PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Halo (ranked 1460 p4p, 239 weight class) and Trey Lawson (ranked 2923 p4p, 422 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Halo
vs
Lawson

187 cm
32
180 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

182 cm
33
180 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthur Halo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trey Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Lawson coming out on top.
Halo fails with a takedown attempt.
Halo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lawson dodges the punch combination from Halo.
Halo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Lawson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Halo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lawson.
Lawson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halo.
Halo attempts a counter takedown but Lawson avoids it well and moves away.
Halo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson lands a really nice looking cross but Halo seems unphased.
Lawson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lawson misses with a left hand

and Halo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lawson!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Halo.
Lawson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Halo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo throwing strikes but Lawson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Halo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Lawson wants to control but Halo is keeping him busy.
Halo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lawson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
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.
Lawson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo is looking for a sweep.
Lawson controls the position from side control.
Halo tries to buck Lawson off but Lawson is having none of it.
Halo is trying to escape the position but Lawson is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trey Lawson dominated that round.
That's time! Halo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Halo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Halo shoots in and bounces Lawson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lawson pulls Halo in to control the position.
Halo throwing strikes from guard but Lawson blocks nicely.
Halo stands and throws Lawson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lawson is trying to control Halo's posture but Halo avoids it.
Halo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Halo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Halo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Halo tries for a kimura but Lawson is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Halo scoring with punches from side control.
Halo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Halo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Halo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Halo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Halo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson taking a bit of punishment here - Halo scoring with strikes.
Halo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Halo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lawson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Halo working away.
Halo scoring with punches from side control.
Arthur Halo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Halo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lawson felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ground and pound from Halo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Halo working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Halo dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lawson throws a sloppy head kick and Halo moves out of range easily.
Lawson scores with a hook to the body. Halo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Halo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Halo moves out of range as Lawson strikes.
Lawson throws a sloppy head kick and Halo moves out of range easily.
Trey Lawson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halo goes for a double leg but Lawson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lawson continues to drive forward.
Halo defending well as Lawson loads up on a big left hand.
Halo tries to counter by clinching up but Lawson breaks away and moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawson. Halo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lawson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halo was well out of range. Poor timing from Lawson.
Arthur Halo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawson blocks a head kick by Halo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Halo.
Lawson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Halo's hands.
Lawson takes a swing at Halo's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson with a nice cross.
Halo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lawson as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arthur Halo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lawson throws the left hand but Halo avoids the punch easily.
Lawson throws the left hand but Halo avoids the punch easily.
Halo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Halo feinted with a counter takedown.
Lawson scores with a hook.

Halo shoots in and gets a takedown into Lawson's guard.
Lawson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lawson trying to keep a closed guard but Halo is proving a slippery customer.
Halo working some strikes from top position.
Lawson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo tries to free his leg and advance position but Lawson is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Halo drops back looking for a leg! Lawson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lawson manages to kick Halo off! Halo jumps back into Lawson's guard.

Halo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lawson dives on top into guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Halo wants to hit a switch here but Lawson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Halo there!
Lawson looking to control but Halo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trey Lawson really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lawson throws a sloppy body shot

and Halo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lawson!
Lawson tries to buck Halo off but Halo is having none of it.
Lawson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Halo is pressing down on Lawson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lawson is holding on for now.
Halo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Halo tries to pass to full mount but Lawson defends it.
Lawson is looking to control Halo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lawson avoid being mounted?

Halo is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lawson defending well though.
Lawson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halo is trying to work for a kimura but Lawson is defending well.
Lawson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Halo throwing shots but Lawson is blocking nicely.
Lawson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Halo.

Halo seems to be working for a kimura but Lawson defends the submission attempt.
Lawson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Halo.
Halo trying to pass the guard but Lawson defending well.
Halo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Halo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halo in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Lawson tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Halo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Arthur Halo!
Arthur Halo retains his welterweight title!
Arthur Halo thanked the fans post fight for their support.