PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Brunson (ranked 5794 p4p, 516 weight class) and Jai Hale (ranked 4825 p4p, 488 weight class). Brunson comes to the cage accompanied by Flinstones Theme Song. Jai Hale told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Brunson
vs
Hale

178 cm
19
173 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

165 cm
27
173 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Robert Brunson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jai Hale!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brunson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hale as he jumps to the side.

Hale scores with a takedown into Brunson's guard.
Brunson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hale manages to pass to side control.

Brunson desperately trying to maintain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale is looking to advance position but Brunson won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunson is looking to improve his position.
Brunson desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Hale is working for a kimura but Brunson is defending it quite comfortably.
Brunson desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Brunson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Brunson tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Brunson trying to control here.
Brunson has his hands clasped together around Hale's back. He's all about the action.
Hale is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hale prevents Brunson from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jai Hale dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hale fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Brunson sprawls well initially but Hale persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Hale escapes and gets back to his feet.
Hale thuds his right hand into Brunson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hale misses with a double jab.
Jai Hale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brunson misses with a two punch combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hale is defended easily by Brunson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hale changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brunson tries to avoid it but Hale manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brunson to the ground. Brunson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Brunson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale tries a head kick but it misses.
Hale swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Brunson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hale's guard.
Brunson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Brunson postures up in Hale's guard and throws a big left but Hale blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brunson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Brunson advances position into side control!
Brunson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hale keeps working.
Hale defending against the ground and pound.
Jai Hale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hale tries to buck Brunson off but Brunson is having none of it.
Sloppy strikes there by Brunson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brunson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale is working to avoid the ground and pound but Brunson connects with a decent elbow.
Hale felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Brunson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hale sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hale dodges the ground and pound from Brunson.
Brunson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Brunson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Brunson landing a few strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hale taking a bit of punishment here - Brunson scoring with strikes.
Brunson tries to score with some ground and pound. Hale controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Brunson working the head with strikes.
Hale tries to bench press Brunson off him but Brunson keeps the position.
Brunson lands a decent elbow from side control.
Brunson lands an elbow.

Hale is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Brunson dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Brunson leaves Hale with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hale misses with a body kick.
It looked like Brunson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Danga de danga de dang - Hale scores with a four punch combination!
Hale throws a sloppy head kick and Brunson moves out of range easily.
Brunson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hale tries to avoid it but Brunson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hale to the ground. Hale escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Brunson circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hale closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Brunson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Brunson wants to sweep but no luck.
Brunson is looking to stand up but Hale isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunson is adopting a defensive guard.
Brunson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hale prevents Brunson from getting back to his feet.
Hale trying to control the position from guard on top but Brunson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hale prevents Brunson from getting back to his feet.
Hale wants to control from the top but Brunson keeps moving.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Brunson shoots in for a takedown but Hale shows good takedown defense.
Hale shoots in for a takedown but Brunson shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hale.
Brunson feinted with a counter takedown.
Robert Brunson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jai Hale.
Hale throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Brunson on the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Hale.
Brunson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hale manages to circle out of the way.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brunson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hale under the eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jai Hale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hale 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Robert Brunson!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Robert Brunson!

Robert Brunson wins by majority decision!
Our winner, Robert Brunson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.