PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erling Hallandy (ranked 4209 p4p, 24429 weight class) and Michael McConnell (ranked 401 p4p, 482 weight class). Michael McConnell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hallandy
vs
McConnell

175 cm
25
163
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
21
155
0 - 13 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Erling Hallandy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael McConnell !
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McConnell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hallandy tries to push off, looking to stand up, but McConnell manages to move to mount!
McConnell sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hallandy wants to hold on but McConnell pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McConnell controlling from the full mount.
Hallandy is trying to escape the mount.
McConnell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hallandy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McConnell on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallandy working to try and regain half guard.
McConnell thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hallandy tries to hold on but McConnell postures up.

McConnell stands up from mount. Strange move.
Hallandy has a takedown stuffed.
McConnell has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
McConnell has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallandy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McConnell as he jumps to the side.
Hallandy shoots for a double leg takedown but McConnell sprawls well. He's pushed Hallandy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erling Hallandy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McConnell shoots in for a takedown but Hallandy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hallandy pushes McConnell up against the cage in a clinch.
McConnell prevents a takedown attempt there.
McConnell tries to pull guard but Hallandy won't allow it.

McConnell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hallandy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hallandy drives through and clinches with McConnell against the cage.

McConnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallandy misses the shot to the body.
Hallandy throws a head kick that misses.
McConnell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hallandy avoids it really well and circles away.
McConnell with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hallandy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McConnell lands a hook that snaps the head of Hallandy backwards.
Hallandy goes for a takedown attempt but McConnell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McConnell fails with the takedown.

Hallandy has McConnell up against the cage in a clinch.
Hallandy controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hallandy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hallandy is trying to pull guard but McConnell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

McConnell pulls guard.
McConnell being controlled here, momentarily.
McConnell has control of Hallandy's left arm, preventing Hallandy from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McConnell is trying to keep Hallandy in close.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael McConnell will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

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

McConnell pushes Hallandy off and gets back to his feet.
McConnell fails with a takedown attempt.
McConnell stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hallandy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hallandy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McConnell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hallandy stuffs the takedown.
Hallandy fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erling Hallandy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallandy tries to clinch but McConnell is having none of it.
McConnell shoots in for a double leg but Hallandy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hallandy.
McConnell goes for a double leg but Hallandy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hallandy continues to drive forward.
Hallandy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hallandy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McConnell defends it nicely.

Hallandy has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McConnell stops a takedown attempt from Hallandy.
McConnell is working for takedown but Hallandy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hallandy wants to get back to striking at distance but McConnell won't allow it.
McConnell has Hallandy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hallandy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hallandy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McConnell walks away with a smile on his face. Hallandy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hallandy dives in for a single leg takedown but McConnell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
McConnell tries to counter with a clinch but Hallandy shakes him off and moves away.
Hallandy is trying to push McConnell away but McConnell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hallandy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McConnell has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConnell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
McConnell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hallandy just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hallandy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McConnell has him pressed against the cage.

McConnell successfully pulls guard.
Hallandy throws an elbow that misses. McConnell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hallandy's guard. Nice move by McConnell !

Hallandy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McConnell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hallandy working a defensive guard but McConnell passes into half guard.
McConnell is trying to control. Hallandy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hallandy wants to improve his position but McConnell is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hallandy wants to control but McConnell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McConnell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McConnell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hallandy keeps working.
McConnell thows a huge punch but Hallandy dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McConnell passes the guard and advances to mount!
McConnell scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hallandy?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael McConnell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hallandy gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McConnell pushing down on Hallandy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hallandy is trying to get back to full guard.
McConnell controlling the action here.
Hallandy is trying to control but McConnell passes into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McConnell content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallandy is trying to improve his position.
Hallandy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hallandy tries to get out of the position.

McConnell stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hallandy shoots in for a takedown but McConnell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hallandy.
Hallandy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McConnell defends well and Hallandy ends up having to push McConnell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erling Hallandy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McConnell has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hallandy uses from the top position.
McConnell is pulling down on Hallandy's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McConnell has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Hallandy doesn't defend quickly enough and McConnell has managed to lock this one up! Can Hallandy escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to McConnell on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Michael McConnell !