PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Bartolome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akbar Hussein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricardo Bartolome has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Bartolome
vs
Hussein

186 cm
28
205 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

174 cm
27
200 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Ricardo Bartolome!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Akbar Hussein!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartolome looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hussein misses with a lunging right hand
and Bartolome counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bartolome lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bartolome wants to clinch.
Hussein slips under a jab from Bartolome.
Bartolome throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bartolome connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hussein's hands.
Bartolome cracks a nice hook into Hussein's ribs.
Hussein slips a jab and a cross from Bartolome.
Bartolome lands a nice shot that snaps Hussein's head back.
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!
Bartolome uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hussein.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hussein doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bartolome just misses with a punch to the body.

Hussein scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Hussein is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bartolome doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hussein.
Hussein wants to control but Bartolome is keeping him busy.
Hussein passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartolome squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Bartolome on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bartolome tries to get out of the position.
Hussein thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Hussein is working for a guillotine from mount but Bartolome frees his head quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hussein sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Hussein misses with a head shot.
Hussein controlling the pace for now.

Hussein has hold of Bartolome's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bartolome manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hussein wants to finish this one by submission but Bartolome is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hussein.
Hussein with the ground and pound from mount.
Hussein has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bartolome is squirming around, avoiding Hussein's attempts to control the action.

Hussein working for a guillotine from mount but Bartolome is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussein throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hussein scoring with strikes but Bartolome is staying in there.
Hussein lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bartolome is trying desperately to improve position.
Hussein throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hussein looking to finish with strikes here!
Hussein is landing with some decent strikes but Bartolome is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akbar Hussein dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hussein throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bartolome sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Hussein closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bartolome quickly recovers to half guard.
Hussein not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Hussein looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hussein is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bartolome knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hussein on the ground.
Hussein wants to control but Bartolome is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hussein wants to free his trapped foot but Bartolome is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hussein in particular looking to stall.

Hussein is working for a submission of some sort.
Bartolome is staying active underneath Hussein, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hussein is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bartolome is just riding it out for now. Hussein eventually gives up the hold.
Hussein wants to control but Bartolome is keeping him busy.

Hussein is trying to work for a kimura but Bartolome is defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hussein lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hussein should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Hussein is working for a kimura but Bartolome is defending it quite comfortably.
Hussein wants to pass to mount but Bartolome is defending the position.
Hussein is looking to take a break and control but Bartolome is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hussein is trying to work for a kimura but Bartolome is defending well.

Hussein is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bartolome sees it coming and defends easily.
Bartolome is trying to stand.
Hussein thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bartolome's head.

Hussein is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bartolome is just riding it out for now. Hussein eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akbar Hussein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bartolome stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bartolome wants it to stay on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Bartolome.
Bartolome throws a shot from downtown. Hussein moves away and avoids it.
Bartolome cracks Hussein with a good jab.
Hussein dodges the punch combination from Bartolome.
Hussein avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bartolome is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bartolome throws an overhand right that lands on Hussein's shoulder, as Hussein tries to avoid the shot.
Ricardo Bartolome is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartolome lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hussein circles away quickly and effectively.
Bartolome misses with a wild combination.
Ricardo Bartolome is winning the standup battle so far.
Hussein tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bartolome was well out of range. Poor timing from Hussein.
Bartolome keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bartolome misses with a few strikes there.
Hussein throws out a loose jab but Bartolome uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hussein fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bartolome sprawls well initially but Hussein persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hussein is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hussein misses with a head shot.
Ricardo Bartolome has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussein landing punches.
Bartolome is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hussein throws some wild stikes that Bartolome manages to avoid easily.
Hussein takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bartolome is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Hussein controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hussein connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein working Bartolome over with strikes here.
Bartolome blocking the ground and pound.

Hussein working for a submission but Bartolome is keeping him at bay.

Hussein working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hussein landing strikes from the mount and Bartolome is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussein lands a big elbow.
Hussein can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bartolome is looking to escape.
Hussein is landing with some decent strikes but Bartolome is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Bartolome is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hussein lands a big elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hussein is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Bartolome to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bartolome shrugs it off.
Hussein thowing shots but they're missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akbar Hussein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hussein 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akbar Hussein!