PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Simo Halli (ranked 1486 p4p, 1512 weight class) and Attilio De Fiore (ranked 192 p4p, 196 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Halli
vs
De Fiore

180 cm
27
185
16 - 10 - 0

193 cm
29
185
14 - 11 - 2

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conquer
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Simo Halli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Attilio De Fiore!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halli takes one to the side of the head.

Halli throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. De Fiore tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Halli is in De Fiore's guard.
Halli sitting in guard here, content to control.
Halli trying to control but De Fiore is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as De Fiore holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halli trying to control the position from guard on top but De Fiore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halli is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halli is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! De Fiore is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! De Fiore has escaped and now he's on top!

De Fiore is stalling in the full guard.

Halli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De Fiore gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Halli throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

De Fiore got a little sloppy there for a moment and Halli has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, De Fiore has managed to get both his arms back between Halli's legs - danger averted.

Halli throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Halli has his foot on De Fiore's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. De Fiore works his way back into a safe position though.
Halli trying to keep a closed guard but De Fiore is proving a slippery customer.

Halli has his foot on De Fiore's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. De Fiore works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halli wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Fiore postures up.

Halli has an active guard here but De Fiore has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Halli manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
De Fiore trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Halli is looking for a triangle but De Fiore pushes his legs off easily.
De Fiore is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Halli had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. De Fiore defends it easily.

Halli looking for a guillotine here but De Fiore defends easily.

Halli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Halli can't keep his opponent in guard - De Fiore advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Simo Halli will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

De Fiore tests Halli's chin there with a solid looking shot.
De Fiore tests Halli's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Halli blocks a head kick by De Fiore.
De Fiore lands with a shot to the body.
Halli misses with a takedown attempt - De Fiore sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
De Fiore with a jab.
De Fiore throws a quick inside leg kick.
De Fiore lands a head kick. Halli smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
De Fiore lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Halli throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around De Fiore's waist but De Fiore gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Halli off to one side.
Halli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with De Fiore but De Fiore pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simo Halli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halli shoots in but De Fiore avoids the takedown attempt easily.
De Fiore has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
De Fiore works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
De Fiore has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
De Fiore moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Halli has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from De Fiore.
An inside leg kick lands from De Fiore.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fiore's jab looks to have found its range, popping Halli under the eye.
Halli looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Fiore is fending him off so far but Halli persists. Nope, De Fiore circles away and we're back to standing.
De Fiore scores with a hook.
Halli tries to score a power double leg takedown but De Fiore sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Halli somewhat.
De Fiore only half commits to the counter leg kick.

De Fiore gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Halli to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Halli seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Halli might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
De Fiore keeping moving, preventing Halli from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli is really struggling to control De Fiore but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Simo Halli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Fiore is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Attilio De Fiore seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Halli dives in and grabs De Fiore's left leg, looking for a takedown. De Fiore pushes down on Halli's head and hops out.
Halli on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
De Fiore is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
De Fiore throws a good cross that connects.
Nice shot by De Fiore.
Attilio De Fiore is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
De Fiore lands a slapping body shot.
Halli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts De Fiore as he jumps to the side.
De Fiore fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Halli has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Halli looks for a takedown but De Fiore sprawls well.
De Fiore throws out a counter right but Halli avoids it with no problem.
Halli takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
De Fiore throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Halli.
Halli moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Halli shoots in for a double leg but De Fiore sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Halli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by De Fiore.
Halli throws a counter high kick but De Fiore was just alert enough to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
De Fiore leaves Halli with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Simo Halli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halli goes for a double leg but De Fiore avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as De Fiore continues to drive forward.

De Fiore pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick from De Fiore, right into the meat of the thigh.
De Fiore scores with a hook to the body. Halli takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Halli shoots in looking for a takedown but De Fiore manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Halli's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Simo Halli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Fiore clobbers Halli with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Halli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by De Fiore.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
De Fiore ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Halli moves away.
De Fiore defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Halli.
Nice sprawl there from De Fiore as Halli shoots in.
De Fiore with a nice cross.
Halli takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Attilio De Fiore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Halli looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Halli trying to control the position from guard on top but De Fiore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Fiore is pulling down on Halli's head. It's preventing any offense from Halli, at least for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Attilio De Fiore showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Halli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Halli tries to keep at a distance but De Fiore has taken the fight into the clinch.
Halli effectively controlling the action here.
De Fiore tries to throw a body punch but Halli avoids it by throwing De Fiore back against the cage.
Halli lands a body shot.
De Fiore swings wildly with an uppercut but Halli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Halli's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
De Fiore tries to work over Halli's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Fiore lands a body shot.
De Fiore lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
De Fiore tries to throw a body punch but Halli avoids it by throwing De Fiore back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fiore stalling in the clinch.
Halli throws a punch but it's blocked by De Fiore.
De Fiore lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Halli manages to break the clinch.
Halli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with De Fiore but De Fiore pushes him off and we're back to square one.
De Fiore pulls out of a head kick attempt.
De Fiore clobbers Halli with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
De Fiore is looking to slow Halli down with leg kicks.
Nice takedown defense from De Fiore. No joy for Halli on that attempt.
A little jabbing left from De Fiore on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Halli closes this distance looking for a takedown but De Fiore circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simo Halli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Fiore lands a nice leg kick that just misses Halli's sensitive parts.
De Fiore lands a right hook to the body.
Halli is on the wrong end of a nice combination from De Fiore.

De Fiore closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Halli wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

De Fiore breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Halli walks into a stiff left hand from De Fiore.
A shot to the liver by De Fiore. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Fiore with a hook.

A momentary lapse in concentration from De Fiore enables Halli to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. De Fiore manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Halli stays in close to De Fiore's body and controls the position.
Halli wants to control from the top but De Fiore keeps moving.
De Fiore is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Halli is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of De Fiore's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take De Fiore's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halli is looking for the choke from the back position but De Fiore is controlling his hands well.

Halli is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. De Fiore is defending well though. Halli let's go of the attempt for now.

Halli is looking for a choke. De Fiore gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. De Fiore manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
De Fiore must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Halli is looking for a triangle but De Fiore pushes his legs off easily.

Halli throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
De Fiore controls from within his opponent's guard.

Halli working for a triangle but De Fiore defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Attilio De Fiore comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think De Fiore has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Attilio De Fiore!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Attilio De Fiore waved his t-shirt featuring Bondi MMA ðŸï¸'s logo in front of the cameras.