PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wonderful Dragon (ranked 4657 p4p, 533 weight class) and Rodney Halford (ranked 6924 p4p, 612 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Dragon
vs
Halford

194 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wonderful Dragon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rodney Halford!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dragon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Halford napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Halford wants to get back to his feet but Dragon is dominant here and he's now got Halford's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halford tries to roll but Dragon sticks to his back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Dragon controlling the positon.
Dragon is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Halford up.
Dragon lands a shot to the head.
Dragon landing with strikes.
Halford looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dragon scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Halford is looking for a way out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What can Halford do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Dragon is working the ground and pound. Can Halford escape?
Dragon lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Halford.
Dragon is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Dragon really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Halford.
Dragon scores with punches from the back.
Dragon controlling from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragon lands a shot to the head.
Dragon has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Halford's body.
Dragon's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Dragon is punishing Halford with strikes - can he finish him?!
Dragon keeps control of the position easily here as Halford tries to buck him off.
Dragon lands strikes to the head.
Dragon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halford is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Dragon.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dragon is punishing Halford with strikes - can he finish him?!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Halford grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Dragon cracks Halford with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Halford from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Dragon controlling the positon.
Dragon seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Halford for as long as he can get away with.
Dragon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Dragon 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.
Dragon scores with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragon is riding his opponent, not letting Halford buck him off.
The referee is taking a good look at Halford as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Dragon!
I would not like to be Halford right now.
Halford covers up after that shot from Dragon.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Dragon controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wonderful Dragon 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.

Halford connects with an inside leg kick.
Halford throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Halford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dragon.
And Halford responds with a good body kick, but Dragon manages to step out the way in time.
Halford throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Dragon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Halford looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dragon successfully pulls guard.
Dragon has control of Halford's left arm, preventing Halford from doing any damage.
Dragon continues to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragon striking off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Halford wants to control from the top but Dragon keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No joy there for Halford, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dragon throwing a counter right hand but Halford manages to avoid it.
Dragon takes one to the chin there.
Halford lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Dragon backs up against the cage.
Halford throws a body shot but no joy.
Halford looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Halford lands a jab.
Halford looks to land a combination but Dragon avoids it well.
Dragon shoots and misses
and Halford counters with a right hand to the body.
Halford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A counter left hand to the body from Dragon misses its target.
Halford lands with a nice body punch.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Halford.
Rodney Halford seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halford throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dragon takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Halford digs a good body shot into Dragon's ribs.
Rodney Halford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Halford thows a body kick. Dragon tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Dragon clinches up against the cage.
Halford is trying to maintain a safe position but Dragon gets an underhook and turns Halford into the cage.
Dragon tries to pull guard but Halford holds him up against the cage and eventually Dragon drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wonderful Dragon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dragon jumps guard but Halford stands there with Dragon around his waist. Dragon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Halford wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dragon has him pressed against the cage.
Halford tries to stall but Dragon uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dragon throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Halford blocks it with crossed arms.
Dragon jumps guard but Halford turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dragon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Halford gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dragon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Halford to keep the fight standing.
Halford wants to break the clinch but can't.
Halford looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dragon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Halford to keep the fight standing.
Dragon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Halford walks away with a smile on his face. Dragon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dragon takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dragon takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Dragon will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Halford tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Halford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Dragon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Halford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck for Dragon with that takedown attempt.
Halford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dragon takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Dragon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Dragon takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Halford connects with a leg kick. Dragon looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dragon takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Dragon doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halford changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Dragon closes the distance looking to clinch
and Halford counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halford lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Halford.
Dragon on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Halford scores with a jab to the body.
Halford throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Dragon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Halford but Halford pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wonderful Dragon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dragon takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Dragon walks forward, straight into a front kick from Halford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halford lands with a nice combination. Dragon backs away looking to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halford lands with a shot to the body.
Halford lands a jab to the nose.
Dragon with a lazy takedown attempt
and Halford counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Halford lands with a nice body kick.
Halford lands with a nice body punch.
Halford lands with a kick to the ribs.
Halford is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dragon rather than just go for the knockout.
Dragon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Halford changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Halford connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Halford - that will leave a mark!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halford lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Halford fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dragon looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wonderful Dragon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halford connects with a body shot.
Halford lands with a good body shot.
Rodney Halford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halford punishes Dragon's body with a nice straight punch.
Rodney Halford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Halford thows a body kick. Dragon tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Halford works Dragon's body with a nice hook.
Halford keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dragon is defended easily by Halford.
Halford thinks about the counter body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halford thows a body kick. Dragon tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Halford lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Halford ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dragon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Halford throws a front kick that sends Dragon stumbling back into the cage.
Halford lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Halford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Halford has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Rodney Halford!
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight for Rodney Halford!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Rodney Halford!

Rodney Halford wins by unanimous decision!