PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hone Huia (ranked 1364 p4p, 183 weight class) and Thatcher Halverson (ranked 1333 p4p, 175 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Huia might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Poi E - Patea Maori Club. Halverson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Enter Sandman. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Huia
vs
Halverson

190 cm
40
202 lbs
24 - 21 - 0

196 cm
29
200 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 24 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hone Huia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Huia scores with a jab. Halverson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fighters circling - Huia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Huia misses its intended target.
Huia connects with a body shot.
Halverson staying out of range there.
A combination from Huia does no damage.
Huia misses with a series of wild punches.
Huia jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Huia loads up on a big right hand but Halverson slips the punch.
Huia swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Halverson.
Halverson throws a body shot but no joy.
Huia swings away with a body shot that misses
and Halverson counters with a stiff right hand.
Halverson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Huia.

Halverson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Halverson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huia on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Huia taking a bit of punishment here - Halverson scoring with strikes.
Huia is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Halverson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Halverson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Huia is looking for a sweep. Halverson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Huia is working hard here to advance position.
Halverson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Halverson working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Huia is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huia is trying to control but can't.
Huia tries to roll over but Halverson keeps him under control.
Halverson wants to take a breather but Huia is having none of it.
Halverson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Huia tries to get to full guard but Halverson has control of the leg.
Huia moves into full guard.
Huia is trying to keep Halverson in close.
Halverson is in close to Huia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Huia working a defensive guard here.
Huia working a defensive guard but Halverson passes into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Huia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson wants to pass the guard but Huia is keeping the position.
Halverson keeps trying to improve his position.
Halverson scoring with some ground and pound.
Halverson tries to free his leg and advance position but Huia is retaining full guard.
Huia 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Huia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Huia wants to sweep but no luck.
Huia is trying to control the position but Halverson postures up.

Huia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Huia keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.
Huia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Huia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Halverson defends well.

Huia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Halverson advances position into side control!
Halverson lands a nice forearm strike.
Huia is looking to reverse the position.
Halverson is looking to take a break and control but Huia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Halverson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Huia some visible discomfort.
Halverson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thatcher Halverson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Huia throws a nice looking combination but Halverson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Halverson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Huia misses with an uppercut. Halverson saw that one coming.
Nice takedown defense from Huia. No joy for Halverson on that attempt.
Huia misses with a hook to the body

and Halverson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Huia won't be happy with that.
Huia is trying to get back to half guard.
Halverson tries to move to mount but Huia blocks the move with his legs.
Huia tries to bench press Halverson off him but Halverson keeps the position.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Huia keeps working.
Huia gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Halverson trying to control but Huia is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Halverson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Halverson with shots to the head and body - Huia looks very uncomfortable down there.
Halverson controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halverson landing strikes from the mount.
Huia is looking to get to half guard.
Huia slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Huia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Huia keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.
Halverson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Huia is keeping the position for now.
Huia controls Halverson momentarily but Halverson frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson preventing the sweep.
Huia keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.
Huia controls Halverson momentarily but Halverson frees himself.

Huia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halverson is aware though and is defending well.
Huia trying to keep a closed guard but Halverson is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Huia working for a triangle but Halverson defends it easily.
Halverson stands and throws Huia's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huia is looking to reverse the position.
Halverson slows the pace down.
Huia is not content to let Halverson control the position.
Thatcher Halverson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Halverson controlling the position from side mount.
Huia is trying to get back to half guard.
Huia is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Jitsu Jim, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Huia manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Huia is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Halverson!
Huia prevents Halverson from getting the reversal.

Huia is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Halverson is surviving well by controlling Huia's body position as best he can.
Halverson is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Huia jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Halverson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Halverson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Halverson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Huia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Halverson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Huia wants to pass to mount but Halverson is defending the position.
Halverson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Halverson.
Huia won't allow Halverson to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thatcher Halverson 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!

Huia throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Halverson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Huia throws a looping overhand right but Halverson ducks down to avoid it.
Halverson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Halverson dodges the punch combination from Huia.
Halverson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sloppy strikes from Huia. Those never looked like landing.
Huia looks to land a right hand but Halverson moved out of range.
Huia misses with an uppercut. Halverson saw that one coming.
Huia lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Huia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halverson was well out of range. Poor timing from Huia.
Halverson slips a straight right by Huia.
Halverson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Halverson with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Halverson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Huia!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson working the head and body with strikes.
Huia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Halverson trying to control the position but Huia is working away.
Huia prevents Halverson from moving into mount.
Huia tries to bench press Halverson off him but Halverson keeps the position.
Huia on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Huia takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Huia keeps working.
Halverson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Halverson wants to control but Huia is keeping him busy.
Hone Huia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Halverson trying to control the action but Huia is working from the bottom.
Huia regains half guard.
Halverson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Huia tries to roll over but Halverson keeps him under control.
Halverson trying to control from half guard but Huia is working away.
Halverson trying to pass the guard but Huia defending well.
Halverson wants to control but Huia is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huia trying to hold on to Halverson's head to control him but Halverson postures up.
Huia is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Huia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Halverson working over Huia with some ground and pound. Huia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Halverson moves into full mount! Huia won't be happy about that!
Halverson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Huia?
Huia is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halverson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson lands with some strikes.
Huia is trying to escape the mount.
Halverson with shots to the head and body - Huia looks very uncomfortable down there.

Huia is rocked!
Halverson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Halverson cracks Huia with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Oh Huia is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Huia is looking to improve his position but Halverson isn't that keen on the idea.
Halverson looking to control but Huia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Huia is in a horrible position here. Halverson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
A big strike lands for Halverson! That's really hurt Huia and he's turned his back - Halverson keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Halverson jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thatcher Halverson!
Post fight, Thatcher Halverson took to the microphone: 'I'M THE BEST. The greatest fighter on the planet.'.