PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karlmann Friedhelm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hassan i Sabbah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sabbah's choice of entrance music: War Dogs. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Friedhelm
vs
i Sabbah

170 cm
25
195 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

193 cm
20
187 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Win Nutritional
Win Nutritional

Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Karlmann Friedhelm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hassan i Sabbah!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Friedhelm looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sabbah trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friedhelm postures up in Sabbah's guard and throws a big left but Sabbah blocks it.

Friedhelm drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Friedhelm jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Friedhelm trying to control but Sabbah is working from the bottom.

Friedhelm is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Friedhelm looking to pass the guard.
Sabbah has Friedhelm pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedhelm trying to control the position from guard on top but Sabbah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sabbah steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Friedhelm.
Friedhelm keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Friedhelm.
Sabbah slips under a jab from Friedhelm.
Friedhelm lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sabbah backs up against the cage.
Friedhelm circles away from the clinch attempt.
Friedhelm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Friedhelm takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sabbah lands with a hook. Friedhelm tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Friedhelm steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sabbah.
Friedhelm slips under a jab from Sabbah.
Sabbah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Friedhelm moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hassan i Sabbah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sabbah lands a head kick. Friedhelm smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sabbah thumps Friedhelm with a low kick.
Hassan i Sabbah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Friedhelm takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sabbah scoring well with a low kick there.
Friedhelm is breathing heavily.
Friedhelm throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Friedhelm gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Sabbah moves into range and clinches up with Friedhelm.
Sabbah working aggressively here.
Sabbah scores with a hook to the body.
Sabbah lands a right hand.

Sabbah pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Friedhelm scores with a nice right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sabbah looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Friedhelm throws a nice looking combination but Sabbah bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Friedhelm throws a looping overhand right but Sabbah ducks down to avoid it.
A big right from Sabbah misses.
Sabbah looks to land a left hand but Friedhelm moved out of range nicely.
Friedhelm lands a slapping body shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Friedhelm scores with a four punch combination!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sabbah tries to clinch but Friedhelm is having none of it.
Sabbah misses with a hook. Friedhelm ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friedhelm throws a jab but it's blocked by Sabbah.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Friedhelm!
Sabbah cracks Friedhelm with a good jab.
Sabbah looks to throw the jab but Friedhelm is out of range.
Sabbah works over Friedhelm's head and body with a nice combination.
Sabbah swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sabbah wants to clinch up but Friedhelm keeps it at a distance.
Sabbah avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Friedhelm tests Sabbah's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sabbah scores with a body shot.
Sabbah misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sabbah tests Friedhelm's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Friedhelm throws out a loose jab but Sabbah uses good head movement to avoid it.
Friedhelm staying out of range there.
Sabbah showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Friedhelm.
Sabbah looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Friedhelm misses with a jab, cross combination.
Friedhelm tries to move into range but Sabbah moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Friedhelm tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sabbah was well out of range. Poor timing from Friedhelm.

Sabbah closes the distance and pushes Friedhelm back into the cage.
Friedhelm is looking to control Sabbah's arms but Sabbah gets an underhook and turns him. Now Friedhelm has his back to the cage.
Friedhelm misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sabbah working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Friedhelm is trying to maintain a safe position but Sabbah gets an underhook and turns Friedhelm into the cage.
Sabbah with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sabbah lands a shoulder strike.
Good body shot from Sabbah.
Friedhelm working aggressively here.
Sabbah misses with the head strike.
Sabbah is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sabbah lands an uppercut.
Sabbah pushes Friedhelm back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Friedhelm on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Friedhelm lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sabbah backwards.

Sabbah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Friedhelm scores with a jab to the head.
A punch combination from Friedhelm misses.

Friedhelm bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sabbah is trying to get back to half guard.
Sabbah regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Friedhelm throws a one two combo.
Sabbah misses with a few strikes there.
Sabbah moves forwards but Friedhelm connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Friedhelm misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sabbah.
A swing and a miss from Sabbah.
Sabbah works over Friedhelm's head and body with a nice combination.
Friedhelm with a jab.
Friedhelm jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sabbah misses with a looping left.
Sabbah takes one to the chin there.
Friedhelm on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sabbah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sabbah takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sabbah takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Friedhelm fails to land the takedown.
Friedhelm keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Friedhelm connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sabbah's hands.
Sabbah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Friedhelm fails with a takedown attempt.
Friedhelm is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Decent striking displayed by Sabbah there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabbah takes a swing at Friedhelm's ribcage but misses.
Friedhelm scores with a one two! Sabbah had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sabbah gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sabbah looks to land a combination. Friedhelm sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sabbah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Friedhelm moves away.
Friedhelm lands with a cross.
Friedhelm drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sabbah throws a looping overhand right but Friedhelm ducks down to avoid it.
A nice combination there by Friedhelm.
Sabbah takes a jab right on the kisser.
Friedhelm moves out of range of the strikes.
Sabbah moves in looking to clinch but Friedhelm pushes him off.
Friedhelm ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sabbah moves away.

Friedhelm is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sabbah's half guard.
Friedhelm throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sabbah is pressing down on Friedhelm's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedhelm wants to pass the guard but Sabbah is keeping the position.
Friedhelm prevents Sabbah from getting back to his feet.
Friedhelm is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Friedhelm thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sabbah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Friedhelm stops Sabbah from standing up.
Friedhelm in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Friedhelm tries to free his leg and advance position but Sabbah is retaining full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sabbah can do anything to dispel that myth.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Friedhelm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah digs a good body shot into Friedhelm's ribs.
Friedhelm ducks under a wild hook from Sabbah.
Friedhelm scores with a one two! Sabbah had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sabbah misses with a looping left.
A big left from Sabbah misses.
Friedhelm ducks under a wild hook from Sabbah.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sabbah.
Friedhelm takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Friedhelm ducks under a wild hook from Sabbah.
Friedhelm misses the shot to the body.
Sabbah throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Friedhelm.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karlmann Friedhelm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabbah lands a right hook to the body.
Friedhelm ducks under a wild hook from Sabbah.
A punch combination from Sabbah misses.
Friedhelm misses with a two punch combination.
Sabbah throws a sloppy head kick and Friedhelm moves out of range easily.
Friedhelm takes a swing at Sabbah's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabbah gets a clinch.
Friedhelm tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sabbah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Friedhelm's elbow.
Sabbah lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Friedhelm or not.
Sabbah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Friedhelm's efforts to push away.
A short left from Sabbah.
Sabbah digs a right hand underneath Friedhelm's ribcage. Friedhelm let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Friedhelm goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A looping hook to the body misses from Friedhelm. Sabbah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sabbah misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Friedhelm misses with an uppercut. Sabbah saw that one coming.
Friedhelm fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Friedhelm uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Friedhelm lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sabbah defending well as Friedhelm loads up on a big left hand.
Sabbah just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabbah with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Friedhelm to score with a decent uppercut.
Sabbah is looking to slow Friedhelm down with leg kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Friedhelm throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Friedhelm misses with a double jab.
Sabbah misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sabbah doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A combination from Sabbah does no damage.
Nice body punch from Sabbah.
Friedhelm darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Friedhelm connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sabbah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice body punch from Friedhelm.
Friedhelm dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sabbah swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Friedhelm counters with a stiff right hand.
Friedhelm throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Friedhelm takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Friedhelm ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sabbah moves away.
Friedhelm scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sabbah has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sabbah misses with a straight right.
Friedhelm tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sabbah was well out of range. Poor timing from Friedhelm.
Sabbah on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Friedhelm blocks a low kick nicely.
Friedhelm tries to bum rush Sabbah with a series of wild strikes but Sabbah uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sabbah gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Friedhelm.
Friedhelm looks to land a left hand but Sabbah moved out of range nicely.
Karlmann Friedhelm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Friedhelm fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabbah throws a jab but it's blocked by Friedhelm.
Sabbah swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Friedhelm.
Friedhelm misses with a series of wild punches.
Friedhelm keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Friedhelm scores with a punch to the head.
Sabbah lands with an overhand left.
Friedhelm misses with an uppercut.
Friedhelm circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sabbah looks to score with a jab to the body but Friedhelm is just out of range.
Friedhelm works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Donk. Friedhelm catches Sabbah right on the button with a cross.
No joy there for Friedhelm, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sabbah throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Friedhelm misses with a few strikes there.
Friedhelm moves away from the strike by Sabbah.

Friedhelm is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sabbah's half guard.

Friedhelm 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedhelm trying to control the action but Sabbah is working from the bottom.
Sabbah trying to control here.
Sabbah makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sabbah.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Friedhelm has gone for a leg lock! Sabbah slips out almost immediately though and dives into Friedhelm's guard.

Friedhelm looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sabbah wants to stand but Friedhelm is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sabbah controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sabbah trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karlmann Friedhelm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.

Friedhelm is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sabbah defends well.
Friedhelm looking to control.
Sabbah really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Friedhelm. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sabbah trying to control the position from guard on top but Friedhelm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hassan i Sabbah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Friedhelm is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sabbah defends well.

Sabbah avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karlmann Friedhelm showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sabbah has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hassan i Sabbah!