PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Halo (ranked 1615 p4p, 231 weight class) and Wiremu Huia (ranked 1482 p4p, 203 weight class). Huia has chosen Poi E - Patea Maori Club as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Halo
vs
Huia

187 cm
34
180 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

180 cm
26
175 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthur Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Wiremu Huia!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Huia throws out the jab.
Huia throws a head kick that misses

and Halo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Huia won't be happy with that.
Huia is holding Halo down, trying to stall.
Halo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Halo cracks Huia with a big elbow.

Halo tries for a kimura but Huia is defending well.
Huia tries to bench press Halo off him but Halo keeps the position.
Halo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Huia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Huia takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Halo landing a few strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halo grinds an elbow into Huia's temple.

Halo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Huia struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Halo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Huia, who protects the arm well.
Huia is looking to reverse the position.
Halo scoring with punches and elbows.
Halo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Halo working away.

Halo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Huia has escaped the position, nice work there.

Halo goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Huia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Halo's guard! Nice work there by Huia!
Huia trying to control but Halo is working from the bottom.
Huia might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Halo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo 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.
Huia advances to half guard.

Huia is working for a submission of some sort.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Huia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Huia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Halo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Huia wants to control but Halo is keeping him busy.
Huia moves into full mount! Halo won't be happy about that!
Huia trying to control but Halo is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huia controlling from the full mount.
Huia trying to control but Halo is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halo gets back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Huia is trying to control. Halo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Huia prevents Halo from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Halo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A head kick misses from Huia.
Halo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A lazy left from Huia finds it's target.
The fighters circling - Huia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Huia throws a body kick that misses.
A head kick by Huia misses

and Halo counters with a single leg into guard. Huia didn't expect that.
Halo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Huia's head.
Halo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Halo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halo slips nicely into half guard.
Huia wants to control but Halo is keeping busy.

Halo looking for a submission but Huia manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Huia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Huia trying to control but Halo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Halo tries to improve position but can't.
Halo looks to move to half guard but instead Huia has passed into mount! Damn!
Huia prevents Halo from getting the reversal.
Huia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Halo is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huia controlling his opponent.
Halo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Huia can do to turn this around?
Halo is desperately trying to improve his position but Huia has a good base and remains in mount.
Huia looking to control but Halo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Halo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Huia looking to control but Halo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Huia.
Huia wants to control the pace but Halo is squirming around nicely.
Halo has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Huia's lack of action.
Halo wants to get back to full guard.
Huia trying to control the action but Halo is working from the bottom.

Huia is trying to work for a kimura but Halo is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Halo actively working from the bottom here.
Halo is looking for a sweep. Huia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Huia is stalling here. Halo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Huia seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Halo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Halo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Huia is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Arthur Halo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Huia thows a left - swing and a miss!
Halo dodges the punch combination from Huia.
Halo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Huia. Huia obviously looking to wear him down.

Halo 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.
Halo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Huia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Huia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Halo defends well.
Huia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Huia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Halo is looking for a kimura but Huia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Halo to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia won't allow Halo to pass to mount.

Halo is working for a kimura but Huia is defending it quite comfortably.
Huia trying to hold on to Halo's head to control him but Halo postures up.
Huia gets back to full guard.
Halo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Huia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Halo cracks Huia with a solid left hand.
Halo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Huia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Huia has momentary wrist control but Halo slips an elbow through the middle.
Halo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Huia is keeping the position for now.
Huia looking for a sweep. Not yet Huia, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huia working a defensive guard here.
Halo working some strikes from top position.
Halo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Huia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Halo manages to get himself to full guard.

Huia wants to control from the top but Halo keeps moving.
Halo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Halo keeping moving, preventing Huia from controlling successfully.

Halo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo wants to sweep here but Huia controlling him for the moment.
Huia slips nicely into half guard.
Huia trying to control the action but Halo is working from the bottom.
Wiremu Huia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Huia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Halo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Huia.
Halo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.

Huia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Halo is just riding it out for now. Huia eventually gives up the hold.
Huia not doing much here.
Arthur Halo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Halo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Halo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Halo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Halo!
Arthur Halo spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.