PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darren Halbert (ranked 3568 p4p, 4087 weight class) and Jacob Gayle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halbert comes to the cage accompanied by Walk-Pantera. Jacob Gayle has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Darren Halbert's chin.

Halbert
vs
Gayle

197 cm
25
268
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
225
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Hates pizza

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Darren Halbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jacob Gayle!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gayle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Halbert scores with a hook.
Halbert looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Halbert throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gayle takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gayle looks for a takedown but Halbert sprawls well.
Halbert throws a head kick that Gayle semi-blocks.
Gayle tries to clinch up but Halbert circles away and keeps his distance.
Halbert looks to land a combination but Gayle avoids it well.
Gayle fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gayle shoots in looking for a takedown. Halbert tries to sprawl out of it but Gayle keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Halbert manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Gayle tries to get set, Halbert tries to push him back and clinch up but Gayle manages to avoid the attempt.
Darren Halbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Gayle.
Halbert throws a body punch but Gayle moves out of range.
Halbert sets himself, and Gayle steps forward looking for the clinch! Halbert avoids it this time.
Halbert digs a good hook to Gayle's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halbert shoots in for a takedown but Gayle shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Halbert shoots in and gets a takedown into Gayle's guard.
Halbert controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gayle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gayle won't allow Halbert to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Halbert is on top in guard.

Gayle wants to control the position but Halbert says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gayle has a hand on Halbert's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Halbert takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Halbert throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gayle because Halbert loaded up on that one.
Halbert thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Halbert takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
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!
Halbert throwing strikes here but Gayle is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halbert content just to control the position here.
Gayle tries to hold on but Halbert postures up.
Halbert takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halbert's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Halbert avoids the attempt from Gayle to control.

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.
Gayle is looking to get to half guard.
Gayle tries to hold on but Halbert postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Halbert tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halbert has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Halbert dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gayle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Halbert sprawls well. Halbert wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gayle gets slowly back to his feet.
Halbert seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Halbert connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gayle keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Halbert's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gayle under the eye.
Gayle is looking to clinch.
Halbert appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gayle takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gayle wants to clinch.
Gayle shoots for a takedown but Halbert saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halbert works Gayle's body with a nice hook.
Gayle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Halbert is fending him off so far but Gayle persists. Nope, Halbert circles away and we're back to standing.
Darren Halbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Gayle.
Halbert misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Halbert is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gayle takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Halbert moves into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Halbert.
Gayle looking for a takedown.
Halbert connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gayle's face.

It looks like Jacob Gayle has been cut.
Halbert creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gayle's defenses.
Halbert lands an elbow inside that Gayle shrugs off.
Halbert lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halbert landing knees to the head.
Halbert stalling in the clinch.
Gayle tries to pull guard but Halbert won't allow it.
Halbert lands an elbow inside.

Halbert escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gayle darts in looking for a takedown but Halbert gets double underhooks and turns Gayle into the cage.
Halbert scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Halbert closes the distance and clinches up with Gayle, looking for a takedown. Halbert pushes Gayle against the cage but Gayle circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Darren Halbert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halbert shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gayle sprawls well. Gayle wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Halbert gets slowly back to his feet.
Halbert is looking to wear down Gayle with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Halbert closes the distance and clinches.
Halbert has Gayle pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gayle manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Halbert has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gayle uses from the top position.
Gayle is looking to advance position but Halbert has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Darren Halbert overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gayle tries to hold on but Halbert postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gayle tries to reverse the position but Halbert maintains control.
Gayle is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Halbert sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Halbert will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gayle is desperately trying to improve his position but Halbert has a good base and remains in mount.
Gayle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Halbert controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Halbert dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jacob Gayle's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Gayle will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Darren Halbert is winning the standup battle so far.
Decent striking displayed by Halbert there.
Nice uppercut lands for Gayle. That snapped Halbert's head back.

Gayle scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Halbert manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Gayle tries to keep at a distance but Halbert has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Halbert has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gayle clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gayle trying to control the action but Halbert just sinks the hooks in.
Halbert controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halbert is not going to allow Gayle to sit and survive in this position.
Gayle can't escape the position.
Halbert missing with strikes from the back.

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.
Gayle is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Halbert.
Gayle covering up well under a series of strikes from Halbert.
Halbert controls the action.
Halbert somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halbert keeps control of the position as Gayle tries to break free.
Jacob Gayle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darren Halbert is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Halbert has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Gayle's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren Halbert showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Halbert 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Halbert!
Darren Halbert decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.