PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Corleone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gurney Halleck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Halleck is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Clash-White Riot. Gurney Halleck will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Corleone
vs
Halleck

168 cm
23
147 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

183 cm
23
159 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Frankie Corleone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gurney Halleck!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halleck throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Corleone tries to counter with a takedown but Halleck is quick to defend against it.
Corleone on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Halleck lands a nice looking body shot.
Halleck throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A good leg kick by Corleone.
Halleck throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Corleone circles away from the clinch attempt

and Corleone counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Corleone.
Corleone makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Corleone with a flurry of punches that miss.
Corleone controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Corleone throwing strikes but missing.
Corleone throwing strikes from guard but Halleck blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halleck keeping moving, preventing Corleone from controlling successfully.
Corleone controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Corleone lands a couple of elbows.
Corleone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Corleone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Corleone throws an elbow that misses. Halleck uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Corleone's guard. Nice move by Halleck!

Corleone looking for a sweep. Not yet Corleone, not yet.
Corleone is striking but Halleck is not phased and passes to half guard.
Corleone is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corleone gets back to full guard.
Halleck controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Corleone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Halleck is one step ahead there.

Corleone is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halleck is aware though and is defending well.
Corleone is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corleone looking for a sweep. Not yet Corleone, not yet.
Halleck wants to pass the guard but Corleone is keeping the position.

Corleone is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Halleck is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Corleone looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Halleck lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Corleone at a distance.

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.
Halleck fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Corleone looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Corleone takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Halleck circles away from the clinch attempt.
Corleone throws a head kick but Halleck moves out of range.
Halleck punishes Corleone's body with a nice straight punch.
Halleck connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Corleone momentarily.

Halleck has taken the fight to the clinch.
Corleone is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Corleone tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Corleone misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Corleone is trying to pull guard but Halleck has him pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Halleck.
Corleone controlling the action here for a moment.
Corleone lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gurney Halleck dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Halleck circles away from the clinch attempt.
Halleck scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Halleck lands a right hook to the body.
Halleck is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Corleone rather than just go for the knockout.
Corleone is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Halleck.
Halleck tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Corleone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Corleone pivots, looking for a leg kick but Halleck is out of range and Corleone settles back down.
Corleone gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Halleck.
A looping hook to the body misses from Halleck. Corleone does a little dance to reset his feet.
Corleone ducks under a wild hook from Halleck.
Good leg kick by Corleone there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Halleck has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Corleone gets a double leg takedown into Halleck's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Corleone trying to control but Halleck is working from the bottom.
Frankie Corleone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Corleone throwing strikes from guard but Halleck blocks nicely.
Corleone trying to control but Halleck is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halleck utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Corleone is fighting to break Halleck's control of his arms but Halleck is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Halleck keeping moving, preventing Corleone from controlling successfully.
Halleck keeping full guard, as Corleone tries to pass.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Corleone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Corleone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Corleone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Corleone is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've been hearing that Corleone has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Corleone wants to control from the top but Halleck keeps moving.
Corleone throwing strikes from guard but Halleck blocks nicely.

That's two 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.
Halleck wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Corleone might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Halleck wants to stand but Corleone is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Corleone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Halleck with a nice cross.
Halleck's corner calls for a 1-2. Halleck obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Halleck scores with the left hand. Corleone knows he should have avoided that one.
Halleck's jab looks to have found its range, popping Corleone under the eye.
Halleck misses with a body shot.
Nice shot by Halleck.
Halleck lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Corleone circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halleck takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Halleck is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Corleone.
Halleck swings for the body but Corleone moves out of range.
Corleone drops down looking for a counter takedown but Halleck sprawls and moves away.
Corleone throws a sloppy head kick and Halleck moves out of range easily.
Corleone fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Halleck has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Corleone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Corleone wants to land a leg kick but Halleck is out of range.
Halleck lands a jab.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Corleone - that will leave a mark!
Corleone goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Halleck now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gurney Halleck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Corleone scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Halleck is refusing to be controlled, as Corleone sits in half guard.
Halleck tries to roll over but Corleone keeps him under control.
Corleone lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Corleone is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Halleck is just riding it out for now. Corleone eventually gives up the hold.
Corleone trying to pass the guard but Halleck defending well.
Corleone wants to control but Halleck is keeping him busy.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Corleone wants to free his trapped foot but Halleck is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Corleone lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gurney Halleck showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Halleck misses with a looping right.
Corleone uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halleck.
Corleone avoids the body shot from Halleck.
Corleone changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Corleone throws the kick towards the body but Halleck avoids it.
Halleck connects with a nice looking jab.
Halleck has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Corleone clinches up against the cage.

Halleck escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gurney Halleck seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Halleck lands a head shot.
Corleone fails to land the takedown.
Corleone throws out a leg kick but Halleck moves out of range and Corleone only half commits.

Corleone is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Halleck's half guard.
Corleone wants to take a breather but Halleck is having none of it.
Halleck gets back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Corleone trying to control the position from guard on top but Halleck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halleck manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Halleck breaks from the clinch.
Halleck swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Halleck wants to clinch.
Corleone motions for Halleck to come forward. Corleone throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Corleone on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Corleone looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Good standup being displayed there by Halleck as he connects with a hook.
Corleone's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Halleck connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Corleone scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corleone throws a wild body kick that Halleck sees coming a mile off.
Halleck throws out a counter right but Corleone avoids it with no problem.
Corleone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Corleone takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Halleck just misses with a punch to the body.
Corleone is looking to slow Halleck down with leg kicks.

Halleck tries to sprawl but Corleone drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Corleone thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Corleone wants to advance to full mount but Halleck doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Corleone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Corleone trying to control the position from guard on top but Halleck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Corleone lands a couple of elbows.
Corleone won't allow Halleck to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corleone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Corleone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Halleck controls Corleone momentarily but Corleone frees himself.
Corleone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Corleone postures up in Halleck's guard and throws a big left but Halleck blocks it.
Gurney Halleck is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Corleone lands a couple of elbows.
Corleone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Halleck works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Corleone cracks Halleck with a solid left hand.
Corleone working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Halleck's head.
Corleone throwing strikes but missing.
Corleone works over Halleck with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halleck keeping moving, preventing Corleone from controlling successfully.
Corleone connects with a couple of short punches.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Corleone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Halleck swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Corleone has gone for a leg lock! Halleck slips out almost immediately though and dives into Corleone's guard.

Corleone wants to control the position but Halleck says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Frankie Corleone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halleck seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Corleone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gurney Halleck.
I've got Halleck winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gurney Halleck!
A very excited looking Gurney Halleck 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.