PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royal Halsti (ranked 55 p4p, 165 weight class) and Stoner Steve (ranked 10 p4p, 28 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Halsti
vs
Steve

190 cm
33
205
29 - 12 - 1

194 cm
30
215
20 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
NARCOS

Sakura Style
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Royal Halsti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stoner Steve!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve looks to land a left hand but Halsti moved out of range nicely.
Steve missing with a left hand there. Halsti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Halsti finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Steve doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Steve on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Steve avoids a punch combination nicely.
Halsti moves away from the strike by Steve.
Steve throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've been hearing reports that Halsti has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Halsti is looking to chop away at Steve's legs.
Steve on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Halsti stalks Steve and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Steve's face. Steve staggers backwards, shaken.
Halsti moves out of range as Steve strikes.
Steve throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Halsti throws a leg kick
and Steve cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Royal Halsti has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Halsti closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Halsti lands in his opponent's guard.
Halsti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halsti is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Steve utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Halsti trying to control but Steve is working from the bottom.
Halsti slips nicely into half guard.
Halsti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steve does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Halsti prevents Steve from improving his position.

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.

Halsti is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Steve is just riding it out for now. Halsti eventually gives up the hold.
Steve keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Halsti missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Halsti is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Steve is refusing to be controlled, as Halsti sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Halsti is looking for a kimura but Steve is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Halsti to get the leverage.
Halsti is looking to advance position but Steve won't allow it.
Halsti missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Halsti is keen to just control but Steve is a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Halsti has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Halsti seems to be looking for submissions.
Halsti trying to mount his opponent but Steve defends it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Halsti looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Halsti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Steve sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Steve keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Halsti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Steve as he jumps to the side.
Halsti scores with a decent looking hook.
Halsti tries for a takedown but Steve sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Steve getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Halsti misses with a looping left.
Steve looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Steve slips a straight right by Halsti.
Steve leaves Halsti with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Steve! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royal Halsti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steve moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Royal Halsti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Royal Halsti's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Steve leaves Halsti with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Steve rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Halsti moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Halsti shoots in but no luck this time.
Steve now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Halsti scores with a jab. Steve acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Steve scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Halsti throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Halsti has his takedown stuffed
enabling Steve to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royal Halsti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steve looks to land a left hand but Halsti moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Halsti misses the target.
A punch combination from Halsti misses.
Halsti goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Halsti throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Steve looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Halsti takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Halsti.
Halsti lands with a kick to the ribs.
Halsti tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Halsti connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Steve's hands.
Halsti fails with a takedown attempt.
Steve doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Royal Halsti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halsti misses with an uppercut
and Steve counters with a nice uppercut.
Halsti lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Halsti throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Steve counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Halsti takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Royal Halsti's cut is getting worse.
Jab by Steve.
Halsti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halsti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Steve! Halsti is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Stoner Steve!
After winning the bout, Stoner Steve thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.