PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Badreddine Hawasleh (ranked 23853 p4p, 0 weight class) and Almedin Hafizovic (ranked 24678 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hawasleh
vs
Hafizovic

193 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

177 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Badreddine Hawasleh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Almedin Hafizovic!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hawasleh has Hafizovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Hafizovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hawasleh fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hafizovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Hafizovic shoots in but no luck this time.
Badreddine Hawasleh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Almedin Hafizovic.

Hawasleh rushes Hafizovic and presses him up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hafizovic.

Hawasleh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hawasleh is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hafizovic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hafizovic looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hafizovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hawasleh avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hawasleh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hafizovic goes for a double leg but Hawasleh avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hawasleh continues to drive forward.
It looked like Hawasleh was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hafizovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawasleh circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Hawasleh as Hafizovic shoots in.
Hafizovic looks winded!

Hafizovic closes the distance and clinches.

Hawasleh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hafizovic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hawasleh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hafizovic.

Hawasleh gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hawasleh working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hafizovic stops a takedown attempt from Hawasleh.

Hawasleh breaks the clinch.
Hawasleh scores with a nice body kick.
Hafizovic misses with a takedown attempt

and Hawasleh holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawasleh fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hafizovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hafizovic blocks a body shot from Hawasleh.
Hawasleh is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hafizovic is defending well.

Hawasleh ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hawasleh no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hafizovic won't allow Hawasleh to sweep him here.

Hawasleh has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hafizovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hawasleh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawasleh is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hafizovic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawasleh is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hawasleh trying to keep a closed guard but Hafizovic is proving a slippery customer.
Hafizovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawasleh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hafizovic shoots in for a takedown but Hawasleh shows good takedown defense.

Hafizovic gets tackled into the cage by Hawasleh. Hawasleh maintains the clinch.
Hawasleh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hafizovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Hawasleh really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hawasleh tries to pull guard but Hafizovic holds him up against the cage and eventually Hawasleh drops back down to his feet.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hawasleh takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Hafizovic gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hafizovic decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Hawasleh changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hawasleh fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Hawasleh rushes Hafizovic and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badreddine Hawasleh dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hawasleh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hafizovic swivels and escapes.

Hawasleh clinches up against the cage.
Hawasleh avoiding damage as Hafizovic throws knees to the body.
Hawasleh wants to take the fight to the mat but Hafizovic manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hawasleh stalling against the cage.
Hawasleh tries to pull guard but Hafizovic won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Badreddine Hawasleh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hafizovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hawasleh has him pressed against the cage.

Hawasleh has Hafizovic pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hawasleh pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hafizovic tumbling to the mat - Hawasleh dives into Hafizovic's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hafizovic controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hafizovic trying to control the position.
Hawasleh wants to stand but Hafizovic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hafizovic trying to control the position.
Hafizovic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hawasleh's guard.

Hafizovic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hafizovic controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hafizovic tries for a kimura but Hawasleh is defending well.
Hafizovic trying to control the position but Hawasleh is working away.
You can see the frustration on Hawasleh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hawasleh is being controlled here.
Hawasleh tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Almedin Hafizovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hafizovic is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hawasleh will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawasleh wants to get back to his feet but Hafizovic drags him back down.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hafizovic is looking to take a break and control but Hawasleh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hafizovic shoots in for a double leg but Hawasleh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hafizovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hawasleh manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hawasleh tries to clinch but Hafizovic moves out of range.
Hafizovic is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hafizovic chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hawasleh can pounce on him.
Hafizovic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hawasleh moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Hawasleh to work.
Hafizovic is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hawasleh is defending well for now.

Hafizovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawasleh shoots in but no luck this time.
Hawasleh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hafizovic can do to turn this around?
Hawasleh is looking to clinch.
Hafizovic shoots in but no luck this time.

Hawasleh moves into range and clinches up with Hafizovic.
Hawasleh is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hafizovic to keep the fight standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hafizovic breaks from the clinch.
Hafizovic fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Badreddine Hawasleh will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawasleh fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hafizovic changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hafizovic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hawasleh is fending him off so far but Hafizovic persists. Nope, Hawasleh circles away and we're back to standing.
Hawasleh misses with a wild combination.
Hawasleh tries to clinch but Hafizovic is having none of it.
Hawasleh on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Hafizovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Hafizovic is pressed up against the cage. Hawasleh has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hafizovic down to the mat. Hafizovic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawasleh is looking to clinch.
Hawasleh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Badreddine Hawasleh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hafizovic rushes Hawasleh and presses him up against the cage.
Hawasleh avoiding damage.
Hawasleh misses with some punches.

Hafizovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hawasleh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hawasleh tries to clinch up but Hafizovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Hafizovic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hawasleh feinted with a counter takedown.
Hafizovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Hawasleh sprawls well. He's pushed Hafizovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hafizovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hafizovic has a takedown stuffed.
Hawasleh dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hafizovic. That did some damage!
Badreddine Hawasleh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hafizovic tries to clinch there but Hawasleh circles away.
Hawasleh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hafizovic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hawasleh shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hafizovic pinned against the cage. Hafizovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hawasleh is defended easily by Hafizovic.
Hawasleh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hafizovic swivels and escapes.
Hawasleh tries to clinch there but Hafizovic circles away.
Hafizovic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hawasleh as he avoids it easily.
Hawasleh stuffs the takedown attempt from Hafizovic. Hafizovic gets slowly back to his feet.
Hafizovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hawasleh circles away.
Hafizovic shoots in for a double leg but Hawasleh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Hawasleh forces Hafizovic back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawasleh tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hafizovic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hawasleh is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hafizovic to keep the fight standing.
Hafizovic pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hawasleh is looking for a takedown.
Hawasleh is trying to pull guard but Hafizovic has him pressed against the cage.

Hawasleh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawasleh slaps away a takedown attempt from Hafizovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Almedin Hafizovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Badreddine Hawasleh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Badreddine Hawasleh is winning the standup battle so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hawasleh slaps away a takedown attempt from Hafizovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Badreddine Hawasleh.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hawasleh, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Badreddine Hawasleh!