PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Essien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduardo Hasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Eduardo Hasa enters the cage!

Essien
vs
Hasa

175 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

206 cm
18
136 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Essien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eduardo Hasa!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Essien fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hasa avoids it really well and circles away.
Essien doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hasa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Essien's guard.
Hasa throws a strike but Essien rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Essien trying to control the position from guard on top but Hasa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hasa has control of Essien's left arm, preventing Essien from doing any damage.

Hasa working for a triangle but Essien defends it easily.
Essien trying to control but Hasa is working from the bottom.
Essien might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Essien stops Hasa from standing up.
Hasa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hasa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Essien advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Essien wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Essien is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hasa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hasa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Essien moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Essien is looking to take a break and control but Hasa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Hasa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Essien wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Essien passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hasa!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hasa wants to control but Essien is having none of it.
Essien won't let Hasa get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hasa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Essien trying to control but Hasa is having none of it.
Hasa tries to hold on but Essien postures up.
Hasa looks gassed!
Hasa has given up his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Essien has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Hasa! Can he survive? No! He's out! Essien gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Xavier Essien!
Xavier Essien seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.