PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ghazala Hussein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasily Krakow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hussein
vs
Krakow

179 cm
25
159 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
162 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ghazala Hussein!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasily Krakow!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hussein lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hussein defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Krakow.
Krakow moves away from the strike by Hussein.
Some wild striking there from Hussein.
Horrible takedown by Hussein or perhaps it was just good defense by Krakow which made him look bad.
Hussein just misses with a punch to the body.
Krakow scores with a sloppy right hand. Hussein should have avoided that one.
Ghazala Hussein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hussein misses with a body shot.
Krakow takes one on the button.
Krakow scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Krakow avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hussein cracks a nice hook into Krakow's ribs.
Hussein misses with a straight left.
Hussein misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Krakow.
Hussein throws a body punch but Krakow moves out of range.
Hussein misses the shot to the body.
Hussein looks to throw the jab but Krakow is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Hussein misses the target.
Krakow throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hussein counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Krakow looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Krakow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hussein swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krakow with a flurry of punches that miss.
Krakow throws a strike but Hussein rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Krakow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hussein.
Krakow keeping full guard, as Hussein tries to pass.
Hussein advances to half guard.
Krakow tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Krakow trying to control from the bottom.
Hussein content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hussein wants to pass the guard but Krakow is defending well.
Krakow tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Krakow trying to hold on to Hussein's head to control him but Hussein postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Krakow looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hussein is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hussein missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Krakow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hussein not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Krakow shoots and misses
and Hussein counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Krakow has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Krakow there as he acknowledges the shot.
Krakow throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hussein swings for the body but Krakow moves out of range.
A jab from Hussein does it's job there.
Krakow ducks under a wild hook from Hussein.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussein lands a slapping body shot.
Krakow bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hussein stuns Krakow with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hussein misses with a looping left.
Krakow staying out of range there.
Hussein throws a lazy right hand but Krakow sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Krakow.
Hussein dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Krakow keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hussein throws a shot from downtown. Krakow moves away and avoids it.
Hussein dips to his left and cracks Krakow with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazala Hussein dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hussein digs a good body shot into Krakow's ribs.
Hussein scores with a hook to the body. Krakow takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hussein moves out of range as Krakow strikes.
Hussein throws a hook to the side of Krakow's head but Krakow sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hussein throws a lazy right hand but Krakow sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hussein throws a jab when Krakow was well out of range.
Krakow tries to land a front kick but Hussein steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Krakow misses with a takedown attempt
and Hussein counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hussein thuds his right hand into Krakow's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hussein misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Krakow.
Krakow misses with a takedown
and Hussein connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krakow fails with the takedown
and Hussein counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ghazala Hussein has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasily Krakow.
Hussein stuffs the takedown attempt from Krakow. Krakow gets slowly back to his feet.
Hussein misses with an uppercut.
Hussein cracks Krakow with an open hand slap.
Krakow bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hussein comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hussein takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hussein throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Krakow sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussein scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hussein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Krakow manages to avoid it.
Hussein bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Krakow's head.
Krakow walks into a straight right hand from Hussein.
Hussein stuns Krakow with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hussein thows a body shot but no joy.
Hussein lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Krakow gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ghazala Hussein is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Hussein throws out a loose jab but Krakow uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hussein just misses with a punch to the body.

Hussein closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hussein blocks the strikes from Krakow.
Krakow wants to get back to his feet.
Hussein trying to control the position but Krakow is working away.
Hussein scores with punches from side control.
Hussein wants to lay and pray for a moment but Krakow keeps working.
Krakow wants to control but Hussein postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hussein throws a hook to the side of Krakow's head but Krakow sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hussein throws a combination that misses
and Krakow counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Krakow gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hussein to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Krakow is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Krakow is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hussein defends well.
Krakow throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Krakow keeping moving, preventing Hussein from controlling successfully.
Hussein content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hussein with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Krakow throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Krakow moves forwards but Hussein connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hussein throws a body punch but Krakow moves out of range.
Hussein lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Krakow circles away quickly and effectively.
Hussein ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Krakow moves away.
Hussein throws a series of punches but Krakow avoids them all with ease.
Krakow scores with a hook.
Hussein moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hussein throws out a loose jab but Krakow uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hussein throws a big shot that misses.
Hussein darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hussein works Krakow's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hussein.
Krakow throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hussein stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Krakow avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hussein lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hussein misses with a body shot.
Krakow has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hussein looks to score with a jab to the body but Krakow is just out of range.
Hussein throws a series of strikes that have Krakow backpedaling.
Krakow bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hussein's head backwards.
Krakow takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Krakow looks to land a left hand but Hussein moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Krakow.
Krakow on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Krakow shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hussein as he jumps to the side.
Good exchange - Hussein coming out on top.
Hussein scores with a shot to the body.
Hussein throws a series of strikes that have Krakow backpedaling.
Hussein moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hussein throws a hook but Krakow avoids it easily.
Krakow scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krakow takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hussein throws the left hand but Krakow avoids the punch easily.
Krakow moves away from the strike by Hussein.
Krakow ducks under a wild hook from Hussein.
Krakow looks to land a body kick but Hussein moved away.
A jab from Hussein misses.
Krakow uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hussein.
Hussein ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Krakow moves away.
Hussein lands with a straight right. Krakow didn't see that one coming.
Hussein takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hussein thuds a left hand into Krakow's body.
Krakow avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hussein throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Krakow counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Krakow trying to control but Hussein is working from the bottom.
Hussein trying to strike off his back.
Hussein trying to keep a closed guard but Krakow is proving a slippery customer.

Hussein has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Krakow should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Hussein has tightened it up now! Krakow should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ghazala Hussein!
Ghazala Hussein retains his lightweight title!