PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reijo Halli (ranked 429 p4p, 445 weight class) and Diogo Jimenez (ranked 62 p4p, 65 weight class). Halli's entrance music is Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Halli
vs
Jimenez

177 cm
39
165
20 - 13 - 1

167 cm
39
146
37 - 17 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Bondi MMA 🏝️
New Standard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reijo Halli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Diogo Jimenez!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jimenez throws a jab when Halli was well out of range.
Jimenez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jimenez misses with a hook. Halli ducked under it nicely.

Halli gets a clinch.
Jimenez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Halli is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
I was talking to Halli's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Halli lands a nice uppercut.
Jimenez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Halli misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jimenez.
Jimenez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Halli.
Jimenez pushes Halli back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jimenez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jimenez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hallis head.
Halli doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jimenez blocking some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halli misses with the head strike.
Halli can't get the takedown.
Jimenez throws a head punch that misses.
Jimenez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Halli swings wildly with an uppercut but Jimenez uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jimenez manages to break the clinch.
Good exchange - Halli coming out on top.
Jimenez looks to land a left hand but Halli moved out of range nicely.
Halli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Halli tries to clinch there but Jimenez circles away.
Jimenez throws a looping overhand right but Halli ducks down to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jimenez. Halli does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jimenez throws a push kick but Halli slaps the foot to one side.
Halli changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Halli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jimenez.
Halli attempts a counter takedown but Jimenez avoids it well and moves away.
Halli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jimenez.
Jimenez defending well as Halli loads up on a big left hand.
Jimenez thows a left - swing and a miss!

Jimenez clinches.
Jimenez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Halli backwards.
Jimenez blocks a body shot from Halli.

Halli pulls guard.

Jimenez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Halli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli can't keep his opponent in guard - Jimenez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halli is staying active underneath Jimenez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jimenez is looking to advance position but Halli won't allow it.

Jimenez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Halli gets full guard.
Halli tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jimenez trying to control but Halli is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Halli haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Halli holds on and takes a little breather.

Halli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jimenez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Halli has his foot on Jimenez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jimenez works his way back into a safe position though.
Halli tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Halli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jimenez advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jimenez is looking to take a break and control but Halli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Halli wants to control but Jimenez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Jimenez is trying to work for a kimura but Halli is defending well.

Jimenez is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Halli to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Halli working a defensive guard but Jimenez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Halli is looking for a sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diogo Jimenez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Halli dives in for a single leg takedown but Jimenez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Jimenez fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Halli.
Jimenez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Halli manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Halli 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.
Halli lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Jimenez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Halli manages to get himself to full guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Halli holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jimenez slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Diogo Jimenez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Halli bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Halli trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jimenez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halli is aware though and is defending well.
Halli controls from within his opponent's guard.
Halli trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli wants to pass the guard but Jimenez is keeping the position.
Halli trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jimenez looking for a guillotine here but Halli defends easily.
Halli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jimenez is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez keeping moving, preventing Halli from controlling successfully.
Halli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Jimenez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halli is aware though and is defending well.
Halli seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Halli slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jimenez has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Jimenez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Halli's best efforts.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Jimenez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jimenez is not content to let Halli control the position.
Jimenez tries to get to full guard but Halli has control of the leg.

Halli is looking to control the position but Jimenez frees his trapped leg and locks up an armbar from the bottom! It looks tight! Halli grimaces and holds on for a second but is forced to tap or have his arm broken! Slick Jiu Jitsu from Jimenez there - Halli really paying for some sloppy defensive work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Diogo Jimenez!
Diogo Jimenez was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.