PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mohammed Al Din Kader (ranked 1288 p4p, 4607 weight class) and Gurney Halleck (ranked 172 p4p, 467 weight class). Gurney Halleck has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Al Din Kader
vs
Halleck

183 cm
22
178
6 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
173
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mohammed Al Din Kader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gurney Halleck!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halleck shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Din Kader sprawls well. Al Din Kader wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Halleck gets slowly back to his feet.
Halleck misses the body punch
and Al Din Kader cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Al Din Kader throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gurney Halleck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halleck is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Halleck throws a right hand that misses
and Al Din Kader connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Halleck cracks Al Din Kader with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halleck misses with an uppercut
and Al Din Kader counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've been told by Al Din Kader's head coaches at The Italian Job that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Halleck with a hook.

Halleck drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Halleck has gone for a leg lock! Al Din Kader slips out almost immediately though and dives into Halleck's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halleck looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Al Din Kader passes into side control.
Al Din Kader in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Halleck manages to work his way to half guard, despite Al Din Kader's best efforts.
Al Din Kader slows the pace down in half guard.

Halleck looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Halleck tries to get to full guard but Al Din Kader has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Halleck gets back to full guard.
Halleck wants to hit a sweep here but Al Din Kader passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Halleck there!
Al Din Kader takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Halleck slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Al Din Kader trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halleck is looking for a sweep. Al Din Kader is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halleck keeps trying to improve his position.
Halleck moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Halleck wants to sweep but no luck.
Halleck is still trying to improve position.

Al Din Kader avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Al Din Kader is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

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.
Al Din Kader is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Halleck has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Al Din Kader can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Halleck isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Al Din Kader stacks Halleck on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Al Din Kader!
Halleck gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Halleck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Halleck tries to roll over but Al Din Kader keeps him under control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammed Al Din Kader dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Halleck ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Halleck let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Al Din Kader throws an overhand right that lands on Halleck's shoulder, as Halleck tries to avoid the shot.
Al Din Kader looks to score with a jab to the body but Halleck is just out of range.
Al Din Kader moves away from the strike by Halleck.
Al Din Kader throws the left hand but Halleck avoids the punch easily.
Halleck tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Din Kader sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Halleck somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halleck works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halleck ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Halleck misses with a combination
and Al Din Kader cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A slow jab from Al Din Kader misses its intended target.
Halleck goes for a double leg but Al Din Kader avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Al Din Kader continues to drive forward.
Halleck fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mohammed Al Din Kader has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gurney Halleck.
Halleck swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Halleck misses with an uppercut
and Al Din Kader counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Al Din Kader closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Halleck slips a jab and a cross from Al Din Kader.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halleck misses with an uppercut
and Al Din Kader counters with a nice uppercut.
A left and a right from Halleck both land. Nice combination.
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!
Halleck misses with an uppercut.
Al Din Kader swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice uppercut there from Al Din Kader.
Al Din Kader takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Halleck misses with a hook
and Al Din Kader counters with a nice uppercut.
Al Din Kader looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mohammed Al Din Kader is winning the standup battle so far.
Halleck slips a straight right by Al Din Kader.
A jab from Al Din Kader misses.
Al Din Kader throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Al Din Kader lands.
Al Din Kader throws a hook but Halleck blocks it.
Halleck lands a glancing blow to the side of Al Din Kader's head.
Al Din Kader throws a jab when Halleck was well out of range.
A left lands for Halleck.

Al Din Kader is rocked!
Halleck connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Al Din Kader's hands.
Oh Al Din Kader is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Halleck jabs Al Din Kader to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Halleck works Al Din Kader's body with a nice hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Halleck dives in and scores a takedown into Al Din Kader's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halleck passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Halleck looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halleck tries for a kimura but Al Din Kader is defending well.

Halleck is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Al Din Kader has escaped the position, nice work there.
Al Din Kader seems to have got his legs back now.

Halleck working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Halleck goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Al Din Kader rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Halleck's guard! Nice work there by Al Din Kader!

Halleck is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Halleck is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mohammed Al Din Kader will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Halleck avoids a punch combination nicely.
Al Din Kader slips a jab from Halleck.
Halleck misses with a takedown attempt
letting Al Din Kader counter with a right hand.
Al Din Kader misses with a jab, cross combination.
Halleck misses with a takedown
and Al Din Kader counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halleck throws a series of punches but Al Din Kader avoids them all with ease.
Halleck shoots and misses
and Al Din Kader counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mohammed Al Din Kader has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gurney Halleck.
Halleck misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halleck swings widly with a right hand
and Al Din Kader counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Al Din Kader slips under a jab.
Halleck throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mohammed Al Din Kader is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Halleck lands with a right hand.
Halleck gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Al Din Kader counters with a nice uppercut.
Halleck takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Al Din Kader avoids the body shot from Halleck.
Al Din Kader with a nice cross.
Al Din Kader slips under a jab.
Al Din Kader tried to counter with a leg kick but Halleck avoided it.
Halleck misses with a hook
and Al Din Kader counters with a straight right hand.
Mohammed Al Din Kader is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halleck misses with a hook
and Al Din Kader counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Halleck throws an off balance right hand
and Al Din Kader counters with a straight right hand.
Al Din Kader moves out of range of the strikes.
Al Din Kader appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Halleck blocks a head kick by Al Din Kader.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Decent striking displayed by Al Din Kader there.
Halleck throws a jab when Al Din Kader was well out of range.
Al Din Kader lands a nice shot that snaps Halleck's head back.
Halleck swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Halleck misses with a lunging right hand
and Al Din Kader counters with a right hand to the body.
Halleck doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Al Din Kader counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Din Kader jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Halleck has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Halleck misses with a hook
and Al Din Kader counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Halleck throws an off balance right hand
and Al Din Kader counters with a straight right hand.
Halleck throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Al Din Kader counter with a right hand.
Halleck misses with a hook to the body
and Al Din Kader counters with a nice body shot.
Al Din Kader lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Halleck at a distance.
Halleck misses with a body punch
and Al Din Kader counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Halleck rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Al Din Kader counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Halleck jabs Al Din Kader to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gurney Halleck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halleck takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Halleck pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Halleck needs to keep his hands up - Al Din Kader had a free shot at his head there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Halleck shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Al Din Kader napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Halleck is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Al Din Kader knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Halleck working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Al Din Kader manages to get back to half guard.

Halleck wants to work for an arm triangle but Al Din Kader is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohammed Al Din Kader showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Al Din Kader, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohammed Al Din Kader!
Mohammed Al Din Kader was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.