PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Jimenez (ranked 3211 p4p, 3210 weight class) and Ralph Hall (ranked 391 p4p, 390 weight class). Hall has chosen Pinball Wizard as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Jimenez
vs
Hall

178 cm
23
185
5 - 6 - 0

180 cm
31
180
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roberto Jimenez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ralph Hall!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hall slips a jab and a cross from Jimenez.
Jimenez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jimenez misses with a straight right.
Jimenez shoots in but Hall avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hall misses with a hook
and Jimenez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ralph Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hall feints a jab promting Jimenez to slip. Hall then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jimenez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hall closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jimenez circles away.
As Hall looks to move away, Jimenez throws a big counter combo but Hall just gets out of the way.
Jimenez cracks Hall with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hall lands a jab to the nose.
Jimenez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hall throws out a powerful jab.
Jimenez walks into a jab.
Jimenez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A big left from Jimenez misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez throws a poor cross that misses

and Hall counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jimenez is trying to control the position but Hall postures up.
Hall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jimenez is keeping the position for now.

Hall drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hall jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hall sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jimenez's guard.

Jimenez looking for submissions off his back.

Hall is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jimenez sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez tries to roll over but Hall keeps him under control.

Hall is working for a submission of some sort.
Jimenez tries to roll over but Hall keeps him under control.

Hall is looking for a kimura here.

Hall looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall uses his free foot to push down on Jimenez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Jimenez.

Hall is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Jimenez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Jimenez shrugs it off.
Jimenez looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Hall is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Hall working for a choke but Jimenez is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jimenez preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hall.

Hall is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Jimenez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Jimenez for a finish.
Jimenez turns into Hall and is now in his guard.
Jimenez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jimenez slips nicely into half guard.

Hall looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Jimenez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hall keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Hall dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jimenez just misses with a punch to the body.
Hall uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A big left from Jimenez misses.
Jimenez scores with a decent looking hook.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hall, as that shot connected.
Hall throws a body punch but Jimenez moves out of range.
Jimenez misses the shot to the body.
Jimenez throws out a loose jab but Hall uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hall drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jimenez defends it well.
Jimenez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hall as he avoids it easily.
And Hall tries to counter it with a takedown but Jimenez pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hall has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hall scores with a jab to the body.
Ralph Hall seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jimenez looks for a takedown but Hall sprawls well.
Jimenez slips under a jab from Hall.
Hall bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jimenez's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jimenez cracks Hall with an open hand slap.
Hall misses with an uppercut
and Jimenez counters with a right hand to the body.
Jimenez swinging wildly here.
Hall leaves Jimenez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roberto Jimenez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hall shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jimenez as he avoids it easily.
Hall lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jimenez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jimenez misses with a right hand

so Hall counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hall postures up.
Hall looking to pass the guard.

Hall thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Jimenez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jimenez drops back looking for a leg! Hall is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hall manages to kick Jimenez off! Jimenez jumps back into Hall's guard.

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

Hall is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jimenez tries to free his leg and advance position but Hall is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall is looking for a triangle but Jimenez pushes his legs off easily.

Jimenez is posturing up here but Hall has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Jimenez tries to roll out but it's too tight and Jimenez has to tap! Slick submission there by Hall!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ralph Hall!
After the fight, Ralph Hall was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.