PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sameh Mahmoud (ranked 95 p4p, 12 weight class) and Thatcher Halverson (ranked 356 p4p, 52 weight class). Halverson has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Thatcher Halverson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mahmoud
vs
Halverson

180 cm
29
193 lbs
20 - 4 - 0

196 cm
27
200 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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Fanatic Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sameh Mahmoud!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Thatcher Halverson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by Halverson as he connects with a hook.
Halverson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The fighters circling - Mahmoud throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mahmoud throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mahmoud throws a shot from downtown. Halverson moves away and avoids it.
We've been told by Mahmoud's head coaches at Little Lebowski Urban Achievers that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Mahmoud is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Halverson scores with a takedown into Mahmoud's guard.
Mahmoud keeping full guard, as Halverson tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halverson is fighting to break Mahmoud's control of his arms but Mahmoud is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Halverson trying to control but Mahmoud is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmoud is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Halverson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Halverson connects with a couple of short punches.
Halverson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mahmoud swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Halverson wants to control from the top but Mahmoud keeps moving.
Mahmoud looking to hit a scissor sweep but Halverson is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Halverson pushing down on Mahmoud's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Halverson is keen to just control but Mahmoud is a slippery customer.
Mahmoud might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Halverson is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Mahmoud reverses the position - he's now on top in Halverson's guard.
Mahmoud won't allow Halverson to sweep him here.

Halverson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mahmoud uses it to pass to side control.
Halverson tries to bench press Mahmoud off him but Mahmoud keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halverson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Mahmoud is thwarting Halverson's attempts to control the position.
Halverson trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Mahmoud manages to pass to mount!
Mahmoud controlling his opponent.
Halverson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Mahmoud slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson tries to get to full guard but Mahmoud has control of the leg.
Mahmoud perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Halverson is looking to control Mahmoud's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Halverson avoid being mounted?
Mahmoud takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thatcher Halverson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mahmoud misses with a few strikes there.
Halverson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Halverson.
Halverson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mahmoud swivels and escapes.
Sameh Mahmoud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thatcher Halverson.
Halverson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Halverson.
Halverson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmoud throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Halverson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Mahmoud moves forwards but Halverson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mahmoud waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Halverson.
Halverson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Halverson misses.
Mahmoud throwing a counter right hand but Halverson manages to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Halverson blocks the low kick.
Halverson lands a really nice looking cross but Mahmoud seems unphased.

Mahmoud forces Halverson back against the cage and clinches.
Mahmoud scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Mahmoud.
Mahmoud can't find room to land a body shot as Halverson controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mahmoud creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mahmoud lands an uppercut.
Mahmoud landing knees to the body.
Mahmoud is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Halverson can do to turn this around?
Halverson is breathing heavily.
Halverson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mahmoud lands a left hand that snaps the head of Halverson backwards.
Mahmoud landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mahmoud using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Halverson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Halversons head.
Mahmoud lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mahmoud lands a hook that snaps the head of Halverson backwards.
Halverson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Halverson tries to throw a body punch but Mahmoud avoids it by throwing Halverson back against the cage.
Mahmoud misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Halverson misses with a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Mahmoud.
Sameh Mahmoud has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mahmoud works on Halverson's body with a couple of short punches.
Mahmoud looking to throw knees to the head but Halverson is blocking nicely.
Mahmoud lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mahmoud scores with a shot to the side of Halverson's head.
Mahmoud lands a shoulder strike.
Halverson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mahmoud lands a left hand.
Mahmoud scores with a shot to the side of Halverson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahmoud gets through Halverson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mahmoud works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mahmoud cracks Halverson with a nice body shot.
Mahmoud lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Mahmoud drops Halverson with a big knee straight up the middle! Halverson is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Halverson is rocked!
A nice inside leg kick there by Mahmoud. That's going to slow Halverson down.
Halverson is still on wobbly legs! Can Mahmoud finish him?
Mahmoud swinging wildly here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Halverson.
Halverson seems to have recovered his senses.
Mahmoud scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sameh Mahmoud is winning the standup battle so far.
Mahmoud lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halverson misses with an uppercut
and Mahmoud cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Halverson keeps the fight on the outside.
Mahmoud throws a low kick, looking for Halverson's leg but Halverson calmly moves out of range.
Mahmoud feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Halverson's calf.

Mahmoud moves into the clinch.
Mahmoud pushes Halverson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mahmoud lands with a light punch inside.
Mahmoud pushes Halverson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mahmoud keeps control of Halverson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Halverson can't find room to land a body shot as Mahmoud controls the action.
Mahmoud misses with a punch to the body.
Mahmoud landing knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mahmoud landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Halverson takes a knee to the side of the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sameh Mahmoud dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mahmoud with a jab.
Nice shot by Mahmoud.
Mahmoud throws a jab but it's blocked by Halverson.
Mahmoud ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Halverson moves away.
Halverson misses with a lunging right hand
and Mahmoud makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mahmoud jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Mahmoud scoring well with a low kick there.
Halverson misses with a hook. Mahmoud ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahmoud looks to score with a jab to the body but Halverson is just out of range.
Halverson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Halverson throws a body shot but no joy.

Mahmoud moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahmoud lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Halverson backwards.
Halverson struggles to land a body shot inside as Mahmoud controls his hands.
Mahmoud misses with a punch to the body.
Mahmoud lands a body shot in the clinch.
Halverson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mahmoud lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Mahmoud.
Mahmoud lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Halverson.
A nice left hand lands by Mahmoud.
Mahmoud lands a nice knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Mahmoud scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mahmoud.
A short body shot lands from Mahmoud as the two fighters clinch.
Mahmoud lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Halverson.
Mahmoud leaning against his opponent.
Mahmoud lands a left hand that snaps the head of Halverson backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halverson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mahmoud pressing his opponent against the cage.
Halverson looking for a takedown.
Still in the clinch, Mahmoud scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mahmoud lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mahmoud works on Halverson's body with a couple of short punches.
Mahmoud lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mahmoud unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Mahmoud drops Halverson with a big knee straight up the middle! Halverson is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Mahmoud tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halverson was well out of range. Poor timing from Mahmoud.

Mahmoud gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mahmoud using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mahmoud lands a big right hand that drops Halverson! The killer instinct kicks in and Mahmoud finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Mahmoud!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sameh Mahmoud!
Sameh Mahmoud retains his middleweight title!
Sameh Mahmoud decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Thatcher Halverson spoke after the fight, saying 'I shall rise to the top again! Thanks to the promoter for making the fight and opportunity. Also thanks to my opponent for stepping up and taking the fight.'.