PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thatcher Halverson (ranked 1290 p4p, 165 weight class) and Mike Lambert (ranked 2393 p4p, 290 weight class). Halverson's entrance music is Enter Sandman. A fine choice. Lambert is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Aaron Lewis - Country Boy. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Halverson
vs
Lambert

196 cm
28
200 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

187 cm
29
203 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mike Lambert!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lambert fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Halverson moves out of range of the leg kick from Lambert.
Lambert defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Halverson.
Halverson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lambert counters with a two punch combo.

Lambert gets caught napping as Halverson dives in and scores a takedown. Lambert manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lambert wants to stand but Halverson is controlling the position.
Lambert keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lambert pushes Halverson off and gets back to his feet.
Halverson lands a really nice looking cross but Lambert seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lambert.
Lambert has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Halverson just misses with a punch to the body.
Lambert lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Halverson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lambert manages to avoid it.
Lambert tries to bum rush Halverson with a series of wild strikes but Halverson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It looked like Halverson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lambert.
Lambert rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Halverson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lambert tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lambert scores with a three punch combo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert misses with a few strikes there.
Halverson throws a big shot that misses.
Lambert unleashes a big counter combination but Halverson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lambert throws a nice looking combination but Halverson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Halverson throws a quick counter head kick but Lambert was just out of range.
Halverson fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thatcher Halverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lambert.
Lambert throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Halverson.
A counter left hand to the body from Halverson misses its target.
Halverson lands with a good body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lambert throws a series of strikes that have Halverson backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halverson clinches.
Halverson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lambert avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Halverson tries to pull guard but Lambert forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lambert with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Halverson fails to pull guard.
Lambert lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Halverson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lambert throws a knee to the head but misses.
Halverson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lambert landing knees to the body.
Halverson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lambert lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lambert tries to land a knee to the head but Halverson blocks with his arms.
Lambert with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Halverson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambert lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lambert comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Halverson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lambert landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lambert with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lambert trying to land knees to the body.
Halverson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lambert's elbow.
Lambert misses with an elbow strike.
Halverson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Halverson successfully pulls guard.
Halverson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lambert manages to get himself to full guard.

Halverson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lambert wants to stand but Halverson is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Lambert dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Halverson shoots in and gets a takedown into Lambert's guard.
Halverson controlling from the top position.

Lambert pushes Halverson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Halverson fails to land the takedown.
Lambert let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson takes a swing at Lambert's ribcage but misses.
Halverson is looking to wear down Lambert with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Halverson shoots in looking for a takedown but Lambert manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halverson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson throws a body shot but no joy.
Lambert will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Halverson goes for a double leg but Lambert avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lambert continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thatcher Halverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lambert throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Halverson misses with a body shot.
Mike Lambert is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A combination from Lambert does no damage.
Halverson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lambert swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson throws a body punch but Lambert moves out of range.
Mike Lambert seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lambert misses with a double jab.
Lambert tried to score with a low kick but Halverson checks it.
Lambert misses with a series of wild punches.
Halverson misses with a body shot.
Halverson scores with a body shot.
Lambert fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Halverson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lambert.
Halverson misses with a wild body shot.
Lambert follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert swinging wildly here.
Halverson throws a head kick that misses.
Lambert uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halverson.
Lambert motions for Halverson to come forward. Lambert throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Halverson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lambert sprawls and moves away.
Lambert wants to slow Halverson down by chopping away at his legs.
It appears Halverson was looking to counter with a kick there.
Lambert looks to land a body kick but Halverson moved away.
Halverson swings for the body but Lambert moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Halverson moves out of range of the body kick.
Lambert lands with a nice combination. Halverson backs away looking to recover.
Lambert has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Halverson takes one on the button.
Halverson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lambert.
Halverson catches Lambert with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halverson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lambert was well out of range. Poor timing from Halverson.
Lambert cracks Halverson with a good jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Lambert showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Halverson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lambert swivels and escapes.
Halverson misses with a wild body shot.
Halverson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lambert counters with a three punch combo that has Halverson backing up. Halverson nods at Lambert to acknowledge the strikes.
Lambert avoids the head kick by Halverson.
Lambert lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Halverson shoots in looking for a takedown but Lambert manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halverson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Despite the aggression on Lambert's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Lambert throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Halverson swings for the body but Lambert moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson scores with a shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Lambert. Those never looked like landing.
Lambert takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mike Lambert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lambert scores with a three punch combo!
Good leg kick by Lambert there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Halverson moves in looking to clinch but Lambert pushes him off.
Halverson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lambert circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thatcher Halverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halverson shoots in and gets a takedown into Lambert's guard.
Halverson looking to pass the guard.
Halverson passes into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lambert wants to get back to his feet.

Lambert is defending against the submission attempts here by Halverson.
Halverson wants to pass the guard but Lambert is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson working the head and body with strikes.
Lambert is looking to escape.
Halverson trying to mount his opponent but Lambert defends it.
Lambert wants to get back to his feet.
Halverson is stalling here. Lambert is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Halverson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Lambert has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
A lull in the action here.
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.
Halverson is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson regains half guard.
Halverson is trying to get back to full guard.
Halverson is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lambert looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lambert is trying to control. Halverson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Halverson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Halverson won't allow Lambert to pass to mount.
Thatcher Halverson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Halverson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lambert pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Lambert comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lambert winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Lambert!
A very excited looking Mike Lambert made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Thatcher Halverson was interviewed post fight and said 'I shall rise to the top again! Thanks to the promoter for making the fight and opportunity. Also thanks to my opponent for stepping up and taking the fight.'.