PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jayant Singh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hale
vs
Singh

184 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kirk Hale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jayant Singh!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Singh gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Singh tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hale knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Singh trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hale blocking the ground and pound attempt from Singh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hale.

Hale manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Singh lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale shoots and misses

and Singh counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Hale pushes Singh off and scrambles back to his feet.

Singh shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hale wants to control but Singh is keeping busy.
Singh trying to control the action but Hale is working from the bottom.
Hale has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Singh is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, if Singh is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Singh is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Singh is looking to stall here but Hale recovers full guard.
Singh tries to free his leg and advance position but Hale is retaining full guard.
Hale controlling Singh's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Singh won't allow Hale to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Singh scores with a takedown into Hale's guard.
Singh won't allow Hale to sweep him here.
Singh looking to sit in guard and control but Hale gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Singh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hale is one step ahead there.
Hale wants to stand but Singh is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Hale prevents Singh from improving his position.
Singh is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Singh trying to control here.
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 Kirk Hale will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hale shoots in for a takedown but Singh shows good takedown defense.

Singh fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hale sprawls well initially but Singh persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hale wants to get back to his feet.
Singh trying to control the action but Hale is working from the bottom.
Hale is looking to escape.

Singh decides to stand and escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Singh shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Singh was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Singh is looking to take a break and control but Hale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hale is trying to control Singh's posture but Singh avoids it.

Singh stands up and beckons Hale to his feet.

Singh fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hale to the ground. Singh is now in Hale's guard.
Singh looking to sit in guard and control but Hale gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Singh's head.
Hale controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hale passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Singh really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hale. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Singh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hale wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hale scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Singh is trying to improve his position.
Singh is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Hale is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Singh is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hale punishing his opponent with strikes.
Singh is trying desperately to improve position.
Hale working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale prevents Singh from getting the reversal.
Singh is breathing heavily.
Hale landing shots from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Singh wants to hold on but Hale pushes him away.
Hale lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Hale dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Singh throws a head kick but Hale moves out of range.
Hale appears to be looking for a big counter.

Hale gets caught flat footed, as Singh shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Hale has his foot on Singh's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Singh works his way back into a safe position though.
Singh looking to sit in guard and control but Hale gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Singh is wriggling around but Hale manages to pass to half guard.
Hale with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale passes into side control, despite Singh's attempt to control the position.
Singh looking for a sweep but Hale has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Singh wants to control but Hale is having none of it.
Singh is working to get back to half guard.
Singh in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Singh is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Singh can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale controlling from mount.
Hale with shots to the head and body - Singh looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hale really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hale landing shots from mount.
Singh is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Singh is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Hale trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale avoids the attempt from Singh to control.

Hale working for a submission but Singh is keeping him at bay.
Singh can't escape the position.
Hale trying to control but Singh is having none of it.
Hale is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hale is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Singh can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Singh is in all sorts of trouble here.
Singh tries to hold on but Hale pushes him away.
Hale cracks Singh with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Singh is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Singh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hale controlling from mount.
Singh wants to control but Hale is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirk Hale showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hale, 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Hale!