PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arthur Halo (ranked 1571 p4p, 232 weight class) and Kyle Sackrider (ranked 1662 p4p, 247 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Halo
vs
Sackrider

187 cm
33
180 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

190 cm
28
169 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthur Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kyle Sackrider!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Sackrider misses.
Halo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Halo throws a head kick that misses.
Sackrider raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Sackrider misses with a leg kick.
Halo has a takedown stuffed.

Halo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Halo prevents Sackrider from standing back up.

Halo is trying to work for a kimura but Sackrider is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sackrider keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sackrider is looking to escape.

Halo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Halo seems to be working for a kimura but Sackrider defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackrider is trying to stand back up but Halo is controlling him

Halo is looking for a kimura but Sackrider is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Halo to get the leverage.

Halo is trying to work for a kimura but Sackrider is defending well.
Sackrider wants to get back to his feet.

Sackrider is defending against the submission attempts here by Halo.
Halo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sackrider is trying to stand up here but Halo is controlling him well.
Halo 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.

Sackrider has one foot on Halo's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sackrider.
Sackrider thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sackrider misses with a hook to the body

and Halo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sackrider!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halo tries to score with some ground and pound. Sackrider controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sackrider is pushing Halo's head away, looking to escape. Halo manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Halo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sackrider dodges the ground and pound from Halo.

Halo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sackrider knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sackrider is pushing Halo's head away, looking to escape. Halo manages to hold on to the position though.

Halo tries for a kimura but Sackrider is defending well.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Halo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halo is trying to get an arm triangle but Sackrider is defending well.
Halo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Halo working the body and head with strikes.
Halo prevents Sackrider from escaping the position.

Sackrider sneaks out the side door and pushes Halo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Sackrider paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sackrider tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halo was well out of range. Poor timing from Sackrider.
Sackrider throws a big shot that misses.
Sackrider lands with an uppercut that bounces Halo off the cage and back into range.
Sackrider throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Halo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sackrider sprawls and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sackrider. Halo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Halo is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halo working the head and body with strikes.

Halo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sackrider, who protects the arm well.

Halo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sackrider is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sackrider is trying to get back to his feet.

Halo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sackrider knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sackrider pushes Halo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Halo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Halo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sackrider is pushing Halo's head away, looking to escape. Halo manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Halo dominated that 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.

Sackrider cracks Halo with an open hand slap.
Sackrider scores with a jab to the head.
Halo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sackrider.
Halo shoots for a takedown but Sackrider saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A low kick from Sackrider misses

and Halo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Halo.

Halo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Halo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Halo landing some decent shots from guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Sackrider manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sackrider misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Halo.
Sackrider misses with a hook to the ribs.
Halo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sackrider pulls his leg out and moves away.
A shot to the liver by Sackrider. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo walks into a stiff left hand from Sackrider.
Sackrider connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Halo momentarily.
Sackrider throws a hook but Halo avoids it easily.
Sackrider misses with an uppercut

and Halo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sackrider's guard.
Halo stands up over Sackrider, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Halo stops Sackrider from standing up.
Halo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sackrider's head.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Sackrider manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Halo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sackrider can't fight it off and eventually Halo manages to take the fight to the floor. Sackrider looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Sackrider wants to stand and escape but Halo is having none of it.
Arthur Halo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Halo tries to free his leg and advance position but Sackrider is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo pushes down on Sackrider's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Halo is working for a submission of some sort.
Halo stops Sackrider from getting back to his feet.
Halo drops an elbow to the side of Sackrider's head.
Halo prevents Sackrider from standing back up.
Halo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Halo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Sackrider is rocked!
Halo lands a big elbow - Sackrider is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Halo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arthur Halo!
Arthur Halo was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Kyle Sackrider spoke after the fight, saying 'Back to the drawing board I'll be back!!!!'.