PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reijo Halli (ranked 1216 p4p, 1624 weight class) and Bruce Chang (ranked 138 p4p, 186 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Halli might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Halli
vs
Chang

177 cm
27
150
10 - 6 - 1

178 cm
25
160
11 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
© Trap House

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Reijo Halli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bruce Chang!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halli throws a hook to the side of Chang's head but Chang sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A countering left hand to the body from Chang misses.
A big right from Halli misses.
Chang now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Halli looks to score with a jab to the body but Chang is just out of range.
Halli scores with a jab. Chang acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Halli shoots in looking for a takedown. Chang tries to sprawl out of it but Halli keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Chang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Halli loads up on a big right hand but Chang slips the punch.
Halli loads up on a big right hand but Chang slips the punch.
A nice leg kick from Halli, right into the meat of the thigh.
Chang takes a swing at Halli's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halli blocks a leg kick.
Halli looks to score with a jab to the body but Chang is just out of range.
Chang slips under a jab.
Halli lands a really nice looking cross but Chang seems unphased.
We've been hearing reports that Halli has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Halli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chang.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halli fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chang.
Halli misses with an uppercut
letting Chang counter with a right hand.
Chang throws a lazy right hand but Halli sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Halli appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Halli looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Chang gets caught flat footed, as Halli shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Our spies down at at Hare of the Dog Gym inform us that Chang has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Chang pulls Halli in close to prevent any damage.
Halli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halli prevents Chang from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chang wants to sweep but no luck.
Chang keeping moving, preventing Halli from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli prevents Chang from getting back to his feet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chang is on top in guard.

Chang trying to control but Halli is working from the bottom.
Halli has control of Chang's left arm, preventing Chang from doing any damage.
Halli wants to sweep but no luck.
Chang postures up.
Chang is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Chang with a flurry of punches that miss.

Halli is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang wants to control from the top but Halli keeps moving.
Chang controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Chang with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Halli to score with a decent uppercut.
Halli throws the left hand but Chang avoids the punch easily.
Chang checks a leg kick nicely.
Halli tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Halli with a poor takedown
and Chang counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chang takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Chang misses with a looping left.
Chang checks a leg kick nicely.
Chang takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Halli connects with a solid leg kick.
Chang connects with the punch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Chang checks a leg kick.
Halli throws a hook but Chang avoids it easily.
Halli misses with a straight left.
Chang misses with a low kick.
Halli swings for the body but Chang moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halli just misses with a punch to the body.
Chang lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Halli's corner calls for a 1-2. Halli obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reijo Halli dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Halli swings for the body but Chang moves out of range.
Halli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Chang loads up on a big right hand but Halli slips the punch.
Halli loads up on a big right hand but Chang slips the punch.
A nice side step and Chang releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Good shot there by Chang.
Halli misses with a hook
and Chang counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Halli's corner calls for a 1-2. Halli obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Halli fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Chang is out of range.
Chang throws a shot from downtown. Halli moves away and avoids it.
Halli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chang pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Chang throws a leg kick which misses Halli's front leg but catches the back leg as Halli tries to avoid it.
Halli shoots in but Chang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chang fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Halli manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halli stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Halli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Chang as he jumps to the side.
Halli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halli shoots in looking for a takedown but Chang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halli's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reijo Halli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halli throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Chang on the side of the head.
Nice cross by Halli.
Halli misses with a straight right.
Chang uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Halli.
Halli is looking to score with low kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Chang. Those never looked like landing.
Halli misses with a leg kick
and Chang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Chang throws a big shot that misses.

Halli rushes Chang and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reijo Halli is winning the standup battle so far.
Halli closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halli scores with a hook.
Chang throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Halli fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Halli moves into the clinch.
Halli struggles to land a body shot inside as Chang controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Halli.
Chang tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Halli's elbow.
Chang has a couple of punches blocked by Halli.
Chang lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Halli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Halli works the jab nicely.
Halli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Chang.
Chang appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Halli cracks Chang with a right hand to the side of the head.
Halli scores with a jab.
Reijo Halli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chang tries to land a leg kick but Halli saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang misses with a wild body shot.
Chang fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Halli is out of range.
Halli scores with a jab. Chang acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Halli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A nice leg kick from Halli, right into the meat of the thigh.
No luck for Halli with that takedown attempt.
Bruce Chang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Halli scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Halli passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Chang!
Chang is wriggling around trying to escape.
Chang tries to hold on but Halli postures up.
Reijo Halli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chang is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halli tries to control but Chang wriggling away.

Chang somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halli closes the distance and clinches up with Chang, looking for a takedown. Halli pushes Chang against the cage but Chang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chang's corner calls for a 1-2. Chang obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Halli clinches.
Halli is trying to break the clinch but Chang is controlling him.
Halli looking to stall.
Chang gets underhooks to prevent Halli's takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reijo Halli will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Chang on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Halli throws a half hearted mid kick.
Halli throws a jab when Chang was well out of range.
Halli misses with a left hand
and Chang counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Chang pivots, looking for a leg kick but Halli is out of range and Chang settles back down.
Chang moves out of range as Halli throws a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Halli. Chang does a little dance to reset his feet.
Halli connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Chang's hands.
Halli connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Chang throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halli tries to clinch up.
Chang looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Chang misses with a leg kick.
Halli misses with an uppercut. Chang saw that one coming.
Chang flicks out a counter leg kick but Halli steps away.
Chang catches Halli with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halli misses the shot to the body.
Chang looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Halli jabs Chang to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Chang takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice cross by Halli.
Chang throws a right and a left that Halli avoids nicely.
Halli uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chang.
Chang wants to land a leg kick but Halli is out of range.
Halli throws a body shot but no joy.
Chang tries a quick counter leg kick but Halli is wise to it.
Chang chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Chang misses with a straight left.
The fighters circling - Halli throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Chang looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Halli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Chang pinned against the cage. Chang gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bruce Chang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Chang has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Halli gets a clinch.
Chang misses with some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A body shot lands from Chang.
Halli throws a head punch that misses.
Halli is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Halli tries to circle away but Chang has him pinned against the cage.
Halli misses with a hook to the ribs.
Halli blocks an uppercut.
Halli is trying to pull guard but Chang turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reijo Halli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chang breaks the clinch.
Halli takes a swing at Chang's ribcage but misses.
A big left from Halli misses.
Halli throws a leg kick which misses Chang's front leg but catches the back leg as Chang tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang missing with a left hand there. Halli was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Halli scores with a nice strike.
Halli looks to land a body kick but Chang moved away.
Chang slips under a jab from Halli.
Chang doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Halli tries to close the distance and clinch but Chang swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Halli cracks Chang with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Chang throws a low kick, looking for Halli's leg but Halli calmly moves out of range.
Halli avoids a punch combination nicely.
Halli appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Chang takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Halli changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Halli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halli throws an off balance right hand
enabling Chang to counter with a crisp jab.
Halli feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Changs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Halli tests Chang's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halli buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Halli thows a body kick. Chang tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Halli moves into range and connects with a jab.
Halli closes the distance and clinches up with Chang, looking for a takedown. Halli pushes Chang against the cage but Chang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chang fails to land with a series of punches.
Halli throws a poor cross that misses
and Chang counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Reijo Halli has been cut.
Halli swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Halli throws a poor cross that misses
and Chang counters with a solid body kick.
Chang looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Halli connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Reijo Halli.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Halli, 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reijo Halli!
Reijo Halli bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.