PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julle Hallava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil Murray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hallava comes to the cage accompanied by Nightcall. Julle Hallava has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hallava
vs
Murray

190 cm
24
215 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

187 cm
27
215 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Julle Hallava!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Neil Murray!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hallava tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hallava looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Murray walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hallava.
Murray circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Murray lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hallava circles away quickly and effectively.
Hallava throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hallava throws a wild body kick that Murray sees coming a mile off.
Hallava lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
We've been told by Hallava's head coaches at Gangsterdamage that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Hallava forces Murray back against the cage and clinches.
Good body shot from Hallava.
Murray jumps guard but Hallava turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hallava lands a body shot.
Murray prevents a body shot from Hallava.
Murray tries to pull guard but Hallava forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hallava lands a damaging elbow.

Murray manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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!
Hallava prevents Murray from getting back to his feet.
Hallava won't allow Murray to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallava not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Murray keeping moving, preventing Hallava from controlling successfully.
Hallava scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hallava in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hallava controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hallava with a nice head shot there.
Hallava throws a big right hand that misses.
Murray has Hallava pulled in close to control his posture.
Hallava in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallava throwing strikes from guard but Murray blocks nicely.
Murray wants to sweep here but Hallava controlling him for the moment.
Murray is trying to control the position but Hallava postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Murray is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murray throws a jab but it's blocked by Hallava.
Murray avoids the head kick by Hallava.
A slow jab from Murray misses its intended target.
Hallava looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Julle Hallava is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murray takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hallava keeps Murray at a distance using the push kick.
Hallava with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Murray moves out of range of the body kick from Hallava.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hallava.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallava bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hallava is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hallava throws a head kick but Murray moves out of range.
Murray moves out of range of the body kick.
Murray fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hallava manages to avoid it.
Murray misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big left from Hallava misses.
Hallava looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hallava fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hallava throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hallava thumps Murray with a low kick.
Murray moves out of range of the body kick from Hallava.
Murray changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Murray takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hallava moves out of range of the strikes.
Murray avoids the head kick by Hallava.
Murray paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice cross by Hallava.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hallava. Hallava obviously looking to wear him down.
Hallava takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Murray checks a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Murray! But no joy.
Murray misses the jab.
A big right from Murray misses.
Hallava moves out of range of the strikes.
Murray throws a shot from downtown. Hallava moves away and avoids it.
Murray on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Murray shoots in for a takedown but Hallava shows good takedown defense.
Julle Hallava has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neil Murray.
Hallava tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murray was well out of range. Poor timing from Hallava.
Hallava connects with the punch.
Hallava is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hallava uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Murray.
Hallava throws a head kick that half lands.
Murray throws a shot from downtown. Hallava moves away and avoids it.
Hallava half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Good leg kick by Hallava there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hallava cracks Murray with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hallava ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A slow jab from Murray misses its intended target.
Murray keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hallava.
Murray steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hallava.
Murray looks to land a right hand but Hallava moved out of range.
Murray misses with a lunging right hand
and Hallava counters with a slapping leg kick.
Murray throws a jab when Hallava was well out of range.
Murray scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hallava lands with a slapping head kick.

Murray feints and as Hallava raises his hands in defense, Murray changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hallava trying to keep a closed guard but Murray is proving a slippery customer.
Hallava is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murray can do to turn this around?
Murray trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hallava wants to sweep but no luck.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murray is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hallava throws his legs up looking for a submission but Murray uses it to pass to side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Murray gets to mount! Hallava was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Hallava wants to control but Murray is having none of it.
Hallava is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallava is squirming around, avoiding Murray's attempts to control the action.
Murray controlling from the full mount.
Murray prevents Hallava from getting the reversal.
Hallava 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.
Hallava wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallava won't allow Murray to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murray is trying to control the action in half guard but Hallava is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hallava regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hallava isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Murray stacks Hallava 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 Murray!
Hallava can't do much from the bottom here.
Hallava regains half guard.
Murray passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hallava!
Murray can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hallava is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hallava is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hallava bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hallava lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hallava throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Murray wants to control but Hallava passes easily into half guard.
Hallava scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Neil Murray will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hallava.
Murray tries for a takedown but Hallava sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hallava motions for Murray to come forward. Hallava throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice straight punches there by Murray. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Murray.
Julle Hallava is winning the standup battle so far.
Hallava tries to clinch up.
Murray misses with a series of wild punches.
Hallava lands with a slapping head kick.
Murray throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hallava throws out a powerful jab.
Hallava ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murray might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hallava, as that shot connected.
Murray misses with a wild body shot.
Hallava is looking to slow Murray down with leg kicks.
Murray avoids the body shot from Hallava.

Murray moves into range and clinches up with Hallava.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hallava tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Murray blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hallava prevents the takedown attempt.
Julle Hallava has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neil Murray.
Hallava lands an elbow that stopped Murray in his tracks for a moment.

Murray pulls guard effortlessly.
Hallava wants to control from the top but Murray keeps moving.
Hallava sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hallava stands up over Murray, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray keeping moving, preventing Hallava from controlling successfully.
Hallava is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hallava has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hallava trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.
Hallava stands and throws Murray's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hallava trying to control the action but Murray is working from the bottom.
Murray parries the strikes from Hallava easily there. Hallava is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Murray to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray is trying to control Hallava's posture but Hallava avoids it.
Hallava lands a few punches from side control.
Murray tries to buck Hallava off but Hallava is having none of it.
Hallava is trying to ground and pound but Murray uses the momentary lack of control by Hallava to regain half guard.
Murray is trying to stand back up but Hallava is controlling him

Hallava wants to work for an arm triangle but Murray is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four 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.
Hallava not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hallava is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Murray is holding on to half guard well.
Hallava missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hallava trying to control the pace.
Murray wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hallava trying to control the action but Murray is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julle Hallava showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hallava has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julle Hallava!
Julle Hallava 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.