PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Halo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caliph James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arthur Halo had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Halo
vs
James

187 cm
20
187 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

188 cm
19
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Caliph James!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halo fails with a takedown attempt.
Halo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Halo misses with a takedown attempt
and James counters with a straight right hand.
Halo throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
Halo just misses with a punch to the body.
Halo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Halo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Halo on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Halo misses
and James counters with a left to the body.
Halo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Halo shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Halo shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.

Halo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Halo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Halo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Halo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Halo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Halo controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Halo fails to move to back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Halo.
James is squirming around, avoiding Halo's attempts to control the action.

Halo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.

Halo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to get to half guard.
James holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Halo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Halo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halo fails to move to back control.

Halo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and James is now in Halo's guard. A big mistake from Halo there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Halo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Halo is defended easily by James.
James displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Halo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Halo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.
Halo misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Halo.
Halo falls off balance throwing a combination

and James counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo is trying to force a seperation but James has the dominant position.
James misses with a knee strike.
I was talking to Halo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
James trying to land knees to the body.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Halo is defending well for now.
James misses with a knee strike.
Halo managing to block the knees to the body from James.
James tries a knee to the head but Halo blocks it.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Halo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.
James missing with knees to the body.
James misses with a knee to the head.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries a knee to the head but Halo blocks it.
James with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Halo.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Halo is defending well for now.
James misses with a knee strike.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Halo is defending well for now.
Halo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Halo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Halo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but James is defending well.
James being controlled against the cage.
Halo avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
James trying to land knees to the body.
James tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Halo avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halo avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Halo blocks with his arms.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Halo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Halo.
James is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Halo is defending well for now.
James tries to land knees in the clinch but Halo avoids the damage to the body.

Halo successfully pulls guard.
Arthur Halo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Halo pulls James in to control the position.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Halo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halo 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caliph James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from James as Halo shoots in.
Halo closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Halo pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Arthur Halo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as James sprawls well. James wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Halo gets slowly back to his feet.
James's coach down at Last Dragon MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on James's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Halo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halo shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Halo with a poor takedown
and James counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo fails with a takedown attempt.
James moves away from the strike by Halo.
Halo with a lazy takedown attempt

and James counters by moving into the clinch.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Halo is blocking nicely.
A short right hand to the side of the head by James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Halo is blocking nicely.
Knees to the body from James.
James tries a knee to the head but Halo blocks it.
Halo avoiding damage as James throws knees to the body.
James with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
James misses with the head strike.
James lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
James with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Halo.
Halo goes for a takedown attempt but James pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Halo or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James avoids the body shot from Halo.
Halo closes the distance and clinches up with James, looking for a takedown. Halo pushes James against the cage but James circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Halo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Halo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around James's waist but James gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Halo off to one side.

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.
Nice defenses there by James.
Halo has a takedown stuffed.
Halo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Halo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caliph James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think James 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caliph James!
A very excited looking Caliph James made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.