PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darren Halbert (ranked 4341 p4p, 7263 weight class) and Mathew Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Halbert might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Walk-Pantera. Mathew Anderson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Halbert
vs
Anderson

197 cm
25
268
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
265
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Darren Halbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mathew Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Halbert lands.

It looks like Mathew Anderson has been cut.
Anderson's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Anderson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Anderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Anderson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Anderson tries for a takedown but Halbert manages to get underhooks.
Halbert scores a nice knee to the body.
Halbert taking a breather.
Halbert lands a nice knee to the body.
Anderson looks winded!
A short uppercut from Halbert.
A short body shot lands from Halbert as the two fighters clinch.
Halbert connects with a nasty looking knee right to Anderson's face.
Anderson looking to stall.
Halbert scores with a hook to the body.
Halbert lands a knee to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Halbert.
Halbert cracks Anderson with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Halbert ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Halbert no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Halbert pulls Anderson in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halbert has his feet on Anderson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Halbert shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anderson but Anderson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Halbert thows a body kick. Anderson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Halbert throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anderson's waist but Anderson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Halbert off to one side.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Anderson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Anderson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Halbert putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Anderson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halbert putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Anderson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Halbert is stalling here.
Knees to the body from Halbert.
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!
Halbert is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Halbert landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Anderson is looking for a takedown.
Halbert using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Halbert crunches a lovely knee into Anderson's ribcage.
Halbert scores with a hook to the body.
Come on Halbert - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Halbert gets control of Anderson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Halbert will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Halbert managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halbert pushes Anderson off and gets back to his feet.
Halbert delivers a nice body kick.

Halbert takes the fight into the clinch.
Halbert scores with a nice hook to the head.

Halbert pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Halbert lands with a kick to the temple. Anderson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Halbert misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Halbert defends well and Anderson ends up having to push Halbert into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Halbert attempts a counter takedown but Anderson avoids it well and moves away.
Darren Halbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathew Anderson.
Halbert throws a half hearted mid kick.
Anderson is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Halbert with a body shot.
Anderson fails with a takedown attempt.

Halbert has managed to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Halbert successfully pulls guard.
Halbert is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Anderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Halbert has wrist control.

Halbert has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Anderson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Halbert shoots in looking for a takedown. Anderson tries to sprawl out of it but Halbert keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anderson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Halbert dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mathew Anderson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Anderson misses with a series of wild punches.
Darren Halbert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halbert throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Halbert connects with a jab.
Nice sprawl there from Halbert as Anderson shoots in.
Halbert throws a head kick but Anderson moves out of range.
Halbert cracks a nice hook into Anderson's ribs.
Anderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halbert throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Anderson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Halbert jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Halbert clinches up with Anderson and pushes him back against the cage.
Anderson is breathing heavily.
Anderson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Halbert avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Darren Halbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathew Anderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halbert putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Anderson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Halbert has Anderson pushed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Anderson is looking to break free of the clinch but Halbert has double underhooks.
A left hand lands to the body for Halbert.
A short body shot lands from Halbert as the two fighters clinch.

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

Halbert has taken the fight to the clinch.
Halbert prevents a body shot from Anderson.
Darren Halbert has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Anderson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Halbert'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halbert scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Halbert manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Good body shot from Halbert.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Halbert holds him up against the cage and eventually Anderson drops back down to his feet.
Halbert scores with a hook to the body.
Halbert taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Halbert's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Halbert displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Halbert closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Halbert lands in his opponent's 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!
Halbert slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halbert is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anderson can do to turn this around?
Anderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Anderson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Halbert escapes and throws Anderson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Halbert controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Halbert stands up and beckons Anderson to his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Halbert.

Halbert looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Halbert thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Halbert thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Halbert lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Halbert prevents Anderson from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Halbert dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mathew Anderson's cut.
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!

Donk. Halbert catches Anderson right on the button with a cross.
Halbert lands a high kick!

Anderson pushes Halbert up against the cage in a clinch.
Halbert will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Anderson up against the cage.
Halbert lands a shot to the body.
Anderson goes for a takedown attempt but Halbert pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Anderson walks into a straight right hand from Halbert.
Anderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halbert lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Halbert works the jab nicely.
Halbert shoots in but Anderson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halbert takes the fight into the clinch.
Halbert misses with a hook to the ribs.
Anderson tries for a takedown but Halbert manages to get underhooks.
Halbert working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Halbert forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Darren Halbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathew Anderson.
Halbert pushes Anderson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Anderson has Halbert pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Halbert manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Halbert scores a nice knee to the body.

Halbert decides to pull guard.
Halbert has his hands on Anderson's head, controlling the position.

Halbert pushes Anderson off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halbert tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Anderson unleashes a big counter combination but Halbert bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Halbert instigates a clinch.
A hook to the body from Halbert.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halbert effectively controlling the action here.
Halbert lands a body punch in the clinch.
Halbert tries for a takedown but Anderson manages to get underhooks.
Anderson looking to stall.
Halbert lands a body shot in the clinch.
Halbert is trying to drag Anderson to the mat but Anderson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mathew Anderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Halbert lands with a light punch inside.
The referee calls for Halbert to work.
Halbert lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Halbert ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Halbert no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Halbert looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Anderson is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halbert controlling Anderson's posture.
Anderson throws an elbow that misses. Halbert uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Anderson's guard. Nice move by Halbert!

Anderson is looking to stand back up but Halbert counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Anderson.
Darren Halbert is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Halbert is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren Halbert showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Halbert has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:25
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Halbert!
A very excited looking Darren Halbert rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
Mathew Anderson was interviewed post fight and said 'I failed my fans by Underrating my opponent and committing an error. Back to training as the next guy is in deep waters '.