PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shock Linewood (ranked 20605 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thatcher Halverson (ranked 2490 p4p, 0 weight class). Halverson has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Thatcher Halverson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Linewood
vs
Halverson

185 cm
25
201 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

196 cm
32
200 lbs
20 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Shock Linewood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linewood throws out a loose jab but Halverson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Halverson feints the counter takedown.
Linewood throws a leg kick but Halverson sees it coming and moves out of range.
A nice side step and Halverson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Linewood throws a quick inside leg kick.
Linewood misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halverson.
Linewood keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Halverson.
Linewood is looking to clinch.
Linewood connects with a solid leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Linewood. That's going to slow Halverson down.

Linewood moves into range and clinches up with Halverson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson tries to pull guard but Linewood forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Halverson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Linewood just stands there and leans against the cage.
Linewood scores with a hook to the body.
Halverson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shock Linewood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thatcher Halverson.
Linewood lands a nice uppercut.
Linewood pushes Halverson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linewood lands with a left to the head.
Linewood tries to work over Halverson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Linewood tries to pull guard but Halverson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Halverson is trying to pull guard but Linewood turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Linewood lands with a right to the head.
Linewood lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Linewood gets control of Halverson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Linewood will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Halverson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Halverson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Halverson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linewood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Halverson keeps trying to improve his position.
Halverson preventing the sweep.
Halverson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Linewood's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halverson wants to control from the top but Linewood keeps moving.
Halverson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linewood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Halverson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Halverson trying to control but Linewood is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Linewood has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Halverson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Halverson trying to control but Linewood is working from the bottom.
Halverson cracks Linewood with a solid left hand.

Linewood throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Halverson escapes and throws Linewood's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Halverson moves into full mount!
Halverson with a couple of short strikes.
Linewood is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Jed's Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Linewood might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Linewood really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson trying to control but Linewood is having none of it.
Linewood is bucking up trying to escape but Halverson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halverson wants to control the pace but Linewood is squirming around nicely.
Halverson controlling from mount.
Halverson trying to control but Linewood is having none of it.
Linewood keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halverson controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shock Linewood dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Halverson punishes Linewood's body with a nice straight punch.
Halverson moves out of range as Linewood strikes.
Halverson ducks under a wild hook from Linewood.
Halverson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Linewood works the jab nicely.
Linewood throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Halverson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Linewood thuds his right hand into Halverson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Linewood throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Linewood fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Halverson is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Linewood.
A little feinted left hand from Linewood on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Linewood misses with a leg kick
and Halverson counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from Halverson. No joy for Linewood on that attempt.
Shock Linewood is winning the standup battle so far.

Linewood closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linewood lands with a short shot to the head.

Linewood breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Linewood gets a clinch.
Linewood tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Halverson tries to circle away but Linewood has him pinned against the cage.
Halverson fails to pull guard.
Linewood is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Halverson can do to turn this around?
Linewood working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Linewood leaning against his opponent.
Halverson has a couple of punches blocked by Linewood.

Linewood drags the fight down to the ground.
Halverson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Halverson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Halverson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linewood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Halverson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linewood looking to hit a scissor sweep but Halverson is one step ahead there.
Thatcher Halverson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Halverson wants to control from the top but Linewood keeps moving.
Halverson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linewood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Linewood looking for a sweep. Not yet Linewood, not yet.
Halverson forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson drops an elbow to the side of Linewood's head.
Halverson is trying to control the action in half guard but Linewood is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Linewood won't allow Halverson to pass to mount.
Linewood gets full guard.

Linewood looking for a guillotine here but Halverson defends easily.
Linewood wants to sweep here but Halverson controlling him for the moment.
Halverson cracks Linewood with a solid left hand.
Halverson looking to pass the guard.
Linewood keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson scoring with some ground and pound.
Linewood has momentary wrist control but Halverson slips an elbow through the middle.
Halverson tries to free his leg and advance position but Linewood is retaining full guard.
Linewood can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Halverson controls the pace.
Halverson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Linewood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halverson throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Halverson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Halverson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linewood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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 Shock Linewood will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Halverson tries to clinch up but Linewood circles away and keeps his distance.
Linewood misses with an uppercut. Halverson saw that one coming.
Halverson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Halverson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Linewood.
Linewood is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Halverson.
Linewood throws a series of punches but Halverson moves out of range.
Linewood pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Halverson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Linewood connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linewood misses with a leg kick

and Halverson counters with a takedown into side control.
Linewood taking punishment in the form of punches.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Linewood keeps working.
Linewood can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson trying to control the action but Linewood is working from the bottom.
Halverson advances to full mount.
Halverson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Linewood hang on?
Linewood is looking to improve his position but Halverson isn't that keen on the idea.
Linewood tries to hold on but Halverson pushes him away.
Halverson lands with some strikes.
Linewood bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Halverson trying to keep a closed guard but Linewood is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linewood slips nicely into half guard.
Halverson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Halverson.
Halverson wants to sweep here but Linewood controlling him for the moment.
Linewood is working Halverson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Halverson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Linewood defends it easily.
Linewood looking to pass the guard.
Halverson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Linewood's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Linewood is keeping the position for now.
Linewood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Halverson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Linewood is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Halverson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Linewood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halverson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Linewood manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Halverson manages to get himself to full guard.

Halverson controls Linewood momentarily but Linewood frees himself.
Halverson wants to sweep here but Linewood controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linewood works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Linewood working the head and body with strikes.
Linewood tries to pass the half guard into mount. Halverson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Halverson trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Linewood wants to control but Halverson is keeping him busy.
Shock Linewood is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Halverson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thatcher Halverson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halverson wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thatcher Halverson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Linewood has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shock Linewood!
Shock Linewood bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
Thatcher Halverson spoke after the fight, saying '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.'.