PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reijo Halli (ranked 1311 p4p, 1056 weight class) and Azriel Pandens (ranked 189 p4p, 158 weight class). Halli comes into the arena with Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz blaring out of the sound system. 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?

Halli
vs
Pandens

177 cm
37
164
14 - 10 - 1

173 cm
35
159
29 - 20 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reijo Halli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Azriel Pandens!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pandens lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Halli at a distance.
We've been informed that Pandens has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Pandens lands a nice looking body shot.
Pandens keeps the fight on the outside.
Halli throws a jab but it's blocked by Pandens.
Pandens steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Halli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halli lands with a good body shot.
Halli tries for a takedown but Pandens circles away easily
and Pandens counters with a nice uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Halli.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pandens thumps Halli with a low kick.
Halli throws a right hand that misses
and Pandens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pandens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No luck for Halli with that takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Pandens on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reijo Halli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halli swings widly with a right hand
and Pandens makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Pandens tries to sprawl but Halli drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Pandens is refusing to be controlled, as Halli sits in half guard.

Halli is working for a kimura but Pandens is defending it quite comfortably.
Pandens keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pandens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Halli tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pandens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandens tries to get to full guard but Halli has control of the leg.
Pandens has a hand on Halli's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Halli takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Pandens keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Halli working for a guillotine from mount but Pandens is in no mood to give up.
Pandens wants to control but Halli is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandens tries to reverse the position but Halli maintains control.
Pandens is squirming around, avoiding Halli's attempts to control the action.
Pandens keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Halli trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pandens is looking to improve his position but Halli isn't that keen on the idea.
Halli controlling the position easily from mount.
Pandens is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pandens is still trying to improve position.
Pandens is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halli is looking to work his way around to Pandens's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

Halli looking for a guillotine from mount but Pandens is having none of it.
Halli takes Pandens's back.
Halli keeps control of the position easily here as Pandens tries to buck him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pandens tries to break free.

Halli has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Halli looks to clinch
and Pandens counters with a nice kick to the body.
Halli keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pandens.
Pandens misses with an uppercut. Halli saw that one coming.
Halli doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pandens counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Halli closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Halli lands in his opponent's guard.

Halli drops back looking for a leg! Pandens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pandens manages to kick Halli off! Halli jumps back into Pandens's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halli won't allow Pandens to sweep him here.
Pandens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Halli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Halli content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pandens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Halli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pandens can do to turn this around?
Pandens trying to keep a closed guard but Halli is proving a slippery customer.
Halli won't allow Pandens to sweep him here.

Pandens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Halli defends well.

Pandens has an active guard here but Halli has managed to pass into half guard.
Pandens tries to roll over but Halli keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pandens is trying to maintain the position but Halli is very close to passing his half guard.

Halli is working for a submission of some sort.

Pandens looking for submissions off his back.
Halli with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Halli works his way into side control.
Halli is working Pandens over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandens is looking to reverse the position.
Pandens manages to work his way to half guard, despite Halli's best efforts.
Pandens tries to get to full guard but Halli has control of the leg.
Halli passes to full mount!
Pandens looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Pandens rolls, trying to escape but Halli keeps control of the position.
Pandens is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Halli off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halli has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Pandens is defending well but eventually Halli manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Pandens has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Reijo Halli!
After the fight, Reijo Halli 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.