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Umarov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Halifax forces his way into half guard.
Umarov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Halifax scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halifax is looking to take a break and control but Umarov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Umarov is pressing down on Halifax's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Umarov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Umarov throws a body shot but no joy.
And Halifax tries to counter it with a takedown but Umarov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Halifax comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Halifax gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Umarov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Umarov postures up.
Umarov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Umarov is pushing down on Halifax's leg trying to pass to half guard. Halifax is fighting to maintain full guard but Umarov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Umarov lands strikes from half guard.
Halifax gets full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Umarov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halifax controls Umarov momentarily but Umarov frees himself.
Umarov working some strikes from top position.
Halifax keeping full guard, as Umarov tries to pass.
Halifax striking from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halifax pulls Umarov in to control the position.
Umarov postures up in Halifax's guard and throws a big left but Halifax blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Halifax is on top in guard.

Halifax trying to control but Umarov is working from the bottom.

Umarov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halifax is aware though and is defending well.
Umarov wants to sweep here but Halifax controlling him for the moment.

Umarov is looking to cinch up a triangle. Halifax throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Umarov's body to avoid the submission. Umarov has instead reached around Halifax's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Umarov arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Timur Umarov!
Timur Umarov retains his welterweight title!