PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Halliwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halliwell's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Finally vs Love story. John Halliwell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Halliwell
vs
Gracie

187 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Halliwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Gracie!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Halliwell has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Halliwell is doing well to control the position and prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.
Gracie stops Halliwell from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Halliwell defends it well.
Halliwell is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Halliwell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Halliwell is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Halliwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Halliwell is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gracie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gracie stops Halliwell from standing up.

Halliwell throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Halliwell's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Halliwell is defending well.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Halliwell is defending well.
Gracie looks gassed!
Halliwell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Halliwell throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie prevents Halliwell from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halliwell moves into full guard.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Halliwell's guard.
Halliwell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Halliwell looking for a sweep. Not yet Halliwell, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Halliwell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Halliwell shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gracie manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halliwell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Halliwell from controlling successfully.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Halliwell postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Halliwell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Halliwell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Halliwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie misses with a takedown
and Halliwell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halliwell tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.

Halliwell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halliwell keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Halliwell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Halliwell is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Halliwell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Halliwell working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Halliwell wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Halliwell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Halliwell.
Halliwell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gracie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Halliwell prevents the takedown attempt.
John Halliwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halliwell content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Halliwell prevents the takedown attempt.

Halliwell breaks from the clinch.

Halliwell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Halliwell wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halliwell stays in close to Gracie's body and controls the position.

Halliwell stands up from Gracie's guard - Halliwell perhaps looking for a knockout.
Halliwell with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Halliwell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Halliwell misses with a wild combination.
John Halliwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Halliwell counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Gracie tries to bench press Halliwell off him but Halliwell keeps the position.
Halliwell taking a breather here.
Gracie prevents Halliwell from improving position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Halliwell is trying to control but Gracie passes into side control!

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Halliwell can't do much from the bottom here.
Halliwell is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Halliwell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is keeping busy.
Gracie is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position but Halliwell manages to sink in the hooks.
Halliwell tries to get the hooks in deep but Gracie pushed the leg off.
Halliwell controlling from the back.
Gracie just trying to survive but Halliwell is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Halliwell wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Halliwell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Halliwell looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Halliwell has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Halliwell working a defensive guard here.
Matt Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
John Halliwell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Halliwell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Halliwell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Gracie!