PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zerachiel Halo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Faaloua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Halo
vs
Faaloua

198 cm
22
275 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
25
265 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zerachiel Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Faaloua!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faaloua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Halo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Halo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Faaloua ducks under a wild hook from Halo.
Faaloua tries to clinch but Halo is having none of it.
James Faaloua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Faaloua drives through and clinches with Halo against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Halo's brow.
Faaloua pushes off an throws an elbow but Halo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Faaloua just leaning against Halo, taking a breather.
Faaloua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it misses.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Faaloua lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Faaloua gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Halo lands with a right to the head.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The referee is keeping an eye on Halo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A bit of stalling here from Faaloua.
Faaloua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Halo blocks the elbow strike.
Halo misses with some punches.
Faaloua throws an elbow that misses.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua throws an elbow that misses.
Halo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Halo effectively controlling the action here.
Halo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Halo as Faaloua tries to tie him up.
Faaloua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Halo dodges an elbow strike from Faaloua.
Halo throws a punch but it's blocked by Faaloua.
Faaloua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Still in the clinch, Halo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Halo lands with a short shot to the head.

It looks like James Faaloua has been cut.
Halo blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
Faaloua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Halo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Faaloua keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Halo's efforts to push away.
Faaloua looking to slow down the pace here.
Faaloua gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A short right from Halo on the inside.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
Faaloua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Faaloua blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Halo stalls.
Halo swings wildly with an uppercut but Faaloua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Halo takes an elbow to the forehead.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Halo.
Halo blocks an elbow strike.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Faaloua.
Faaloua is trying to stall.
Halo avoids the elbow strike from Faaloua, against the cage.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it misses.
Faaloua throws an elbow that misses.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Faaloua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Faaloua's cut.
That's time! Halo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Faaloua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Halo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Halo scores with a nice right hand.
Faaloua has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Faaloua lands with a kick to the ribs.
Halo wants to slow Faaloua down by chopping away at his legs.
Halo has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Halo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A solid leg kick lands there for Halo.
Halo swats away the attempt to clinch by Faaloua.
Faaloua wants to clinch but Halo slips to the side
and Halo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Faaloua swings widly with a right hand
and Halo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Halo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Halo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Faaloua throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Halo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Faaloua manages to avoid it.
Halo moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromFaaloua.

Faaloua gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faaloua dodges an elbow strike from Halo.
Faaloua blocking some punches.
Faaloua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Halo dodges an elbow strike from Faaloua.
Halo throws a punch but it's blocked by Faaloua.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Halo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Faaloua's brow.
Halo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it misses.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it misses.
Halo blocks an elbow strike.
Halo is pushing Faaloua up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Come on Faaloua - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A shot in the inside from Halo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua is trying to maintain a safe position but Halo gets an underhook and turns Faaloua into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Halo's brow.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Faaloua throws an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Halo's brow.
Halo takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Zerachiel Halo has been cut.
Halo lands a left hand.
Halo throws a head punch that misses.
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!
Halo scores with a shoulder strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Halo's brow.
A nice left hand lands by Halo.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Halo's brow.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Halo throws a punch but it's blocked by Faaloua.
Faaloua stalling in the clinch but Halo improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it misses.
Halo leaning against his opponent.
Faaloua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Still in the clinch, Halo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
James Faaloua seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Halo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Halo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Faaloua slows down the pace here.
Halo blocks an elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Faaloua lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Halo avoids the elbow strike from Faaloua, against the cage.
Halo misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Faaloua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Halo.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Halo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Faaloua backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua pushes off an throws an elbow but Halo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Halo takes an elbow to the temple.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
Faaloua misses with an elbow over the top.
Faaloua wants to stall.
Faaloua's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Faaloua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Faaloua closes the distance and clinches.
Halo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Halo stalling in the clinch but Faaloua improves position.

Halo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Faaloua throws a sloppy head kick and Halo moves out of range easily.
Faaloua lands a head kick!
Faaloua fails with an attempt to clinch.
Faaloua with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Halo to score with a decent uppercut.
Faaloua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faaloua is looking to clinch.
Faaloua avoids the head kick by Halo.

Faaloua pushes Halo up against the cage in a clinch.
Faaloua gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Faaloua is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Halo is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo dodges an elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua misses with an elbow strike.
Halo lands a shoulder strike.
Faaloua avoiding damage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Faaloua throws an elbow but misses.
Faaloua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Faaloua throws an elbow but misses.
Halo dodges an elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Halo's defenses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Faaloua avoids a wild elbow strike from Halo.

Halo breaks from the clinch.

Faaloua moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Halo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Faaloua wants to stall.
Halo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Faaloua.
Faaloua pushes off an throws an elbow but Halo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Halo blocks an elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua throws an elbow but it misses.
Halo blocks the elbow strike.
Halo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Halo is trying to maintain a safe position but Faaloua gets an underhook and turns Halo into the cage.
Halo avoids the elbow strike from Faaloua, against the cage.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Halo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Faaloua blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Halo is trying to maintain a safe position but Faaloua gets an underhook and turns Halo into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Halo fails to land.
Halo swings wildly with an uppercut but Faaloua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Halo works on Faaloua's body with a couple of short punches.
Halo misses with a punch on the inside.
Come on Halo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Faaloua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Halo's brow.
Faaloua stalling in the clinch but Halo improves position.
Halo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Zerachiel Halo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halo misses with a punch on the inside.
Faaloua lands a nice elbow.
Faaloua throws an elbow that misses.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
Faaloua lands a nice elbow.
A shot in the inside from Halo.
Halo stalling.
Halo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Halo lands a nice uppercut.
Faaloua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Halo working aggressively here.
Faaloua throws an elbow that misses.
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!
A right hand to the body from Halo.
Faaloua managing to block the knees to the body from Halo.
Faaloua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Halo avoids a wild elbow strike from Faaloua.
James Faaloua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Faaloua throws an elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Faaloua.
I've got Faaloua 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Faaloua!
James Faaloua seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.