PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Abdi Hassan (ranked 559 p4p, 1402 weight class) and Filip Yumashev (ranked 49 p4p, 101 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hassan
vs
Yumashev

177 cm
23
146
6 - 1 - 1

175 cm
23
139
10 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Sakura Style

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdi Hassan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Filip Yumashev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hassan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A low kick lands for Yumashev.
Hassan scores with a body shot.
Hassan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Yumashev.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hassan.
Hassan connects with a crisp jab.
Yumashev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hassan fails with a takedown attempt.
Yumashev swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yumashev swinging wildly here.
Yumashev lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hassan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yumashev pinned against the cage. Yumashev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hassan lands a slapping body shot.
Hassan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdi Hassan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hassan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Yumashev feints and then cracks Hassan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hassan down.
Hassan lands a lovely overhand right.
Hassan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hassan lands a nice hook to Yumashev's body. Yumashev takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hassan connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hassan throws a lazy uppercut
and Yumashev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hassan throws a big shot that misses.
Hassan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Yumashev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yumashev slips a jab from Hassan.
A swing and a miss from Hassan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hassan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hassan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Yumashev has time to react.
Hassan with a poor takedown
and Yumashev counters with an outside leg kick.
Yumashev throws a push kick but Hassan slaps the foot to one side.
Yumashev tries a head kick but it misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Hassan misses the target.
Hassan misses with an uppercut.
Yumashev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hassan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Hassan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yumashev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hassan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hassan has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Yumashev is looking to get to half guard.
Yumashev tries to hold on but Hassan postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hassan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Yumashev is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Yumashev and Hassan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hassan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Yumashev has escaped the position, nice work there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yumashev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hassan working away.
Yumashev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hassan working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdi Hassan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Donk. Hassan catches Yumashev right on the button with a cross.
Yumashev lands the left hand.

It looks like Abdi Hassan has been cut.
Hassan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hassan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yumashev swings for the body but Hassan moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Yumashev.
Hassan throws the left hand but Yumashev avoids the punch easily.
A cross from Hassan lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hassan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yumashev as he jumps to the side.
Hassan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yumashev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hassan shoots for a takedown but Yumashev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yumashev moves out of range as Hassan strikes.
Yumashev appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hassan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yumashev.
Hassan throws a good cross that connects.
Hassan throws a hook to the side of Yumashev's head but Yumashev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yumashev takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hassan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hassan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hassan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yumashev moves out of range as Hassan strikes.
Yumashev only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hassan misses with an uppercut
and Yumashev counters with a nice body kick.
Hassan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yumashev can do to turn this around?
Hassan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Yumashev thows a body kick. Hassan tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hassan throws a hook but Yumashev avoids it easily.
Yumashev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Hassan misses.
Yumashev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdi Hassan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hassan.
Yumashev takes a swing at Hassan's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hassan is defended easily by Yumashev.
It seemed like Yumashev was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hassan looks to throw the jab but Yumashev is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hassan lands a jab to the nose.
Abdi Hassan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yumashev fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hassan.
Yumashev tries to move into range but Hassan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hassan lands with a straight right. Yumashev didn't see that one coming.
Hassan shoots in but no luck this time.
Yumashev doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Nice uppercut lands for Hassan. That snapped Yumashev's head back.
Yumashev blocks a jab.
Hassan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yumashev was well out of range. Poor timing from Hassan.
Hassan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yumashev.
Yumashev counters with a body kick.
Yumashev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hassan.
Yumashev counters with a body kick.
Yumashev misses with a shot to the body
and Hassan counters with a right hand to the body.
Hassan throws a hook to the side of Yumashev's head but Yumashev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hassan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hassan lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hassan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yumashev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hassan passes Yumashev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Hassan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Yumashev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hassan.
Hassan wants to pass to mount but Yumashev is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdi Hassan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Abdi Hassan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yumashev stuffs the takedown.
Hassan scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hassan is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hassan shoots in looking for a takedown. Yumashev tries to sprawl out of it but Hassan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yumashev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hassan backing away here, and Yumashev unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hassan fails with the takedown
enabling Yumashev to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdi Hassan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hassan defending well as Yumashev loads up on a big left hand.
It looked like Hassan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hassan misses with a lunging right hand
letting Yumashev counter with a right hand.
Hassan throws a lazy uppercut
and Yumashev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hassan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yumashev tries to avoid it but Hassan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yumashev to the ground. Yumashev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hassan misses with a hook to the body
and Yumashev counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hassan takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hassan misses with a hook. Yumashev ducked under it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Yumashev's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Abdi Hassan is winning the standup battle so far.
Hassan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yumashev manages to avoid it.
Hassan throws an off balance right hand
letting Yumashev counter with a right hand.

Hassan is rocked!
Yumashev lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hassan takes a step back to recover.
Oh Hassan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yumashev misses with a straight left.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hassan crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Yumashev - the referee stops the clock and Hassan gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Yumashev. Hassan manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hassan seems to have got his legs back now.
A low kick lands for Yumashev.
Yumashev throws a looping overhand right but Hassan ducks down to avoid it.
Hassan fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yumashev throws the kick towards the body but Hassan avoids it.
Hassan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yumashev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Yumashev avoids the body shot from Hassan.
Hassan throws a poor cross that misses
and Yumashev counters with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hassan missing with a left hand there. Yumashev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yumashev only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hassan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Yumashev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hassan looks to throw the jab but Yumashev is out of range.
Yumashev throws a jab when Hassan was well out of range.
Hassan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yumashev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hassan misses with an uppercut
and Yumashev counters with a nice body kick.
Yumashev lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hassan will feel that in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yumashev scoring well with a low kick there.
Yumashev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hassan.
Yumashev dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hassan. That did some damage!
Yumashev throws a leg kick which misses Hassan's front leg but catches the back leg as Hassan tries to avoid it.
Hassan throws a good cross that connects.
Hassan misses with a looping left.
Yumashev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Hassan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hassan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Yumashev on the side of the head.
Yumashev throws a big shot that misses.
Filip Yumashev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hassan, as that shot connected.
Hassan throws a shot from downtown. Yumashev moves away and avoids it.
Yumashev flicks out a counter leg kick but Hassan steps away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hassan throws a right hand that misses
and Yumashev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yumashev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hassan avoids the body shot from Yumashev.
Hassan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Yumashev scores with a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yumashev throws a looping overhand right but Hassan ducks down to avoid it.
Yumashev slips a straight right by Hassan.
Yumashev moves out of range of the strikes.
Yumashev looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A punch lands to the side of Hassan 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Abdi Hassan's cut is getting worse.
Hassan misses with a hook
and Yumashev counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Hassan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Hassan seems to be working for a kimura but Yumashev defends the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Yumashev really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdi Hassan's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yumashev throws an off balance right hand
and Hassan counters with a nice uppercut.
Yumashev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hassan.
Yumashev connects with a looping right hand.
A swing and a miss from Hassan.
A countering left hand to the body from Yumashev misses.
Yumashev throws a leg kick but Hassan moved away.
Yumashev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hassan.
Yumashev is trying to counter with his kicks.
Hassan moves out of range of the body kick.
Yumashev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Hassan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hassan avoids the body shot from Yumashev.
Yumashev takes one on the button.
Hassan throws out a powerful jab.
Hassan lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hassan shoots and misses
letting Yumashev counter with a right hand.
Yumashev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hassan.
Hassan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yumashev lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hassan misses with a hook
and Yumashev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hassan throws an overhand right that lands on Yumashev's shoulder, as Yumashev tries to avoid the shot.
Hassan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Yumashev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Yumashev moves out of range of the strikes.
Despite the aggression on Yumashev's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Yumashev throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hassan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yumashev as he jumps to the side.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hassan throws a hook to the side of Yumashev's head but Yumashev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yumashev throws an overhand right that lands on Hassan's shoulder, as Hassan tries to avoid the shot.
Yumashev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hassan.
Yumashev throws out a counter right but Hassan avoids it with no problem.
Hassan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hassan misses with an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A cross from Hassan lands.
Yumashev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hassan lands with a right hand.
Yumashev takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yumashev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hassan.
Yumashev throws out a counter right but Hassan avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdi Hassan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yumashev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hassan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yumashev slaps away a takedown attempt from Hassan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hassan fails with the takedown
and Yumashev counters with a nice uppercut.

Hassan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Yumashev was covering up waiting for the punch and Hassan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Yumashev looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yumashev controlling Hassan's posture.
Yumashev looking to control but Hassan passes into half guard.

Hassan 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.
Hassan is looking to advance position but Yumashev won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdi Hassan had his way with Filip Yumashev in that round.
The cut man is working on Abdi Hassan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yumashev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Yumashev tries to sprawl but Hassan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hassan is looking to advance position but Yumashev won't allow it.
Hassan is thwarting Yumashev's attempts to control the position.
Hassan is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Yumashev!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hassan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Yumashev manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Hassan tries to move to mount but Yumashev blocks the move with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hassan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yumashev, who protects the arm well.
Yumashev regains half guard.

Hassan seems to be looking for submissions.
Hassan controlling the pace.

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

Hassan is looking for a kimura here.
Yumashev is not content to let Hassan control the position.

Hassan wants to work for an arm triangle but Yumashev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hassan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yumashev trying to hold on to Hassan's head to control him but Hassan postures up.
Yumashev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hassan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hassan is working for a submission of some sort.

Hassan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yumashev is trying to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Hassan 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.
Abdi Hassan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hassan passes to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdi Hassan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hassan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 49:46
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdi Hassan!
Abdi Hassan retains his bantamweight title!
Our winner, Abdi Hassan, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.