PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jim Halberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan mac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathan mac acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Halberg
vs
mac

164 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Halberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathan mac!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

mac scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
mac content to control rather than advance.

Halberg is defending against the submission attempts here by mac.
Halberg is looking to escape.
Halberg manages to get to full guard.
mac works over Halberg with some ground and pound from guard.
mac wants to stand and escape but instead Halberg has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
mac looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

mac is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

mac gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Halberg wants to stand but mac is controlling the position.

Halberg kicks mac off and gets to his feet.
Halberg moves in looking to clinch but mac pushes him off.
mac shoots in but Halberg avoids the takedown attempt easily.
mac circles away from the clinch attempt.

Halberg fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with mac, pushing him back against the cage.
mac blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

mac escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
mac misses with a kick to the body.

mac forces Halberg back against the cage and clinches.
mac blocks an elbow strike from Halberg.
Halberg lands a nice shot to the body.
mac keeps control of Halberg as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
mac looking for a takedown.
Halberg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. mac is defending well for now.

mac breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Halberg scores with a three punch combo!
Halberg lands a jab-cross combination.
Halberg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but mac paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Halberg fails with the takedown.
mac tries for a takedown but Halberg circles away easily

and Halberg counters with a shoot takedown. mac fights it but they end up in guard.
Jim Halberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan mac.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halberg trying to stand up but can't free himself from mac's guard.
Halberg being controlled here momentarily.
mac is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Halberg is staying active underneath mac, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
mac trying to mount his opponent but Halberg defends it.
Halberg moves into full guard.

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.
mac wants to control from the top but Halberg keeps moving.
Halberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but mac is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
mac pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halberg is keeping the position for now.
Halberg might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
mac trying to control but Halberg is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jim Halberg will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

mac throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Halberg shoots in looking for a takedown. mac tries to sprawl out of it but Halberg keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. mac manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Halberg wants to clinch.
mac scores with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halberg lands a nice hook to mac's body. mac takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

mac gets a takedown into half guard.
Halberg trying to hold on to mac's head to control him but mac postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mac wants to pass to mount but Halberg is defending the position.

mac wants to work for an arm triangle but Halberg is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
mac is thwarting Halberg's attempts to control the position.
Halberg is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

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.
Halberg is not content to let mac control the position.
mac sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Halberg fails to land the takedown.

mac changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Halberg looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Halberg is looking for a sweep.
mac working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

mac tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Halberg pushes mac away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, mac gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
mac takes a little break here. Halberg wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Halberg is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
mac tries to pass the half guard into mount. Halberg knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Halberg is staying active underneath mac, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
mac is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
mac scoring with strikes to the body and head.
mac prevents Halberg from standing back up.
mac trying to control the pace.

Halberg actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halberg is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan mac showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Halberg throws a right and a left that mac avoids nicely.
Halberg connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Halberg doesn't succeed with the takedown

and mac counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by mac.
mac postures up in Halberg's guard and throws a big left but Halberg blocks it.
mac passes Halberg's left leg - he's now in half guard.
mac tries to pass the half guard into mount. Halberg knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
mac uses his free foot to push down on Halberg's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Halberg.
Halberg bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mac looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nathan mac has got the better of the ground game so far.
mac is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Halberg slips nicely into half guard.

Halberg is working for a kimura but mac is defending it quite comfortably.
mac wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Halberg is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
mac really wants to buck Halberg off and get back to his feet.
mac has given up his back here.
mac trying to control the position but Halberg manages to sink in the hooks.
mac is trying to break free.

Halberg patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Halberg tries to get the hooks in deep but mac pushed the leg off.

mac defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halberg is persistently looking for the submission but mac is defending it well.
Halberg trying to control momentarily.
mac looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
mac is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Halberg is staying active.

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.
Halberg scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
mac trying to control the position but Halberg manages to sink in the hooks.
mac is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
mac breaks Halberg's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nathan mac.
I think mac has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan mac!