PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melchizedek Halo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Moura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickson Moura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Halo
vs
Moura

185 cm
23
215 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
215 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Bullet Proof System

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Melchizedek Halo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rickson Moura!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halo throws a hook but Moura avoids it easily.
Moura feints the counter takedown.
Halo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Moura.
Moura with the counter takedown but Halo avoids it easily.

Moura shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Halo's guard.
Moura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Halo seems keen to control Moura's posture.
Moura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Moura has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Moura trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Halo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Halo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Moura is looking to work some ground and pound but Halo has wrist control.
Moura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Moura is looking to work some ground and pound but Halo has wrist control.
Moura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Moura throws an elbow that misses. Halo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Moura's guard. Nice move by Halo!

Moura throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Moura is striking but Halo is not phased and passes to half guard.
Moura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Moura is trying to maintain the position but Halo is very close to passing his half guard.
Moura slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moura looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Halo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Moura looking for submissions off his back.
Moura is looking for a sweep. Halo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Moura looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Moura tries to roll over but Halo keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Moura tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Halo has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moura can't escape the position.
Halo controlling the pace for now.
Moura is trying desperately to improve position.
Halo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Moura keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halo controlling the position easily from mount.
Moura gets back to half guard.
Moura wants to get back to full guard.
Halo wants to pass to mount but Moura is defending the position.
Moura is trying to control but Halo passes into side control!
Moura manages to get back to half guard.
Moura trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moura is trying to get back to full guard.
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 Melchizedek Halo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Moura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Halo is fending him off so far but Moura persists. Nope, Halo circles away and we're back to standing.
Moura shoots in looking for a takedown. Halo tries to sprawl out of it but Moura keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Halo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Halo looks to land a left hand but Moura moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Halo misses its intended target.
Moura is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Halo looks to land a right hand but Moura moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Moura.
Halo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Moura's head.
Moura goes for a double leg but Halo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Halo continues to drive forward.
An attempted straight right counter from Halo misses the target.
Melchizedek Halo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Moura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Moura shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Halo but Halo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Halo cracks Moura with an open hand slap.
Moura fails with a takedown attempt.
Halo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Moura sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Moura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo misses the shot to the body.
And Moura tries to counter it with a takedown but Halo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Halo connects with a jab.
Halo throws a hook to the side of Moura's head but Moura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Moura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Halo.
Moura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Halo.
Moura drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Halo defends it well.
Moura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Melchizedek Halo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Halo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Halo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Halo misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo lands a lovely overhand right.
Moura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Halo is fending him off so far but Moura persists. Nope, Halo circles away and we're back to standing.
Moura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halo.
Halo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Halo throws a leg kick

and Moura counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Moura.
Halo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Moura throws a strike but Halo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Halo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Moura 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.
Moura keeps trying to improve his position.
Halo wants to stand but Moura has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moura is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Halo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Moura is keeping the position for now.
Halo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Moura can do to turn this around?
Halo preventing the sweep.
Moura is still trying to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Halo won't allow Moura to sweep him here.
Halo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Halo missing with a left hand there. Moura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Melchizedek Halo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Moura moves away from the strike by Halo.
Moura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Moura shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Halo counters with a left to the body.
Halo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Moura.
Moura drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Halo defends it well.
Halo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Moura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Moura shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Halo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Moura moves into range and clinches up with Halo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moura gets control of Halo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Moura will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Moura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Halo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Moura's guard.
Halo postures up.
Halo tries to stand but Moura is controlling from the bottom.

Halo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Halo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Moura is proving hard to escape from.
Halo passes into half guard.
Moura is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Halo jumps into side control!
Moura tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo controls the position from side control.
Moura is looking for a sweep.
Moura manages to get back to half guard.
Moura wants to get back to full guard but Halo has passed into side control.
Moura sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Moura makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moura.
Moura can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Halo controls the pace.

Moura looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Halo has picked Moura up and slammed him! Moura can't keep hold of the triangle and Halo manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moura tries to bench press Halo off him but Halo keeps the position.
Halo wants to stand but Moura has his arm trapped.
Moura is looking for a sweep.
Moura trying to remain calm as Halo controls from the top position.
Moura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Moura manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Moura throwing shots but Halo is blocking nicely.
Moura throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Moura sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Halo defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halo controlling the position well.
Moura is pressing down on Halo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Halo is holding on for now.
Moura takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Moura sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Halo defending well though.
Moura throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Halo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Moura.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halo wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Rickson Moura just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Halo as Moura shoots in.

Moura darts in and clinches Halo up against the cage.
Halo scores with a nice hook to the head.

Halo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Moura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Halo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Moura has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo punishes Moura's body with a nice straight punch.
Halo throws a lazy uppercut

and Moura counters with a nice double leg into side control. Halo won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo dodges the ground and pound from Moura.
An elbow from Moura crashes against the mat.
Halo regains half guard, as Moura was trying to land strikes.
Halo wants to improve his position but Moura is controlling well.
Moura slips a nice elbow through Halo's hands, connecting with Halo's forehead.
Moura is looking to take a break and control but Halo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Halo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Moura 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Halo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Moura.
Moura missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Moura landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Moura not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Halo taking some punishment here, with Moura in his half guard.
Halo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Moura scores with a couple of nice shots.
Moura thows a huge punch but Halo dodges it nicely.
Moura throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Halo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Moura.
Halo keeping moving, preventing Moura from controlling successfully.
Moura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moura lands a couple of elbows.
Moura postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rickson Moura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moura trying to control the position from guard on top but Halo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Moura trying to control but Halo is working from the bottom.
Moura might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Halo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Halo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Moura throws a strike but Halo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moura wants to sweep here but Halo controlling him for the moment.
Moura wants to improve his position but instead Halo has moved into half guard.
Moura wants to improve his position but Halo is controlling well.
Moura trying to get back to full guard but Halo takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Halo controlling the pace for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halo manages to capitalize on a mistake by Moura to take his back!
Moura rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Melchizedek Halo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Halo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Moura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Moura goes for a double leg but Halo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Halo continues to drive forward.
Halo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Halo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Halo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moura shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Halo as he jumps to the side.
Melchizedek Halo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Moura.
Moura stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Halo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moura slips under a jab.
And Moura tries to counter it with a takedown but Halo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Moura fails with the takedown
and Halo counters with a nice uppercut.
Halo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Halo throws a leg kick

and Moura counters with a takedown into side control.
Halo is trying to control Moura's posture but Moura avoids it.
Halo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Moura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moura throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Halo works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Moura is trying to work for a kimura but Halo is defending well.

Moura is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Halo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Moura is looking to take a break and control but Halo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Halo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Moura.
Moura working Halo over with strikes.
Halo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Moura.
Moura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Halo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Moura missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Moura is trying to work for a kimura but Halo is defending well.
Moura throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Moura throwing shots but Halo is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moura not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Moura throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Moura throws a strike but Halo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Moura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Halo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Moura.
Moura throws an elbow that misses. Halo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Moura's guard. Nice move by Halo!

Moura bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Halo's guard.

Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Moura landing with the ground and pound.
Halo has momentary wrist control but Moura slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moura is working Halo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rickson Moura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Moura throws an elbow that misses. Halo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Moura's guard. Nice move by Halo!

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 Melchizedek Halo.
I think Halo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 49:46
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 49:46
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melchizedek Halo!
Melchizedek Halo is the new light heavyweight champion!
After the fight, Melchizedek Halo was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.