PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryat Hamza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Flax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peter Flax will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hamza
vs
Flax

190 cm
24
264 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Likes musicals

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryat Hamza !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Peter Flax!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flax tries for a takedown but Hamza circles away easily

and Hamza counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Flax manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Hamza keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Hamza pulls Flax into guard.

Hamza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Flax defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flax wants to pass the guard but Hamza is keeping the position.
Hamza has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Flax postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flax preventing the sweep.
Flax being controlled here momentarily.
Hamza wants to stand but Flax is controlling the position.

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

Hamza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Flax tries to roll over but Hamza keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamza stalling.
Hamza tries to stand but can't do so whilst Flax controls his leg.
Flax on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flax missing with punches from the bottom.
Hamza passes to full mount!
Hamza controlling from the full mount.

Hamza looking to secure an arm triangle but Flax defends it well.
Flax is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamza looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hamza has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Flax's face.
Hamza looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hamza has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hamza cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hamza content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hamza fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Flax to the ground. Hamza is now in Flax's guard.
Flax not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hamza 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hamza advances to half guard.
Hamza controlling the action here.
Hamza trying to pass the guard but Flax defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamza wants to stand but Flax has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hamza is working for a kimura but Flax is defending it quite comfortably.
Flax makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Flax.
Hamza sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hamza throws a head kick that misses.
Flax misses with a takedown attempt

and Hamza counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Flax!

Flax sneaks out the side door and pushes Hamza away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Hamza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Flax was covering up waiting for the punch and Hamza finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flax is breathing heavily.
Hamza landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamza is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hamza scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hamza 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hamza engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Flax wants to stand but Hamza is controlling the position.
Ryat Hamza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hamza wants to get up but he can't break Flax's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hamza is working Flax over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Flax working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hamza doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hamza manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hamza working some strikes from top position.

Hamza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Flax looks for a takedown but Hamza sprawls well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flax with a poor takedown

and Hamza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hamza .
Ryat Hamza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Flax.
Hamza manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryat Hamza dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hamza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Flax wants to get back to his feet but Hamza is dominant here and he's now got Flax's back!
Hamza keeps control of the position easily here as Flax tries to buck him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamza is hanging on to Flax's back as he tries to escape.
Flax takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Flax showing good submission defense here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Hamza controlling the positon.
Hamza throwing damaging strikes from the back! Flax could be in trouble here!
Flax is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hamza controls the position.
Flax trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

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.
Flax trying to get back to his feet but Hamza is in full control for now.

Flax defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hamza 's arms.
Hamza trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Flax doesn't escape.
Hamza scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Flax is looking for a way out.
Hamza has the hooks in. Flax is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamza looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Hamza working for a choke but Flax is defending well.

Flax defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hamza 's arms.
Flax turns into Hamza and is now in his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hamza is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamza is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Flax looking for a sweep. Not yet Flax, not yet.
Hamza with a nice head shot there.
Hamza trying to stand up but can't free himself from Flax's guard.
Hamza works over Flax with some ground and pound from guard.
Peter Flax has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryat Hamza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hamza is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryat Hamza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hamza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryat Hamza !