PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melchizedek Halo (ranked 1434 p4p, 214 weight class) and Eliott Leighton (ranked 1387 p4p, 209 weight class). Leighton is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Halo
vs
Leighton

185 cm
32
215 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

191 cm
24
209 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Pit Bull Development

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Melchizedek Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eliott Leighton!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leighton lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Leighton on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Halo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leighton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leighton throws a jab but it's blocked by Halo.
Halo throws a leg kick which misses Leighton's front leg but catches the back leg as Leighton tries to avoid it.
Leighton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leighton fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Halo on the side of the head.
Halo misses with a hook. Leighton ducked under it nicely.
Halo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Halo misses with a body shot.
Melchizedek Halo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halo is looking to land body kicks.
Halo lands a nice looking body shot.
A head kick from Leighton lands but Halo takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halo just misses with a punch to the body.
Leighton has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Halo finds it's way round the side to connect with Leighton's head.
Leighton throws a body shot but no joy.
Good leg kick by Halo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighton misses with a wild body shot.
As Leighton backs away, Halo returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Halo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Leighton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Halo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Leighton throws a sloppy head kick and Halo moves out of range easily.
Leighton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Leighton takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Leighton tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Leighton attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Leighton on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Leighton gets the takedown into side control.

Halo throws Leighton to one side and escapes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Halo misses with a wild combination.
Leighton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Halo moves away.
Melchizedek Halo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leighton shoots for a double leg takedown but Halo sprawls well. He's pushed Leighton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo misses with a body kick.
Halo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Leighton misses with a few strikes there.
Leighton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Halo tries to land a front kick but Leighton steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Halo connects with the punch.
Leighton connects with a nice looking jab.
Leighton misses with a looping right.
Halo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice uppercut there from Halo.
Leighton goes for a double leg but Halo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Halo continues to drive forward.
Leighton looks to land a right hand but Halo moved out of range.
A quick step to the side and Halo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good standup being displayed there by Halo as he connects with a hook.
Halo throws a one two combo.
Halo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And Leighton tries to counter it with a takedown but Halo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A big left from Leighton misses.
Leighton blocks a low kick nicely.
Leighton feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo lands a leg kick that knocks Leighton off balance momentarily.
Leighton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Leighton misses with a straight left.
Leighton connects with a good right hand that stumbles Halo. Halo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Halo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Halo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Melchizedek Halo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eliott Leighton.
Halo tries a head kick but it misses.
Leighton drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Halo defends it well.
Halo lands a really nice looking cross but Leighton seems unphased.
Halo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Leighton is looking to slow Halo down with leg kicks.
Leighton's coach down at Official UFC Performance Institute Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Leighton's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Halo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good leg kick by Halo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Halo throws a low kick but Leighton moves out of range easily.
Halo throws a body punch but Leighton moves out of range.
A jab from Leighton does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Halo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Leighton checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Leighton takes one on the button.

Leighton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Leighton throws a head punch that misses.
Halo scores with a shot to the side of Leighton's head.
Leighton struggles to land a body shot inside as Halo controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Leighton.
Halo tries a body shot but Leighton blocks it.
Leighton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Halo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Leighton lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Halo backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Halo.
Leighton is looking to control Halo's arms but Halo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Leighton has his back to the cage.
Leighton's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Leighton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Halo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halo ducks right into an uppercut from Leighton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melchizedek Halo dominated that round.
That's time! Halo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Halo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Halo throws an overhand right that lands on Leighton's shoulder, as Leighton tries to avoid the shot.
A swing and a miss from Halo.
Halo throws a hook but Leighton avoids it easily.
Melchizedek Halo is winning the standup battle so far.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Halo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Leighton has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Leighton and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Halo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Leighton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Halo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Leighton can do to turn this around?
A slapping body kick lands there for Halo.
Leighton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Halo as he avoids it easily.
Halo looks to score with a jab to the body but Leighton is just out of range.
Leighton scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Some bone on bone action there as Halo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Halo.
Leighton scores with a leg kick.
Leighton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Halo but Halo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Leighton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leighton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Halo.
Halo throws a jab but it's blocked by Leighton.
A little jabbing left from Leighton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Halo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Halo misses with a low kick.
Halo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Leighton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Halo misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Leighton counter with a right hand.
Leighton looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Leighton's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Leighton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Leighton lands in his opponent's guard.
Leighton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Leighton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Halo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo wants to sweep but no luck.
Halo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Leighton is controlling him.
Halo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leighton is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leighton working some strikes from top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leighton trying to control but Halo is working from the bottom.
Leighton throwing strikes from guard but Halo blocks nicely.
Leighton throws an elbow that misses. Halo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Leighton's guard. Nice move by Halo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leighton seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Leighton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Halo is one step ahead there.
Halo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leighton pulls Halo in to control the position.
Halo trying to control the position from guard on top but Leighton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Halo with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Halo trying to control the position from guard on top but Leighton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Leighton takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Halo throws out a loose jab but Leighton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Halo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Leighton keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice shot lands for Halo.
Halo throws a lazy right hand but Leighton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Leighton tries to clinch but Halo moves out of range.
Halo moves away from the strike by Leighton.
Leighton misses with a head kick.
Leighton tries to close the distance and clinch but Halo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Halo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melchizedek Halo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Good exchange - Halo coming out on top.
Halo throws a sloppy head kick and Leighton moves out of range easily.
Halo stuffs the takedown.
Halo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Halo misses with a looping right.
Halo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Leighton lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Leighton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Halo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Leighton slips a straight right by Halo.
Leighton takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Halo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab from Halo.
A punch lands to the side of Halo 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Leighton feints and as Halo raises his hands in defense, Leighton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
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!
Leighton being controlled here momentarily.
Leighton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leighton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Halo pushes Leighton off and scrambles back to his feet.
Leighton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halo.
Halo scores with a hook.
Leighton shoots and misses
and Leighton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leighton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leighton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Halo lands with a good body shot.
Leighton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Melchizedek Halo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo scores with a head kick. Leighton tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Halo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leighton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Halo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
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!
Halo looks to score with a jab to the body but Leighton is just out of range.

Leighton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Halo trying to control but Leighton postures up.
Leighton trying to pass the guard but Halo defending well.
Eliott Leighton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leighton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Melchizedek Halo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leighton looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Leighton takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Leighton trying to control the action but Halo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leighton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Leighton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Halo tries to get to full guard but Leighton has control of the leg.
Halo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Leighton.
Leighton postures up in Halo's guard and throws a big left but Halo blocks it.
Halo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Leighton manages to get himself to full guard.

Halo trying to control but Leighton is working from the bottom.
Leighton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leighton is trying to keep Halo in close.
Leighton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leighton being controlled here, momentarily.
Halo wants to control from the top but Leighton keeps moving.
Leighton trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Melchizedek 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melchizedek Halo!
Melchizedek Halo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Eliott Leighton stepped up to the mic, saying 'Dis tool Hope, Wasted opportunity. Until we meet in the cage again, I am sure I will see this tool around and we will share some stories and. Wait! I am not done...'.