PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Gonzalez (ranked 551 p4p, 540 weight class) and Royal Halsti (ranked 75 p4p, 72 weight class). Gonzalez comes to the cage accompanied by Mind Playing Tricks On Me - Geto Boys. Royal Halsti is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Gonzalez
vs
Halsti

192 cm
26
205
13 - 6 - 0

190 cm
34
205
30 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

NARCOS

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shaun Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royal Halsti!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzalez throws a good cross that connects.
Halsti with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gonzalez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gonzalez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Halsti.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Halsti has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Gonzalez throws a jab but it's blocked by Halsti.
Halsti fails in his attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Gonzalez.
Halsti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An attempted straight right counter from Gonzalez misses the target.
Halsti throws a half hearted mid kick.
Halsti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gonzalez tries to avoid it but Halsti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gonzalez to the ground. Gonzalez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halsti misses with a takedown attempt
and Gonzalez counters with a straight right hand.
Shaun Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royal Halsti.
Gonzalez misses with a looping left.
Halsti darts in trying to clinch
enabling Gonzalez to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Royal Halsti has been cut.
Royal Halsti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Halsti.

Gonzalez sneaks out the side door and pushes Halsti away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Gonzalez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gonzalez counters with a nice uppercut.
Gonzalez tests Halsti's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Halsti pushes Gonzalez up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halsti tries to pull guard but Gonzalez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halsti throws an elbow that misses.
Halsti tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gonzalez scores with a shoulder strike.
Halsti fails to pull guard.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Halsti chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gonzalez can pounce on him.
Halsti fails to land the takedown.

Halsti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gonzalez, pushing him back against the cage.
Halsti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Halsti blocks a body shot from Gonzalez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halsti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Halsti scores with a leg kick.
Gonzalez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gonzalez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Halsti misses with a wild combination.
Halsti shoots in for a takedown but Gonzalez shows good takedown defense.
Halsti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gonzalez.
Halsti fails with a takedown attempt.
Gonzalez is looking to counter punch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Halsti crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gonzalez - the referee stops the clock and Halsti gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gonzalez. Halsti manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halsti closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gonzalez circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Gonzalez misses the target.
Gonzalez looks to score with a jab to the body but Halsti is just out of range.
Gonzalez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Halsti shoots and misses
and Gonzalez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Halsti throws a lazy right hand but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Halsti fails with the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a straight right hand.
Halsti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gonzalez.
Halsti lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Halsti fails in his attempt to clinch.

Halsti clinches up with Gonzalez and pushes him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Gonzalez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Royal Halsti's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Halsti darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Halsti is trying to work for a kimura but Gonzalez is defending well.
Gonzalez wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halsti is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gonzalez!
Shaun Gonzalez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gonzalez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gonzalez is controlling Halsti's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halsti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gonzalez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Halsti is working away from the top position though.
Gonzalez is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Halsti gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Halsti looks to clinch
and Gonzalez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Halsti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gonzalez misses with an uppercut. Halsti saw that one coming.
Gonzalez throws a hook but Halsti blocks it.
Gonzalez is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Halsti shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a stiff right hand.
Gonzalez keeps the fight on the outside.
Gonzalez throwing a counter right hand but Halsti manages to avoid it.
Gonzalez lands a nice shot that snaps Halsti's head back.
Halsti shoots and misses
and Gonzalez counters with a big head kick but Halsti shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez throws a hook to the side of Halsti's head but Halsti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gonzalez circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Halsti has his takedown stuffed
letting Gonzalez counter with a right hand.

That has opened up Royal Halsti's cut even more.
Shaun Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royal Halsti.
Halsti throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gonzalez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shaun Gonzalez is winning the standup battle so far.
Gonzalez lands a right hook to the body.
Gonzalez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Halsti throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halsti fails with the takedown
enabling Gonzalez to counter with a crisp jab.
Gonzalez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Royal Halsti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Halsti shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halsti has his takedown stuffed

and Gonzalez counters with a nice right hand that sends Halsti toppling to the canvas! Halsti scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Gonzalez finish him?!

Halsti is rocked!

The cut above Royal Halsti's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Shaun Gonzalez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Halsti is breathing heavily.
Halsti needs to keep his hands up - Gonzalez had a free shot at his head there.
Halsti ducks under a wild hook from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Gonzalez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Royal Halsti's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Halsti staying out of range there.
Halsti is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Halsti tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gonzalez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Halsti shoots in for a double leg but Gonzalez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gonzalez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halsti was well out of range. Poor timing from Gonzalez.

Halsti shoots in and gets a takedown into Gonzalez's guard.
Gonzalez keeping full guard, as Halsti tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halsti wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halsti content to stall in guard here.
Halsti trying to control but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halsti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Halsti stands up from Gonzalez's guard - Halsti perhaps looking for a knockout.
A swing and a miss from Gonzalez.
Halsti tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Halsti moves into range and clinches up with Gonzalez.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gonzalez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gonzalez tries to circle away but Halsti has him pinned against the cage.
Gonzalez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Halsti can do to turn this around?
Halsti has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gonzalez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halsti is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gonzalez to keep the fight standing.
Shaun Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royal Halsti.
Gonzalez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Halsti is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gonzalez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gonzalez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gonzalez looks to land a right hand but Halsti moved out of range.
Gonzalez misses with an uppercut.
Gonzalez misses with a right hand
and Halsti counters with a series of strikes. Gonzalez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gonzalez scores with a sloppy right hand. Halsti should have avoided that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halsti looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Halsti has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halsti misses with a left hand
and Halsti takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Royal Halsti's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Halsti with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters with a nice right hand that sends Halsti toppling to the canvas! Halsti scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Gonzalez finish him?!
Halsti is still on wobbly legs! Can Gonzalez finish him?
Halsti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzalez misses with a hook.
Halsti shoots in but no luck this time.
Halsti misses with a takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a nice right hand that sends Halsti toppling to the canvas! Halsti scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Gonzalez finish him?!
Royal Halsti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Royal Halsti's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Shaun Gonzalez!
Shaun Gonzalez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.