PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ithalo Bodin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saxton Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bodin
vs
Hale

180 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
192 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ithalo Bodin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saxton Hale!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hale moves in looking to clinch but Bodin pushes him off.
Hale avoids the body shot from Bodin.

Hale clinches.
Hale fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bodin is trying to maintain a safe position but Hale gets an underhook and turns Bodin into the cage.

Hale has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bodin is trying to keep an underhook but Hale manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Bodin moves into full guard.
Hale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bodin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hale thows a big elbow that misses.
Hale stands and throws Bodin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bodin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hale working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bodin tries to improve position but can't.
Hale grinds an elbow into Bodin's temple.
Hale works to advance to full mount. Bodin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bodin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bodin is pressing down on Hale's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bodin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bodin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hale gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hale loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bodin looking for a sweep. Not yet Bodin, not yet.
Hale looking to pass the guard.
Hale postures up in Bodin's guard and throws a big left but Bodin blocks it.

Bodin throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hale escapes and throws Bodin's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hale tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bodin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Check out the look on Hale's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Bodin gets back to half guard.
Bodin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hale.
Bodin is looking for a sweep. Hale is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hale working over Bodin with some ground and pound. Bodin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hale lands strikes from half guard.
Hale seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hale winds up and cracks Bodin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hale wants to pass to mount but Bodin is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bodin wants to get back to full guard.
Bodin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hale looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hale moves into full mount! Bodin won't be happy about that!
Hale with good strikes from the mount here!
Bodin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hale moves into full mount! Bodin won't be happy about that!
Hale landing shots from mount.
Bodin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hale throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hale 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bodin wants to get up but he can't break Hale's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saxton Hale dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bodin misses with a looping left.
Bodin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bodin looks to land a combination but Hale avoids it well.
Bodin punishes Hale's body with a nice straight punch.
Bodin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hale.
Hale is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bodin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hale displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bodin throws out the jab.
Bodin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hale moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bodin just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Bodin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bodin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ithalo Bodin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hale moves out of range of the strikes.
Ithalo Bodin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bodin moves out of range as Hale strikes.
Hale tries to clinch up but Bodin circles away and keeps his distance.
Bodin tries to bum rush Hale with a series of wild strikes but Hale uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hale waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bodin.
Bodin thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Hale misses the target.
Hale fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hale looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bodin is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hale jumps into side control!
Bodin is looking to regain half guard here but Hale keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale working the body and head with strikes.
Hale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bodin is trying to get back to half guard.
Bodin is working hard here to advance position.
Hale has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Bodin!
Hale connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hale landing punches.
Hale lands a big shot there that rocks Bodin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bodin is looking to improve his position but Hale isn't that keen on the idea.
Bodin taking shots to the head.
Saxton Hale has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bodin is desperately trying to improve his position but Hale has a good base and remains in mount.
Hale working Bodin over with strikes here.
Hale with a couple of short strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bodin regains half guard.
Hale has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bodin is trying to escape the mount.
You get the feeling that Bodin really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Bodin tries to reverse the position but Hale maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale with a couple of short strikes.
Hale has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bodin's face.
Hale breaks from Bodin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hale breaks from Bodin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hale fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hale cracks Bodin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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!
Hale lands a nice shot to the head.
Hale cracks Bodin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
BOOM! Hale connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bodin is desperately trying to improve his position but Hale has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hale lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bodin is bucking up trying to escape but Hale cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hale with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saxton Hale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hale shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hale lands strikes from half guard.
Hale sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bodin defending well though.

Hale is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bodin defends it well.

Bodin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hale pulls his head out easily.
Hale trying to pass the guard but Bodin defending well.
Hale has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bodin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bodin gets back to half guard.
Hale tries to pass to full mount but Bodin defends it.
Hale frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bodin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bodin squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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.
Bodin working to try and regain half guard.
Hale lands with some strikes.
Hale cracks Bodin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hale looking to finish Bodin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bodin!
Hale landing punches.
Hale scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Well,Bodin is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Hale scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bodin?
Hale landing strikes from the mount.
Hale pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bodin working to try and regain half guard.
Hale working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bodin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hale lands a big shot there that rocks Bodin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hale is landing with some decent strikes but Bodin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Bodin is trying desperately to improve position.
Bodin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hale working over Bodin with some ground and pound. Bodin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hale working over Bodin with some ground and pound. Bodin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hale working Bodin over with strikes.
Hale wants to pass the guard but Bodin is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bodin is trying to get back to full guard.
Hale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ithalo Bodin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bodin tries to roll over but Hale keeps him under control.
Bodin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hale scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hale is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hale has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bodin's face.
Bodin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saxton Hale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hale winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight for Saxton Hale!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Saxton Hale!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Saxton Hale!

Saxton Hale wins by unanimous decision!