PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Venegas (ranked 2281 p4p, 2374 weight class) and Robbie Hall (ranked 138 p4p, 145 weight class). Robbie Hall has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Venegas
vs
Hall

150 cm
25
145
4 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
135
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Island Boys Nutrition
Fighters Connection

Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Frankie Venegas !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Robbie Hall!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Venegas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Hall closes the distance and clinches.

Venegas has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hall clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Venegas is trying to stick to Hall's back but Hall is turning into Venegas . He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Venegas 's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hall.
Venegas wants to control but Hall passes easily into half guard.
Venegas wants to control but Hall is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Venegas is refusing to be controlled, as Hall sits in half guard.
Venegas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Venegas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hall is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Venegas tries to get to full guard but Hall has control of the leg.
Hall is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

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.
Venegas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hall controlling the position easily from mount.
Venegas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Venegas tries to get out of the position.
Venegas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hall tries to control but Venegas wriggling away.
Venegas holds on, trying desperately to control.
Venegas regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venegas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Venegas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hall's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hall's back!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Venegas avoiding Hall 's attempts to control his hands.
Hall tries to break free.
Hall has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Venegas .
Will Venegas go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Venegas working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall is in bad spot here.
Hall is taking damage to the body and head.
Hall has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Venegas .
Venegas scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Hall is looking for a way out.
Hall rolls, trying to escape but Venegas keeps control of the position.

Venegas looking to break Hall's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hall remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Venegas will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hall looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Venegas is punishing Hall with strikes - can he finish him?!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Venegas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Venegas .
Hall circles away from the clinch attempt.
Venegas shoots in but no luck this time.
Venegas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Venegas somewhat.
Venegas sets himself, and Hall steps forward looking for the clinch! Venegas avoids it this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Venegas . That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venegas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hall's waist but Hall gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Venegas off to one side.

Hall clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venegas drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hall pulls his leg out and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Venegas is defended easily by Hall.
Hall steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Venegas .

Hall clinches up against the cage.

Venegas wants the takedown. Hall is fighting it off but Venegas persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hall's guard against the cage.
Venegas stopping the sweep attempt from Hall.
Hall looking to control.
Hall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Venegas .
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.
Hall tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Venegas content to stall in guard here.
Venegas throws an elbow that misses. Hall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Venegas 's guard. Nice move by Hall!

Hall trying to control the position from guard on top but Venegas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hall passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Venegas keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall gets to mount! Venegas was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Venegas flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Venegas working to try and regain half guard.
Hall wants to control the pace but Venegas is squirming around nicely.
Frankie Venegas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Venegas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Venegas is refusing to be controlled, as Hall sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Venegas wants to get back to full guard.
Venegas is in trouble now - Hall has advanced to mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Venegas tries to control the position but Hall now has his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Robbie Hall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hall shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Venegas but Venegas pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Venegas clinches with his opponent.
Hall looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Venegas has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hall regains guard immediately.
Hall avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Venegas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hall looking for a sweep. Not yet Hall, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hall is on top in guard.

Hall trying to control but Venegas is working from the bottom.

Venegas has his foot on Hall's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hall works his way back into a safe position though.

Venegas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hall defends it easily.
Venegas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hall manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Venegas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venegas looking to sit in guard and control but Hall gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Venegas working for submissions but it's allowed Hall to get to half guard.

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.
Venegas wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hall in particular looking to stall.
Venegas tries to roll over but Hall keeps him under control.

Venegas has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Hall. Oh but Venegas has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Hall goes limp - he's gone! Venegas jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Frankie Venegas !
Frankie Venegas retains his bantamweight title!
A victorious Frankie Venegas thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.