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WP 118 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 50 wins and 27 losses; Reijo Halli! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 64 wins and 71 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Nice sprawl there from Halli as Notturna shoots in.
Notturna feints and as Halli raises his hands in defense, Notturna changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Halli (0) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna trying to control but Halli is working from the bottom.
Notturna is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Notturna advances to half guard.
Notturna is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Halli is refusing to be controlled, as Notturna sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna wants to work for an arm triangle but Halli is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Notturna controlling the pace.
It looks like Notturna might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notturna trying to control the action but Halli is working from the bottom.
Notturna with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Halli desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Notturna is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Halli wants to get back to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halli trying to control but Notturna postures up.
Notturna is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Halli defends it well.
Notturna controlling the pace.
Notturna works his foot free and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Halli (0) vs (5) Notturna
Notturna trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halli is working to get back to half guard.
Notturna tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Notturna is continuing to stall.
Halli regains half guard.
Notturna stalling.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Halli holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Notturna is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Notturna is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Halli doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Notturna.
Notturna wants to control but Halli is keeping him busy.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Notturna wants to take a breather but Halli is having none of it.
Halli is trying to maintain the position but Notturna is very close to passing his half guard.
Notturna is looking to advance position but Halli won't allow it.
Notturna is trying to control the action in half guard but Halli is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna controlling the pace.
Notturna's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Notturna is trying to work for a kimura but Halli is defending well.
Notturna is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Notturna passes to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Halli (0) vs (8) Notturna
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Notturna looking to control and managing it successfully.
Halli is trying to reverse the position but instead Notturna has taken his back - oops! Score +3 for taking back: Halli (0) vs (11) Notturna
Notturna is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Notturna wants to control but Halli is keeping busy.
Notturna is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Halli is defending well though. Notturna let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Notturna's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Halli trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Notturna has the hooks in. Halli is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Notturna tightening his grip on Halli, looking for the choke.
Notturna trying to control momentarily.
Notturna has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Halli has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Halli is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Notturna working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Halli wants to control his opponent's hands but Notturna gets his hands free.
Notturna biding his time, controlling Halli.
Halli is in bad spot here.
Notturna controlling the position well here. Halli rolled but Notturna kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna looking for the RNC.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Notturna's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Notturna has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Halli's body.
Well, with Notturna on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Halli is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Halli defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Notturna's arms.
My spies in Average Judas Gym inform me that Notturna has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Notturna has good solid back control here.
Halli turns into Notturna and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Halli (2) vs (11) Notturna
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to control the position but Halli postures up.
Notturna is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Well,Halli is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Notturna manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Halli manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Halli (2) vs (13) Notturna
Notturna stays in close to Halli's body and controls the position.
Halli can't keep his opponent in guard - Notturna advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna wants to free his trapped foot but Halli is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Halli is staying active underneath Notturna, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Notturna perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Notturna seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Halli does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that's the end of the fight!
Notturna wins on points by 13 to 2.
After winning the bout, Strega Notturna thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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