PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hatori Hanzo (ranked 2338 p4p, 2224 weight class) and Emre Hussain (ranked 261 p4p, 244 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hanzo
vs
Hussain

177 cm
27
163
11 - 9 - 1

171 cm
39
158
31 - 18 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hatori Hanzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emre Hussain!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Hussain.
Hanzo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hanzo blocks the body kick.
Hanzo is looking to clinch but Hussain is avoiding it.
Hussain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hanzo.
Hussain tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hanzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Hussain.
Hanzo moves away from the strike by Hussain.
Hanzo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hanzo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hussain attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain misses with a body shot.
Hussain has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hanzo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Emre Hussain has been cut.
Hussain lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hanzo at a distance.
Hanzo looks to score with a jab to the body but Hussain is just out of range.
Hanzo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hanzo moves out of range as Hussain strikes.
Hussain scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hussain scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hanzo in his tracks.
Hussain lands a glancing blow to the side of Hanzo's head.
Hussain scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hussain moves into the clinch.
Hussain wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hanzo tries to work over Hussain's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hanzo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hussains head.

Hanzo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hussain misses with a hook.
Hanzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hanzo throws a body shot but no joy.
Hanzo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hussain swats away the attempt to clinch by Hanzo.
Hanzo checks a low kick from Hussain.
Hanzo throws a leg kick that misses.
Hanzo connects with a solid leg kick.
Hanzo checks a low kick from Hussain.
Hanzo misses with an uppercut. Hussain saw that one coming.
Hanzo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Emre Hussain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hussain is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hussain connects with a right hand. Hanzo shakes it off.
Hussain is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Hanzo had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hanzo staying out of range there.
Hussain lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hussain looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanzo is just out of range.
Hanzo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hussain swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Donk. Hussain catches Hanzo right on the button with a cross.
Hussain bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hanzo's head.

Hussain has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hussain can't break the clinch.
Hussain looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hussain wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hanzo.
Hussain is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hussain is trying to break free.

Hussain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hussain avoids the head kick by Hanzo.
Hanzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Hussain.
A punch lands to the side of Hanzo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hanzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Hussain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hanzo connects with a crisp jab.
Hanzo moves in looking to clinch but Hussain pushes him off.
Hanzo moves in looking to clinch but Hussain pushes him off.
Hussain lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hanzo will feel that in the morning.

Hussain clinches.
Hussain has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hussain looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hanzo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice elbow from Hanzo.
Hanzo keeps control of Hussain as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hanzo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hussain's efforts to push away.
A head punch on the inside from Hanzo fails to land.
Hussain takes an elbow to the temple.

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

Hanzo pushes Hussain up against the cage in a clinch.
Hanzo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hussain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hussain throws a shot from downtown. Hanzo moves away and avoids it.
Hanzo tries to counter by clinching up but Hussain breaks away and moves out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Hussain takes the fight into the clinch.
Hanzo wants to take the fight to the mat but Hussain manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hanzo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hanzo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Hanzo breaks from the clinch.
Hussain lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hanzo's sensitive parts.
Hussain waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hanzo.
Hussain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hussain misses the shot to the body.

Hanzo clinches.
Hanzo lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hanzo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hussain has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hanzo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hussain throws out the jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emre Hussain dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Emre Hussain's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hussain throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hanzo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hussain tests Hanzo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hanzo fails to land with a series of punches.
Hanzo throws a shot from downtown. Hussain moves away and avoids it.
Hanzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanzo throws out a powerful jab.
Hussain scores with a nice right hand.
Hussain lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hussain jabs at Hanzo's body.

Hussain moves into the clinch.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hussain misses with a straight right.
Hanzo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hussain lands with an overhand left.
Hanzo throws a series of punches but Hussain avoids them all with ease.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hussain wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanzo won't allow it.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hanzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hussain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hanzo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hussain lands a lovely overhand right.
Hussain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanzo.
Hussain throws a push kick but Hanzo slaps the foot to one side.
Hussain fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanzo doesn't manage to clinch there - Hussain circles away.
Hanzo with a jab.

Hussain takes the fight into the clinch.
Hussain wants to break free but Hanzo has control.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hussain in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Hanzo misses with a punch to the body.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hanzo throws a leg kick but Hussain checks it.
Hanzo scores with a nice head shot.

Hussain moves into the clinch successfully.
Hanzo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hanzo prevents Hussain from breaking the clinch.
Hussain has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hanzo swings wildly with an uppercut but Hussain uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo'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.
Hanzo can't find room to land a body shot as Hussain controls the action.
Hanzo keeps control of Hussain as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hanzo prevents Hussain from breaking the clinch.
Hanzo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Hussain breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanzo throws the left hand but Hussain avoids the punch easily.
Hussain jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab, jab by Hussain - just one landing.
Hussain avoids the body shot from Hanzo.
Emre Hussain seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hanzo slips a jab from Hussain.
Hanzo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hanzo wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
The fighters circling - Hussain throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Hanzo gets a clinch.
Hussain can't break the clinch.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo prevents Hussain from breaking the clinch.
Hanzo misses with a punch to the body.
Hanzo keeps control of Hussain as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hanzo misses with an elbow strike.
Hanzo misses with a punch to the body.
Hussain has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.
Hanzo pushes Hussain back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hussain wants to break free but Hanzo has control.
Hanzo lands a left hand.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hussain delivers a nice body kick.
Hussain is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hanzo.
Hussain's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hanzo under the eye.
Hussain getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hanzo.
Hanzo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hanzo is looking to chop away at Hussain's legs.
Hanzo slips a straight right by Hussain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanzo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hussain's head.
Hussain looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jab, jab by Hussain - just one landing.
Hanzo moves in looking to clinch but Hussain pushes him off.

Hussain darts in and clinches Hanzo up against the cage.
Hanzo with a knee to the head.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo is controlling him.
Hanzo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hatori Hanzo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hussain wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hanzo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hanzo prevents Hussain from breaking the clinch.
Hussain wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanzo won't allow it.
Hanzo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hussain is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hussain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hanzo tries to clinch there but Hussain circles away.
Hussain jabs at Hanzo's body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emre Hussain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Emre Hussain's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hussain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hussain looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hanzo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hanzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hussain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hanzo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hussain.
A low kick from Hussain misses

and Hanzo counters by moving into the clinch.
Hussain has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hanzo digs a right hand underneath Hussain's ribcage. Hussain let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hanzo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hussain is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hussain prevents a body shot from Hanzo.
Hussain wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanzo won't allow it.

Hussain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hussain jabs at Hanzo's body.
Hussain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hussain gets tackled into the cage by Hanzo. Hanzo maintains the clinch.
Hussain blocks the elbow strike.
Hanzo lands a nice uppercut.
Hussain wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hussain pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hanzo tries to clinch up but Hussain circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hussain.
Hussain slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Hussain clinches with his opponent.
Hussain is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Hussain manages to break the clinch.
Hanzo throws a hook but Hussain avoids it easily.
Hussain swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hussain misses with a body shot

and Hanzo counters by clinching up.
Hussain wants to break free but Hanzo has control.
Hanzo misses with some punches.
Hanzo lands a damaging elbow.

Hussain breaks from the clinch.

Hussain gets tackled into the cage by Hanzo. Hanzo maintains the clinch.
Hanzo tries to throw a body punch but Hussain avoids it by throwing Hanzo back against the cage.
Hussain is trying to force a seperation but Hanzo has the dominant position.

Hussain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hussain connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hanzo. Hanzo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hanzo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hussain.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanzo. Hussain does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hussain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hatori Hanzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emre Hussain is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanzo blocks a leg kick.
Hanzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanzo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hussain pushes Hanzo away with a front kick.
Hussain thumps Hanzo with a low kick.
Hussain works the jab nicely.
Nice uppercut lands for Hussain. That snapped Hanzo's head back.
Hussain moves forwards but Hanzo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hanzo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hussain works the jab nicely.
Hussain dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hussain thuds a left hand into Hanzo's body.
Hanzo throws a body punch but Hussain moves out of range.
Hanzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Hanzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hussain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hussain scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hussain lands a right hook to the body.
Hussain scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain works Hanzo's body with a nice hook.
Hussain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hussain just misses with a punch to the body.
Hussain misses with a body shot.

Hanzo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hanzo is struggling to control the position.
Hussain's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hanzo lands an elbow that stopped Hussain in his tracks for a moment.
Hussain blocks a body shot from Hanzo.
Hussain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanzo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hussains head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hussain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanzo misses with the head strike.
Hussain dodges an elbow strike from Hanzo.
Hanzo misses with a body punch.
Hanzo tries a body shot but Hussain blocks it.
Hanzo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanzo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hanzo has a couple of punches blocked by Hussain.
A right hook to the body lands for Hanzo.
Hanzo lands a shot to the body.
Hanzo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emre Hussain.
I've got Hussain 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emre Hussain!
After the fight, Emre Hussain 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.
The defeated Hatori Hanzo had this to say: 'I got a white belt what'd yall expect'.