PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Crown Halo (ranked 933 p4p, 1236 weight class) and Gabriel Arones (ranked 129 p4p, 172 weight class). Arones has chosen Lonely is the night as his entrance music. Gabriel Arones has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Halo
vs
Arones

191 cm
37
207
23 - 19 - 2

190 cm
34
224
22 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Altitude Clothing
Syndicate 160Q ($125)

Core Combat
Sydney Fight Gear (London Rebirth)

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 23 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Crown Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gabriel Arones!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arones misses with a takedown
and Halo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Arones rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Halo counters with a nice body shot.
Arones misses with an uppercut
and Halo counters with a nice uppercut.
Arones misses with a lunging right hand
and Halo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Arones lands a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Halo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Arones falls off balance throwing a combination
and Halo counters with a leg kick.
We've been told by Halo's head coaches at Temple of Illumination that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arones shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Halo holds on and takes a little breather.
Arones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Halo keeping moving, preventing Arones from controlling successfully.
Halo working a defensive guard here.
Arones looking to pass the guard.
Arones throws a big right hand that misses.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Arones working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo looking to control.
Halo keeping full guard, as Arones tries to pass.
Arones in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Halo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Arones on the ground.
Halo is pulling down on Arones's head to control his posture.
Arones is stalling in the full guard.
Halo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Arones throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Halo controlling Arones's posture.

Arones is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arones missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Arones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Halo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arones.
Arones postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Halo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Arones lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Halo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Halo pulls Arones in close to his closed guard and prevents Arones from doing any damage or advancing position.
Halo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Arones is controlling him.
Arones forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halo wants to get back to full guard but Arones has passed into side control.
Arones lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Halo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Arones is looking to take a break and control but Halo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arones scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Halo keeps working.
Halo can't do much from the bottom here.
Arones misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Arones dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Arones works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Halo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gabriel Arones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Halo.
As Arones backs away, Halo returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Arones lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Arones misses with a body shot
and Halo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Arones's knee momentarily.
Arones lands a head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arones fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halo tries to sprawl but Arones drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Halo is looking to control Arones's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Halo avoid being mounted?
Halo is staying active underneath Arones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Arones is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Halo tries to roll over but Arones keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arones seems to be looking for submissions.
Arones thows a huge punch but Halo dodges it nicely.
Halo is looking for a sweep. Arones is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Arones thows a huge punch but Halo dodges it nicely.
Halo wants to get back to full guard.
Halo has hold of Arones's hands but Arones slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Arones has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arones working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Arones there.
Arones lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Halo has hold of Arones's hands but Arones slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
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!

Arones wants to work for an arm triangle but Halo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Arones lands strikes from half guard.
Arones prevents Halo from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo moves into full guard.
Halo keeping moving, preventing Arones from controlling successfully.
Halo pulls Arones in to control the position.
Arones lands a couple of digs.
Arones engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Arones postures up in Halo's guard and throws a big left but Halo blocks it.
Halo working a defensive guard here.
Arones lands a couple of digs.
Halo working a defensive guard but Arones manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arones misses with the ground and pound.
Arones lands a few punches from side control.
Arones landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Arones trying to control the action but Halo is working from the bottom.
Arones is chipping away with strikes.
Halo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Arones.
Halo is trying to improve his position.
Arones lands a few punches from side control.
The ground and pound from Arones seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Arones trying to control the action but Halo is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Arones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Halo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Arones gets a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Arones - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Halo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Halo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Halo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arones is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo trying to land knees to the body.
Halo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arones blocks it with crossed arms.
Halo misses with a body punch.
Halo blocks an uppercut.
Halo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arones throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arones lands a right hand that snaps the head of Halo backwards.
Halo letting Arones take a breather here.
Arones swings wildly with an uppercut but Halo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arones fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arones.
Halo crunches a lovely knee into Arones's ribcage.
Arones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arones lands a hook that snaps the head of Halo backwards.
Halo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arones is defending well for now.

Arones turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Halo sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Halo is looking for a sweep. Arones is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Arones throwing shots but Halo is blocking nicely.
Arones is keen to just control but Halo is a slippery customer.
Halo won't allow Arones to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Arones scores with a couple of nice shots.
Arones missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Arones connects with a nice short shot to Halo's temple.
Halo controlling the position well.
Crown Halo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arones is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Halo is defending against the submission attempts here by Arones.
Arones throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Halo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arones is working away from the top position though.
Arones missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo trying to hold on to Arones's head to control him but Arones postures up.
Arones performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Halo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Arones lands with a punch from half guard.
Arones trying to pass the guard but Halo defending well.
Arones working the head and body with strikes.
Arones trying to control from half guard but Halo is working away.
Arones looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Arones pulls his head out easily.
Arones passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Halo!
Halo working to try and regain half guard.
Halo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The referee warns Halo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Halo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Halo can't escape the position.
Arones postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Halo looks a forlorn figure.
Gabriel Arones is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Halo is rocked!
Arones looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Arones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Arones 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Arones!
Gabriel Arones took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.