PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jahangir Hooshmand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch Layden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hooshmand
vs
Layden

170 cm
27
153 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

180 cm
21
155 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Jahangir Hooshmand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Mitch Layden!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Layden clinches up against the cage.

Layden gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Layden throws a big right hand that misses.

Hooshmand looking for a guillotine here but Layden defends easily.
Layden stopping the sweep attempt from Hooshmand.
Layden postures up.
Layden scoring with punches to the head and body.
Layden trying to control but Hooshmand is working from the bottom.

Layden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hooshmand throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hooshmand bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Layden's guard.
Hooshmand trying to control the position from guard on top but Layden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hooshmand is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Layden is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hooshmand stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Layden swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Layden throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooshmand looking to sit in guard and control but Layden gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hooshmand is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hooshmand lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Layden!

Hooshmand goes for an armbar but Layden turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Layden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layden throws a big right hand that misses.
Layden keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hooshmand's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Layden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Layden throws and elbow that misses. Hooshmand uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Layden's guard. Nice move by Hooshmand!
Layden looking to control.
Layden keeping moving, preventing Hooshmand from controlling successfully.
Hooshmand passes into half guard.
Layden tries to roll over but Hooshmand keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Layden is defending against the submission attempts here by Hooshmand.

Hooshmand is looking for a kimura but Layden is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hooshmand to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hooshmand is looking for a kimura but Layden is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hooshmand to get the leverage.

Hooshmand is trying to work for a kimura but Layden is defending well.
Hooshmand is breathing heavily.

Hooshmand is looking for a kimura but Layden is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hooshmand to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mitch Layden will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hooshmand tries for a takedown but Layden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Layden comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jahangir Hooshmand is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Layden connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hooshmand. Hooshmand circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hooshmand gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Layden counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Layden.
Layden trying to control the position from guard on top but Hooshmand is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Layden chips away with some ground and pound.
Layden lands a couple of elbows.
Layden thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Layden wants to pass the guard but Hooshmand is keeping the position.
Layden landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Layden trying to control the position from guard on top but Hooshmand is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hooshmand controlling Layden's posture.
Layden trying to control but Hooshmand is working from the bottom.
Layden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Layden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hooshmand working for a triangle but Layden defends it easily.
Hooshmand looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Layden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hooshmand works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Layden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Layden stopping the sweep attempt from Hooshmand.
Hooshmand keeping moving, preventing Layden from controlling successfully.
Hooshmand trying to control the position.
Layden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hooshmand works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hooshmand looking for a sweep. Not yet Hooshmand, not yet.
Layden tries to free his leg and advance position but Hooshmand is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Layden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hooshmand keeping full guard, as Layden tries to pass.
Layden must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hooshmand has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Layden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hooshmand looking for a sweep. Not yet Hooshmand, not yet.
Hooshmand trying to control the position.

Layden postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hooshmand is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Layden, into his guard.

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.
Layden is trying to control the position but Hooshmand postures up.

Hooshmand is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Layden is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Layden has escaped and now he's on top!
Hooshmand has Layden pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hooshmand wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Layden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hooshmand with a lazy takedown attempt

and Layden counters with a takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Layden.
Layden is looking to take a break and control but Hooshmand is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Layden scoring with punches and elbows.
Layden cracks Hooshmand with a big right hand but Hooshmand just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hooshmand tries to improve position but can't.
Sloppy strikes there by Layden.
Hooshmand is not content to let Layden control the position.
Hooshmand regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hooshmand is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Layden uses his free foot to push down on Hooshmand's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hooshmand.
Hooshmand tries to hold on but Layden postures up.
Hooshmand is trying desperately to improve position.
Layden landing strikes, looking to finish!
Layden lands with some strikes.
Layden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hooshmand can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mitch Layden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Layden pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hooshmand in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Layden putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Layden lands a big elbow.
Layden controlling from mount.
Hooshmand can't escape the position.
Layden lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Layden with shots to the head and body - Hooshmand looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hooshmand can't escape the position.
Layden lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Layden dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layden pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hooshmand keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Layden pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hooshmand is working to get back to half guard.
Layden landing shots from mount.
Layden prevents Hooshmand from getting the reversal.

Layden working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Layden lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hooshmand hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hooshmand is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hooshmand is in a horrible position here. Layden smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hooshmand is wriggling around trying to escape.
Layden raining down shots from the mount!
Layden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Layden with good strikes from the mount here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Layden tries to control but Hooshmand wriggling away.
Layden is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hooshmand keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jahangir Hooshmand has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mitch Layden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Layden with shots to the head and body - Hooshmand looks very uncomfortable down there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitch Layden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Layden has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitch Layden!