PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Travis Bickle (ranked 517 p4p, 73 weight class) and Thatcher Halverson (ranked 1211 p4p, 159 weight class). Bickle comes to the cage accompanied by Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen. Halverson has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bickle
vs
Halverson

185 cm
35
193 lbs
18 - 10 - 1

196 cm
26
200 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
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 18 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Travis Bickle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halverson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bickle throws out the jab.
Halverson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A jab from Halverson misses.
Bickle misses with a lunging right hand
and Halverson counters with a nice body shot.
Halverson misses with a body shot.
Halverson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bickle scores with a crisp jab that stopped Halverson in his tracks.
Halverson connects with a body shot.
Bickle's jab looks to have found its range, popping Halverson under the eye.
Bickle throws a leg kick which misses Halverson's front leg but catches the back leg as Halverson tries to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Halverson has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Halverson slips a straight right by Bickle.
Bickle throws a jab but it's blocked by Halverson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halverson looks to land a right hand but Bickle moved out of range.
A low kick from Bickle is predictable there
and Halverson counters with a nice uppercut.
A big left from Bickle misses.
Bickle throws a right hand that misses
and Halverson counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Bickle as Halverson shoots in.
Bickle bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Halverson's head.
Bickle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halverson.
Halverson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bickle was well out of range. Poor timing from Halverson.
Halverson shoots for a double leg takedown but Bickle sprawls well. He's pushed Halverson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bickle moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Halverson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bickle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bickle lands the left hand.
Halverson walks into a straight right hand from Bickle.
Halverson checks the leg kick.
Halverson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Halverson throws out a counter right but Bickle avoids it with no problem.
Halverson with a poor takedown
and Bickle counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Halverson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Travis Bickle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thatcher Halverson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halverson misses with a looping left.
Bickle is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've been told by Bickle's head coaches at Red Tri-Angle Gym. 15 Coaches/13 Elite that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bickle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Halverson manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Bickle scores with a takedown into Halverson's guard.
Halverson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bickle is one step ahead there.

Bickle throws a sloppy strike and Halverson has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Bickle is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Halverson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thatcher Halverson!