PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sameh Mahmoud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thatcher Halverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halverson has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mahmoud
vs
Halverson

180 cm
27
193 lbs
16 - 3 - 0

196 cm
25
200 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sameh Mahmoud!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Halverson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Halverson looking to pass the guard.
Mahmoud is pulling down on Halverson's head. It's preventing any offense from Halverson, at least for the moment.
Halverson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Halverson wants to pass the guard but Mahmoud is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson wants to control from the top but Mahmoud keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mahmoud pulls Halverson in close to his closed guard and prevents Halverson from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahmoud is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halverson content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mahmoud rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Halverson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mahmoud's guard.
Mahmoud wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Halverson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mahmoud's head.
Halverson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mahmoud holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson advances position into side control!
Halverson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Halverson in side control, throwing shots but Mahmoud defends.

Halverson swings around for an armbar but Mahmoud sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Halverson's guard.

Halverson has an active guard here but Mahmoud has managed to pass into half guard.
Halverson gets full guard.
Halverson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson wants to control from the top but Mahmoud keeps moving.
Mahmoud wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Halverson looking to sit in guard and control but Mahmoud gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mahmoud controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mahmoud preventing the sweep.
Mahmoud controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Halverson trying to keep a closed guard but Mahmoud is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thatcher Halverson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Halverson misses with a straight left.
Mahmoud throws a jab when Halverson was well out of range.
Halverson works the jab nicely.
Mahmoud looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mahmoud lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Halverson at a distance.
Halverson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mahmoud throws a jab when Halverson was well out of range.
Mahmoud tries to clinch but Halverson is having none of it.

Halverson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Halverson tries to move to mount but Mahmoud blocks the move with his legs.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mahmoud keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmoud defending against the ground and pound.
Mahmoud avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Halverson.
Halverson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Halverson grinds an elbow into Mahmoud's temple.
Thatcher Halverson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mahmoud is trying to get back to half guard.
Mahmoud defending against the ground and pound.
Halverson tries to advance to mount but Mahmoud denies him.

Halverson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mahmoud knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Halverson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halverson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mahmoud prevents Halverson from improving position.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mahmoud keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud struggling a bit here.
Halverson looks up at the clock and then as Mahmoud takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Halverson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Halverson wants to control but Mahmoud is keeping him busy.
Halverson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Halverson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Mahmoud sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Halverson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Halverson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mahmoud keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Halverson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Halverson looking to control but instead Mahmoud has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Halverson wants to control but Mahmoud is keeping him busy.
Halverson wants to free his trapped foot but Mahmoud is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mahmoud has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Halverson is working away from the top position though.
Halverson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Halverson is keen to just control but Mahmoud is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big right from Halverson misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Halverson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thatcher Halverson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Mahmoud's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Halverson moves out of range of the strikes.
Jab, jab by Halverson - just one landing.
Mahmoud throws a chopping leg kick but Halverson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Halverson fails with a takedown attempt.
Mahmoud is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Halverson.
Mahmoud ducks under a wild hook from Halverson.
Mahmoud swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Halverson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmoud jabs at Halverson's body.
Halverson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mahmoud avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmoud lands a leg kick that knocks Halverson off balance momentarily.
Good leg kick by Mahmoud there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Halverson throws a hook but Mahmoud avoids it easily.
Mahmoud cracks Halverson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mahmoud throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mahmoud stuffs the takedown.
Sameh Mahmoud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thatcher Halverson.
Halverson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mahmoud.

Mahmoud closes the distance and clinches.
Halverson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mahmoud smiles and moves away.
Mahmoud scores with a jab to the body.
Sameh Mahmoud is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halverson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mahmoud scores with a spinning back kick!
Mahmoud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Halverson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Halverson darts in looking for a takedown but Mahmoud gets double underhooks and turns Halverson into the cage.
Good shot there by Mahmoud.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mahmoud throws a jab when Halverson was well out of range.
A big left from Halverson misses.
Halverson scores with a sloppy right hand. Mahmoud should have avoided that one.
Mahmoud misses with an uppercut.
Mahmoud stuffs the takedown.
Mahmoud throwing a counter right hand but Halverson manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Halverson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Halverson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Mahmoud throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mahmoud throws a predictable looking body shot

and Halverson counters with a single leg into guard. Mahmoud didn't expect that.
Mahmoud pulls Halverson in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Halverson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Halverson trying to control but Mahmoud is working from the bottom.
Halverson wants to pass the guard but Mahmoud is keeping the position.
Halverson wants to control from the top but Mahmoud keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Halverson throws an elbow that misses. Mahmoud uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Halverson's guard. Nice move by Mahmoud!

Mahmoud not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Halverson wants to sweep here but Mahmoud controlling him for the moment.
Halverson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mahmoud controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sameh Mahmoud clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fighters circling - Mahmoud throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Halverson misses with a takedown attempt - Mahmoud sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mahmoud misses with a looping right.
Halverson ducks right into an uppercut from Mahmoud.
Halverson shoots in but no luck this time.
Halverson 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.
Mahmoud looks to score with a jab to the body but Halverson is just out of range.
Mahmoud takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmoud with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Halverson to score with a decent uppercut.
Mahmoud on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Halverson cracks Mahmoud with a good jab.
Mahmoud looks to score with a jab to the body but Halverson is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmoud throws a leg kick but Halverson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mahmoud, as that shot connected.
Mahmoud jabs Halverson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Halverson shoots in looking for a takedown but Mahmoud manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halverson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sameh Mahmoud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thatcher Halverson.
Halverson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice shot by Mahmoud.
Halverson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mahmoud throws a body shot but no joy.
Halverson throws a jab but it's blocked by Mahmoud.
Nice sprawl there from Mahmoud as Halverson shoots in.
Halverson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mahmoud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mahmoud takes one to the chin there.
Mahmoud just misses with a punch to the body.
Halverson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mahmoud.
Mahmoud uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halverson.
Mahmoud tries to land a leg kick but Halverson saw it coming and moves away.
It seemed like Halverson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mahmoud, right into the meat.
Halverson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mahmoud was well out of range. Poor timing from Halverson.
Halverson throws a body punch but Mahmoud moves out of range.
Mahmoud tries to counter by clinching up but Halverson breaks away and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson slips a jab from Mahmoud.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Halverson! But no joy.
Mahmoud scores with a punch to the head.
Mahmoud cracks Halverson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sameh Mahmoud is winning the standup battle so far.
Halverson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Halverson connects with the punch.
Halverson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Halverson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mahmoud wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mahmoud keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Halverson.
Halverson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mahmoud throws a lazy right hand but Halverson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Halverson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson shoots in but Mahmoud avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Halverson drops his hands momentarily and Mahmoud takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Halverson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mahmoud misses with a looping right.
Halverson looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Halverson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mahmoud looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mahmoud keeping his opponent close.
Mahmoud manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sameh Mahmoud had his way with Thatcher Halverson in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Halverson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mahmoud under the eye.
Mahmoud misses the shot to the body.
Halverson works the jab nicely.
Mahmoud looks to land a left hand but Halverson moved out of range nicely.
Halverson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Mahmoud misses the target.
Mahmoud misses with a body shot.
Halverson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Halverson moves away from the strike by Mahmoud.
Some bone on bone action there as Halverson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mahmoud.
Mahmoud takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mahmoud misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halverson.
Mahmoud throws a hook but Halverson blocks it.
It seemed like Halverson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmoud misses with a lunging right hand
and Halverson counters with a stiff right hand.
Mahmoud lands a body shot.
Halverson shoots in for a takedown but Mahmoud shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mahmoud pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice cross by Mahmoud.
Mahmoud lands with a right hand.
Halverson staying out of range there.
And Halverson tries to counter it with a takedown but Mahmoud pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mahmoud scores with the left hand. Halverson knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice shot by Halverson.
Mahmoud throws a nice looking combination but Halverson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson misses with a shot to the body
and Mahmoud counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Mahmoud fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Halverson, pushing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Halverson.
A short right from Mahmoud on the inside.
Halverson being controlled against the cage.
Mahmoud scores with a nice hook to the head.
Halverson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Halverson is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Mahmoud digs a right hand into Halverson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Halverson's gas tank.
A nice left hand lands by Mahmoud.
A short body shot lands from Mahmoud as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Mahmoud on the inside.
Mahmoud gets through Halverson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mahmoud landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mahmoud crunches a lovely knee into Halverson's ribcage.
Mahmoud stalling against the cage.
Mahmoud working Halverson over with knees to the body.
Mahmoud lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Halverson backwards.
Mahmoud pushes Halverson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mahmoud pushes Halverson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sameh Mahmoud has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mahmoud connects with a knee to the head.
Mahmoud lands an uppercut.

Halverson is rocked!
Mahmoud controlling the action here for a moment.
Halverson is still on wobbly legs! Can Mahmoud finish him?
Mahmoud lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mahmoud drops Halverson with a big knee straight up the middle! Halverson is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Mahmoud swings for the body but Halverson moves out of range.
Halverson blocks the body kick.
Mahmoud misses the jab.
A little jabbing left from Halverson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Halverson seems to have recovered his senses.
Mahmoud changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mahmoud keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Mahmoud rushes Halverson and presses him up against the cage.
Mahmoud throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Halverson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mahmoud is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sameh Mahmoud showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mahmoud has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sameh Mahmoud!
Sameh Mahmoud retains his middleweight title!
After winning the bout, Sameh Mahmoud thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Thatcher Halverson spoke after the fight, saying 'I shall rise to the top again! Thanks to the promoter for making the fight and opportunity. Also thanks to my opponent for stepping up and taking the fight. He proved tonight why he's the champ.'.