PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johny Handicks (ranked 3250 p4p, 2321 weight class) and Sirus Hall (ranked 402 p4p, 306 weight class). Hall is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Thin Lizzy - Cold Sweat. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Handicks
vs
Hall

175 cm
41
181
21 - 29 - 0

183 cm
39
180
22 - 20 - 1

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Great elbows
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 21 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Handicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sirus Hall!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Watson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handicks throws an overhand right that lands on Hall's shoulder, as Hall tries to avoid the shot.

Hall shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Handicks manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Hall keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Handicks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Handicks prevents the takedown attempt.

Handicks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Hall misses.

Hall gets a double leg takedown into Handicks's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hall wants to control from the top but Handicks keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hall being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handicks keeping moving, preventing Hall from controlling successfully.
Handicks wants to stand up but Hall is controlling him.
Hall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Handicks is keeping the position for now.
Handicks wants to sweep here but Hall controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Hall drops Handicks with a left right combo! Hall follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Johny Handicks has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hall tries for a kimura but Handicks is defending well.
Hall trying to control the position but Handicks is working away.
The ground and pound from Hall seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Hall is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Handicks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hall content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Hall is looking to take a break and control but Handicks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hall thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hall wants to control but Handicks is keeping him busy.

Hall swings around for an armbar but Handicks sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hall's guard.
Handicks wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.
Handicks's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handicks works over Hall with some ground and pound from guard.
Handicks is stalling in the full guard.

Hall looking for a guillotine here but Handicks defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sirus Hall dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johny Handicks's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Handicks misses with a hook to the body
and Hall counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Handicks looks to land a combination but Hall avoids it well.
Hall swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Handicks misses with a straight right.
Hall throws a body shot but no joy.
Hall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Handicks.
Handicks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johny Handicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hall takes one to the chin there.
Handicks throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Handicks takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hall blocks a jab.

Hall feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hall trying to control but Handicks is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hall looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hall advances to half guard.
Hall has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hall throwing shots but Handicks is blocking nicely.

Hall 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.

Hall is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Handicks has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two 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.

Hall is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Handicks is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Outlier Martial Arts, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Handicks is staying active underneath Hall, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hall thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Handicks's head.
Hall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Handicks keeps working.

Hall is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall uses his free foot to push down on Handicks's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Handicks.
Hall takes Handicks's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Handicks is in trouble.
Hall is not going to allow Handicks to sit and survive in this position.

Hall looking for the choke but no joy.
Sirus Hall has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hall has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Handicks has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Handicks is trying to get back to his feet but Hall has full control of the position and if anything, Handicks has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Handicks rolls, trying to escape but Hall keeps control of the position.
What can Handicks do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Handicks trying to control the action but Hall just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hall is persistently looking for the submission but Handicks is defending it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sirus Hall showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johny Handicks's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hall fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hall scores with a jab. Handicks acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sirus Hall seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hall staying out of range there.
Hall wants to counter with a clinch but Handicks pushes him away.
Handicks is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Hall's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Handicks connects with a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hall.
Hall throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Handicks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hall shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hall is looking to take a break and control but Handicks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall uses his free foot to push down on Handicks's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Handicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hall trying to control but Handicks is having none of it.

Hall is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Handicks has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Handicks!
Handicks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Handicks sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Our spies down at at The Scrap Squad inform us that Hall has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hall has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Handicks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hall looking for a sweep. Not yet Hall, not yet.
Sirus Hall is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Handicks controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hall wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handicks controlling from the top position.
Handicks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Hall working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Handicks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Handicks manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Handicks is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hall is trying to keep Handicks in close.
Johny Handicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Handicks stopping the sweep attempt from Hall.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Handicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hall darts in looking for a takedown but Handicks gets double underhooks and turns Hall into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sirus Hall.
I've got Hall winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sirus Hall!
Sirus Hall very nearly forgot to thank Shadow Realm Apparel amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.