PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hal Curtis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moudood Halimi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halimi has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Curtis
vs
Halimi

224 cm
24
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hal Curtis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Moudood Halimi!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halimi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Halimi misses with a series of wild punches.
Halimi looks winded!
Halimi tries to clinch up but Curtis circles away and keeps his distance.
As Halimi looks to move away, Curtis throws a big counter combo but Halimi just gets out of the way.
Halimi shoots in for a double leg but Curtis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Curtis seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Halimi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Curtis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Halimi as he avoids it easily.
Halimi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Halimi fails in his attempt to clinch.

Curtis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Halimi!

Curtis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Halimi, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Curtis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Halimi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Curtis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Curtis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Curtis tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Curtis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Halimi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Curtis.

Curtis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Halimi sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halimi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Curtis.
Curtis wants to stand up but Halimi has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Curtis decides to stand and escape the position.
Halimi leaves Curtis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Curtis scores with a takedown into Halimi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Curtis wants to get up but he can't break Halimi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Curtis gets to his feet. Halimi looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Curtis fails with a takedown attempt.
Halimi is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hal Curtis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Curtis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Halimi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Curtis defends it well.
Curtis looks to land a combination but Halimi avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hal Curtis dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Curtis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Curtis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Halimi.

Curtis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Halimi!

Curtis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Curtis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Halimi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Curtis decides to stand back up. Curtis steps back and let's Halimi get back to his feet.
Halimi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Curtis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Curtis shoots in but no luck this time.

Curtis forces Halimi back against the cage and clinches.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halimi stuffs the takedown attempt from Curtis. Curtis gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hal Curtis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Curtis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Curtis throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Halimi was covering up waiting for the punch and Curtis finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Curtis is standing up over Halimi. Halimi looks to escape but Curtis dives into side control.

Curtis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Halimi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Curtis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Halimi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Halimi pushes Curtis away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Curtis gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Curtis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Halimi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Curtis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Halimi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Halimi is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Curtis is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hal Curtis dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Halimi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Curtis feints and as Halimi raises his hands in defense, Curtis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Halimi kicks Curtis off and gets to his feet.
Halimi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Halimi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Curtis moves into the clinch.

Curtis breaks the clinch.
Halimi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As Halimi looks to move away, Curtis throws a big counter combo but Halimi just gets out of the way.

Curtis takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Curtis breaks the clinch.
Halimi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Curtis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Halimi swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halimi fails in his attempt to clinch.
As Halimi tries to get set, Curtis tries to push him back and clinch up but Halimi manages to avoid the attempt.
Halimi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Curtis.
Hal Curtis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Curtis misses with a takedown attempt - Halimi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hal Curtis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Curtis 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.
Curtis stops Halimi from standing up.

Curtis gets to his feet - Halimi follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curtis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Halimi as he jumps to the side.
Halimi stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Halimi.
Halimi fails to land the takedown.

Curtis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Halimi has one foot on Curtis's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halimi doesn't manage to clinch there - Curtis circles away.
Curtis seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Halimi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Halimi tries to clinch up.
Moudood Halimi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Halimi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Curtis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Curtis.

Halimi clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halimi prevents a body shot from Curtis.
Curtis lands a body shot in the clinch.
Halimi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Curtis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Halimi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Curtis swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Curtis darts in and clinches Halimi up against the cage.
Curtis is looking to control Halimi's arms but Halimi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Curtis has his back to the cage.

Curtis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Curtis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Halimi can do to turn this around?

Halimi clinches.

Halimi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moudood Halimi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hal Curtis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Halimi leaves Curtis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hal Curtis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Curtis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hal Curtis!