PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abou Ba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hanlon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abou Ba could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark Hanlon's chin.

Ba
vs
Hanlon

202 cm
25
240 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
246 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abou Ba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Hanlon!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Ba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Abou Ba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanlon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hanlon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hanlon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ba wants to get back to his feet but Hanlon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ba wants to sweep but no luck.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ba holds on and takes a little breather.
Ba has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanlon stops Ba from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanlon throwing strikes from guard but Ba blocks nicely.
Hanlon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hanlon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hanlon.

Hanlon tries for a kimura but Ba is defending well.
Ba is looking for a sweep.
Ba gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon is nestled in close to Ba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ba works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ba has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hanlon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ba has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hanlon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hanlon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanlon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hanlon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ba tries to land a leg kick but Hanlon saw it coming and moves away.

Ba forces Hanlon back against the cage and clinches.
Hanlon keeps control of Ba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ba breaks from the clinch.
Hanlon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hanlon has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ba slips a jab and a cross from Hanlon.

Ba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hanlon was covering up waiting for the punch and Ba finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Hanlon working for a triangle but Ba defends it easily.
Hanlon seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hanlon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hanlon dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ba cracks Hanlon with a good jab.

It looks like Mark Hanlon has been cut.
Ba tries to clinch there but Hanlon circles away.
Hanlon misses with the combination.
Ba tries to clinch but Hanlon is having none of it.

Ba moves into the clinch.

Ba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice shot lands for Ba.
Ba throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ba slips a jab and a cross from Hanlon.
Ba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Ba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hanlon gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanlon trying to control the position but instead, Ba has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hanlon into the cage.

Ba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hanlon misses with a wild combination.
Hanlon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hanlon throws a series of punches but Ba moves out of range.
Ba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hanlon misses with a double jab
and Ba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hanlon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ba goes for a double leg but Hanlon avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hanlon continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abou Ba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon letting Ba take a breather here.
A right handed body shot lands from Ba.
A bit of stalling here from Ba.
Hanlon avoiding damage as Ba throws knees to the body.
Ba avoiding damage.

Ba breaks the clinch.
Hanlon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hanlon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ba clinches up with Hanlon and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ba dodges the punch combination from Hanlon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanlon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ba sprawls well initially but Hanlon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ba is looking to escape.
Hanlon throwing shots but Ba is blocking nicely.
Ba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hanlon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hanlon's back!
Ba biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ba's guard. Nice work there by Hanlon.
Ba is looking to stand up but Hanlon isn't so interested in that idea.
Ba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hanlon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hanlon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanlon trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ba manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ba sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abou Ba dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Hanlon's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ba wants to clinch up but Hanlon keeps it at a distance.
Hanlon misses with a few strikes there.
Hanlon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ba closes the distance but Hanlon moves to the side
and Hanlon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ba misses with a leg kick
and Hanlon counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice shot lands for Ba.
Abou Ba is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanlon throws a right and a left that Ba avoids nicely.
Ba throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ba with a hook.

That has opened up Mark Hanlon's cut even more.

Ba clinches with his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ba manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ba wants to clinch up but Hanlon keeps it at a distance.
A low kick from Ba is predictable there
and Hanlon counters with a straight right hand.
Ba tries to clinch up.
Hanlon swings widly with a right hand
and Ba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hanlon throws a nice looking combination but Ba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ba moves to clinch but Hanlon breaks away
and Hanlon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Hanlon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hanlon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ba managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hanlon.
Hanlon tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hanlon throws a strike aimed at the side of Ba's head but Ba avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ba is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hanlon has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Ba throws Hanlon to one side and escapes!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanlon blocks a head kick by Ba.
Ba tries to clinch there but Hanlon circles away.
Abou Ba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hanlon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hanlon throws a right and a left that Ba avoids nicely.
Ba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ba blocks a head kick by Hanlon.

Ba takes the fight into the clinch.
Ba tries to break free but Hanlon pushes him back against the cage.

Ba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ba lands with an overhand left.

The cut above Mark Hanlon's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Hanlon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hanlon swinging wildly here.
Ba connects with a looping right hand.
Ba tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hanlon counters with a two punch combo.
Ba is looking to clinch but Hanlon is avoiding it.
Hanlon dives in for a single leg takedown but Ba sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hanlon tries to break the clinch but Ba is controlling the position.

Ba manages to break the clinch.
Ba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hanlon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ba tries for a takedown but Hanlon circles away easily
and Hanlon counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanlon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hanlon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ba tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hanlon counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hanlon counters with a one-two to the body.

Ba is rocked!
A punch combination from Hanlon misses.
Oh Ba is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hanlon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ba dodges the punch combination from Hanlon.

Hanlon lands a huge takedown. Ba is out but the ref is slow to react and Hanlon lands 3 more undefended punches before the fight is stopped. Brutal finish. Ba lies on the canvas for a good minute before the doctors bring him round. Good to see he's OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mark Hanlon!
An out of breath and clearly excited Mark Hanlon thanked Zentrope Fighting Universe for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).