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TWGC 23 (185lbs, D1): Las Vegas Qualifier - Round 2 PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight Tycoon World Grappling Championship rules bout between Thatcher Halverson (ranked 2267 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Diaz (ranked 16255 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Halverson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Enter Sandman. Diaz comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Boombastic (Mr Lover Lover) by Shaggy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fernando Diaz has the eye of the tiger tonight.
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the middleweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 1 losses; Thatcher Halverson! And in the blue corner, fighting out of London, with a TWGC record of 5 wins and 3 losses; Fernando Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Halverson takes the fight into the clinch.
Halverson is trying to pull guard but Diaz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Halverson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Halverson is trying to pull guard but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thatcher Halverson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz pulls Halverson into guard.
Diaz can't keep his opponent in guard - Halverson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Halverson wants to advance to full mount but Diaz doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Diaz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Halverson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diaz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Halverson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Diaz working for a triangle but Halverson defends it easily.
Halverson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.
Halverson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Halverson trying to move into half guard but instead Diaz has managed to sweep! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Halverson (0) vs (2) Diaz
My spies in Lucky Liam's MMA Academy inform me that Diaz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Diaz won't allow Halverson to sweep him here.
Diaz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Halverson trying to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Halverson is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Halverson (2) vs (2) Diaz
Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Diaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Diaz, not yet.
Halverson trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Halverson looking to pass the guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Halverson from controlling successfully.
Halverson preventing the sweep.
Halverson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Diaz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Halverson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Diaz working a defensive guard here.
Halverson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halverson is really struggling to control Diaz but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Halverson's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Halverson slips nicely into half guard.
Halverson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Diaz holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Diaz is trying to maintain the position but Halverson is very close to passing his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Halverson in particular looking to stall.
Halverson tries to pass to full mount but Diaz defends it.
Halverson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Halverson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Diaz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Halverson.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Halverson trying to control the action but Diaz is working from the bottom.
Halverson tries to pass to full mount but Diaz defends it.
Halverson is trying to control. Diaz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Diaz trying to hold on to Halverson's head to control him but Halverson postures up.
Halverson is pressing down on Diaz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Diaz is holding on for now.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Diaz controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Halverson is working for a kimura but Diaz is defending it quite comfortably.
Diaz is trying to get back to full guard.
Halverson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Diaz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Diaz is concentrating on defense, preventing Halverson from advancing position.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Halverson manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: Halverson (5) vs (2) Diaz
Halverson forces the positional change into back control. Score +3 for taking back: Halverson (8) vs (2) Diaz
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Halverson is looking to control Diaz but Diaz is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Diaz trying to control the action but Halverson just sinks the hooks in.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz tries to break free.
A lull in the action here.
Halverson not allowing Diaz to control his hands.
Halverson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Halverson working for a choke but Diaz is defending well.
Diaz preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Halverson.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Halverson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Diaz is keeping busy.
Diaz tries to roll but Halverson sticks to his back.
Halverson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Diaz knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Diaz for a finish.
Halverson is persistently looking for the submission but Diaz is defending it well.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Diaz surviving as best he can, preventing damage.
Diaz defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Diaz wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
Diaz staying busy and making it hard for Halverson to control.
Diaz trying to control the hands but Halverson breaks the grip.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to escape the position.
Diaz just trying to survive but Halverson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Halverson tries to get the hooks in deep but Diaz pushed the leg off.
Diaz rolls, trying to escape but Halverson keeps control of the position.
Halverson avoiding Diaz 's attempts to control his hands.
Diaz defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Diaz tries to break free.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Halverson trying to control momentarily.
Diaz showing good submission defense here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Will Halverson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Halverson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Diaz has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Diaz just trying to survive but Halverson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Halverson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Diaz wants to escape the position.
Diaz wants to control his opponent's hands but Halverson gets his hands free.
Diaz breaks Halverson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Halverson (8) vs (4) Diaz
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Halverson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Halverson keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
Diaz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Halverson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Halverson wants to sweep here but Diaz controlling him for the moment.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Halverson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Halverson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Diaz manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Halverson (10) vs (4) Diaz
Diaz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Halverson (10) vs (6) Diaz
Diaz looking to pass the guard.
Halverson is trying to control the position but Diaz postures up.
Halverson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Diaz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Diaz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Diaz trying to control but Halverson is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Halverson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that's the end of the fight!
Halverson takes the fight on points by 10 to 6.
Thatcher Halverson took some time post fight to say the following; 'I'M THE BEST. The greatest fighter on the planet.'. |
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