PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Haalfson (ranked 3075 p4p, 25227 weight class) and Michal Materla (ranked 331 p4p, 549 weight class). Bjorn Haalfson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Haalfson
vs
Materla

220 cm
19
270
1 - 0 - 0

212 cm
18
212
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

UNSTOPPABLE NUTRITION
Black Lab Clothing

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bjorn Haalfson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michal Materla!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haalfson misses with a straight left.
A clash of legs there as Materla blocks the low kick.
Materla tries to counter with a clinch but Haalfson shakes him off and moves away.
Haalfson tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Materla is defended easily by Haalfson.
Haalfson throws a head kick but Materla moves out of range.
Materla is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Materla takes a kick to the side of the head.
Haalfson misses with a head kick.
Haalfson works the jab nicely.
Haalfson throws a head kick but Materla moves out of range.
Haalfson is breathing heavily.
Haalfson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Materla throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Materla shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Haalfson defends it nicely.
Haalfson misses with a low kick.
Bjorn Haalfson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An inside leg kick from Haalfson misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materla shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bjorn Haalfson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Materla.
Materla shoots in for a takedown but Haalfson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Haalfson throws a quick counter kick to the body but Materla avoids it.

Materla has Haalfson up against the cage in a clinch.
Materla prevents Haalfson from breaking the clinch.

Haalfson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Materla shoots in looking for a takedown but Haalfson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Materla's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Materla tries to clinch but Haalfson moves out of range.
Materla shoots in and drives through. Haalfson sprawls well.
Materla checks a low kick from Haalfson.
Danga de danga de dang - Materla scores with a four punch combination!
Bjorn Haalfson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haalfson throws a nice looking combination but Materla bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Materla tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haalfson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Materla moves in looking to clinch but Haalfson pushes him off.
Haalfson throws a series of punches but Materla moves out of range.
Materla fails with an attempt to clinch.
Materla doesn't manage to clinch there - Haalfson circles away.
Materla tries to close the distance and clinch but Haalfson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haalfson scores with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haalfson blocks a head kick by Materla.
Materla wants to slow Haalfson down by chopping away at his legs.
Materla with a poor takedown
and Haalfson counters with a left and a right that stings Materla.
Haalfson tries a low kick but Materla avoids it.
Materla darts in looking for a takedown but Haalfson gets double underhooks and turns Materla into the cage.

Haalfson gets caught napping as Materla dives in and scores a takedown. Haalfson manages to retain guard.
Materla controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Materla is standing up over Haalfson. Haalfson looks to escape but Materla dives into side control.
Haalfson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Materla tightening his grip on Haalfson, looking for the choke.

Materla has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haalfson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Materla thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Haalfson avoids the strikes from Materla.

Haalfson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Haalfson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bjorn Haalfson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Haalfson throws a sloppy body shot
and Materla counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick misses from Haalfson.
Materla avoids the head kick by Haalfson.
Materla fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Materla shoots in for a double leg but Haalfson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Haalfson connects with a looping right hand.
Haalfson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Materla.
Bjorn Haalfson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Materla.
Haalfson throws a hook to the side of Materla's head but Materla sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haalfson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Materla instigates a clinch.

Haalfson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haalfson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Materla can do to turn this around?
Materla will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materla tries to clinch but Haalfson is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Materla pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Materla fails with the takedown.

Haalfson lands a big head kick that sends Materla tumbling to the mat! Haalfson takes a step backwards and waves Materla back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Materla is rocked!
A head kick misses from Haalfson.
Materla wants to counter the offense by Haalfson and move into the clinch position.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Materla.
Haalfson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from Haalfson as Materla shoots in.
Materla takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Materla is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Materla fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haalfson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
No joy there for Haalfson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Materla goes for a double leg but Haalfson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Haalfson continues to drive forward.
Materla tries for a takedown but Haalfson circles away easily
and Haalfson counters with a head kick.
Materla shoots for a takedown but Haalfson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Materla on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Haalfson. Haalfson obviously looking to wear him down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Materla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bjorn Haalfson is winning the standup battle so far.

Materla has closed the distance and engaged Haalfson in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haalfson slows down the pace here.
Materla is trying to pull guard but Haalfson has him pressed against the cage.
Materla throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Haalfson blocks it with crossed arms.

Haalfson breaks the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Haalfson as Materla shoots in.
Haalfson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bjorn Haalfson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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.
Haalfson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Materla tries to counter with a clinch but Haalfson shakes him off and moves away.
Haalfson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haalfson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Materla blocks a head kick by Haalfson.
Materla blocks a head kick by Haalfson.
Materla shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Haalfson defends it nicely.
Materla shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Haalfson as he avoids it easily.
Materla blocks a head kick by Haalfson.
Materla tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Haalfson swivels and escapes.
Haalfson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A chopping leg kick lands by Haalfson.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bjorn Haalfson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Haalfson misses with a double jab.
Haalfson throws a right hand that Materla ducks under and follows up with a left that Materla also avoids with ease.
Materla cracks Haalfson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Haalfson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Materla shoots in for a double leg but Haalfson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Materla dives in and grabs Haalfson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Haalfson pushes down on Materla's head and hops out.
Haalfson throws a sloppy body shot
and Materla connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Materla shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Haalfson sprawls well. Haalfson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Materla gets slowly back to his feet.
Bjorn Haalfson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michal Materla.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Materla drives through and clinches with Haalfson against the cage.

Haalfson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haalfson misses with a head kick.

Materla darts in and clinches Haalfson up against the cage.
Materla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Haalfson walks away with a smile on his face. Materla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A nice leg kick from Haalfson, right into the meat of the thigh.
Materla shoots in but Haalfson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Haalfson half committed to a counter leg kick.
Haalfson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Haalfson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Haalfson wants it to stay on the feet.
Haalfson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Haalfson with a nice calf kick.
Haalfson throws a leg kick which misses Materla's front leg but catches the back leg as Materla tries to avoid it.
Materla fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haalfson throws a nice looking combination but Materla bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Materla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haalfson is fending him off so far but Materla persists. Nope, Haalfson circles away and we're back to standing.
Materla fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Haalfson looks to land a combination but Materla avoids it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haalfson swats away the attempt to clinch by Materla.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Materla is defended easily by Haalfson.
Materla takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haalfson throws a lazy head kick
and Materla counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Haalfson thinking.
Materla darts in looking for a takedown but Haalfson gets double underhooks and turns Materla into the cage.
Materla takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Haalfson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Haalfson throws a head kick but Materla moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Haalfson. No joy for Materla on that attempt.
As Materla looks to move away, Haalfson throws a big counter combo but Materla just gets out of the way.
Nice body kick from Haalfson.
Haalfson with a nice calf kick.
Haalfson slaps away a takedown attempt from Materla, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Haalfson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haalfson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haalfson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Haalfson wants it to stay on the feet.
Haalfson throws a head kick but Materla moves out of range.
Haalfson throws a leg kick but Materla sees it coming and moves out of range.
Materla steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Haalfson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Materla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bjorn Haalfson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haalfson throws a head kick but Materla moves out of range.
Materla fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Haalfson scores with a spinning back kick!
Michal Materla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Materla tries to score a power double leg takedown but Haalfson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Materla somewhat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjorn Haalfson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haalfson, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bjorn Haalfson!
Our winner, Bjorn Haalfson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.