PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Liebenn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hashim Al Hassan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Liebenn
vs
Al Hassan

195 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johnny Liebenn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hashim Al Hassan!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liebenn throws a head kick but Al Hassan moves out of range.
Al Hassan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Liebenn circles away quickly and effectively.
Liebenn is looking to clinch but Al Hassan is avoiding it.
Al Hassan misses with a low kick as Liebenn jumps back.
Liebenn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al Hassan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Liebenn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Al Hassan circles away.
Al Hassan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Liebenn's head.
Johnny Liebenn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Hassan lands a right hook to the body.
Al Hassan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Al Hassan swats away the attempt to clinch by Liebenn.
Al Hassan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Hassan looks to land a combination but Liebenn avoids it well.
Liebenn slips a jab and a cross from Al Hassan.
A punch combination from Al Hassan misses.
Al Hassan throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Al Hassan as Liebenn shoots in.
Al Hassan throws a series of punches but Liebenn moves out of range.
Liebenn is looking to clinch.
Al Hassan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Al Hassan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Al Hassan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Al Hassan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Liebenn's hands.
Al Hassan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Al Hassan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Liebenn checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Al Hassan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Al Hassan looks to land a combination but Liebenn avoids it well.
Liebenn is looking to clinch but Al Hassan is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liebenn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Al Hassan sprawls well. Al Hassan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Liebenn gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Liebenn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Hassan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Liebenn is fending him off so far but Al Hassan persists. Nope, Liebenn circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Hassan has closed the distance and engaged Liebenn in a clinch.

Liebenn jumps guard and drags Al Hassan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Liebenn is trying to control the position but Al Hassan postures up.
Al Hassan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Liebenn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Al Hassan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Liebenn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Al Hassan is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan trying to control but Liebenn is working from the bottom.
Al Hassan thows a big elbow that misses.
Liebenn can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Al Hassan controls the pace.
Al Hassan wanted to stand there but Liebenn had control of the position.

Liebenn manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A cross from Al Hassan lands.
A head kick misses from Al Hassan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Al Hassan stuffs the takedown attempt from Liebenn. Liebenn gets slowly back to his feet.
Liebenn is breathing heavily.
Liebenn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Al Hassan lands a two punch combo.
Al Hassan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Al Hassan.
Liebenn tries to clinch but Al Hassan is having none of it.
Al Hassan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Al Hassan slaps away a takedown attempt from Liebenn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Al Hassan tries to close the distance and clinch but Liebenn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liebenn is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Al Hassan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hashim Al Hassan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Liebenn checks a leg kick.
Al Hassan looks to land a combination. Liebenn sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Liebenn tries to move into range but Al Hassan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A combination from Al Hassan does no damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Liebenn.
Liebenn tries for a takedown but Al Hassan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Liebenn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Hassan.
Liebenn misses with a takedown attempt - Al Hassan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Liebenn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Al Hassan.
Al Hassan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Liebenn avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hassan swats away the attempt to clinch by Liebenn.
Liebenn moves out of range of the body kick.
Al Hassan darts in trying to clinch

and Liebenn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Liebenn.

Liebenn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick from Al Hassan misses.
Liebenn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Al Hassan avoids it really well and circles away.
Al Hassan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Al Hassan throws a series of strikes that have Liebenn backpedaling.
Jab from Al Hassan.
Liebenn is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Al Hassan.
Al Hassan scores with a jab.
Liebenn blocks a low kick nicely.
Al Hassan lunges at Liebenn with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Liebenn's hand.
Liebenn tries a head kick but it misses.
Al Hassan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Johnny Liebenn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Hassan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Al Hassan tries a low kick but Liebenn avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liebenn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Al Hassan pinned against the cage. Al Hassan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Al Hassan is working the combinations to good effect here.
Al Hassan's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Al Hassan duly obliges.
Al Hassan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Al Hassan misses with a low kick.
A clash of legs there as Liebenn blocks the low kick.
Liebenn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Al Hassan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Al Hassan scores with a hook.
Liebenn has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liebenn on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A cross from Al Hassan lands.
Al Hassan looks to land a combination. Liebenn sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Al Hassan lands with an uppercut that bounces Liebenn off the cage and back into rage.
Liebenn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Hassan.
Al Hassan lands with a nice combination. Liebenn backs away looking to recover.
Al Hassan stalks Liebenn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Liebenn's face. Liebenn staggers backwards, shaken.
Al Hassan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Liebenn looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Liebenn avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Liebenn takes one to the chin there.
Al Hassan stalks Liebenn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Liebenn's face. Liebenn staggers backwards, shaken.
Al Hassan lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hashim Al Hassan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Liebenn takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Left hook, right uppercut from Al Hassan.
Al Hassan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Al Hassan lands a jab to Liebenn's midsection.
Liebenn shoots in for a takedown but Al Hassan shows good takedown defense.
Liebenn shoots for a double leg takedown but Al Hassan sprawls well. He's pushed Liebenn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Al Hassan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Al Hassan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Al Hassan misses with a few strikes there.
Liebenn takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Hassan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Al Hassan swinging wildly here.
Al Hassan tries to clinch but Liebenn is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hassan wants to clinch.
Al Hassan throws a leg kick that misses.
Liebenn is looking to clinch but Al Hassan is avoiding it.
Al Hassan tries to close the distance and clinch but Liebenn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hashim Al Hassan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al Hassan misses with a series of wild punches.
No luck for Al Hassan with that takedown attempt.
Al Hassan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

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.
Al Hassan misses with a head kick.
Al Hassan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Liebenn shoots in but Al Hassan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Liebenn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Hassan connects with a nice looking jab.
Liebenn shoots for a takedown but Al Hassan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Al Hassan goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A nice combination there by Al Hassan.
Al Hassan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Liebenn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Al Hassan closes the distance and pushes Liebenn back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan tries to break the clinch but Liebenn is controlling the position.
Al Hassan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Liebenn jumps guard but Al Hassan stands there with Liebenn around his waist. Liebenn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Al Hassan wants to break free but Liebenn has control.
Liebenn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Al Hassan.
Liebenn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Al Hassan.
Liebenn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Al Hassan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hashim Al Hassan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Al Hassan tries to break the clinch but Liebenn is controlling the position.
Liebenn looking to stall.
Liebenn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Al Hassan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Al Hassan tries to break the clinch but Liebenn is controlling the position.
Johnny Liebenn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Al Hassan blocks a body shot from Liebenn.
Al Hassan wants to break the clinch but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hashim Al Hassan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Al Hassan 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hashim Al Hassan!