PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hassan i Sabbah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

i Sabbah
vs
Gracie

193 cm
19
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Rocha Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hassan i Sabbah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ronaldo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabbah looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Gracie has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Sabbah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Sabbah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hassan i Sabbah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Gracie.
Sabbah swinging wilding here.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gracie there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sabbah circles away.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Sabbah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Sabbah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sabbah lands a nice shot that snaps Gracie's head back.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Sabbah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gracie looks gassed!
Nice body punch from Sabbah.

Sabbah gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sabbah lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sabbah is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gracie is working for takedown but Sabbah is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabbah presses Gracie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sabbah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Sabbah on the inside.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
Sabbah lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sabbah.
Sabbah misses with the head strike.
Sabbah lands a nice uppercut.
Sabbah misses with the head strike.
Sabbah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
Sabbah is working Gracie over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sabbah.
A short right from Sabbah.
Sabbah lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sabbah lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Sabbah.
Sabbah lands an uppercut.
Sabbah has a couple of punches blocked by Gracie.
Sabbah keeps control of Gracie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sabbah throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gracies head.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sabbah creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Sabbah fails to land.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sabbah.
Nice body punch from Sabbah.
Sabbah has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sabbah throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie takes a shot to the head.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sabbah avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sabbah lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gracie or not.
Sabbah works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Sabbah on the inside.
Sabbah tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.

Sabbah breaks the clinch.
A lazy left from Sabbah finds it's target.

Sabbah gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sabbah lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sabbah cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.
Sabbah cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.
Sabbah works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice left hand lands by Sabbah.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sabbah smiles and moves away.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Sabbah saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sabbah scores with a jab. Gracie acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sabbah drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Sabbah scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Sabbah misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sabbah works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Sabbah lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gracie.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sabbah.

Sabbah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sabbah moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gracie gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sabbah stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gracie checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sabbah but Sabbah pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sabbah lands with a right hand.
Sabbah works the jab nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabbah closes the distance and clinches.
Sabbah misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sabbah tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Sabbah gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
Sabbah lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sabbah scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sabbah misses with the head strike.

Sabbah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hassan i Sabbah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice straight punches there by Sabbah. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sabbah.
Sabbah lands a slapping body shot.
Sabbah scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hassan i Sabbah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sabbah gets a clinch.
Gracie looking for a takedown.

Sabbah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sabbah lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sabbah bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sabbah uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice takedown defense from Sabbah. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Good exchange - Sabbah coming out on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice shot by Sabbah.
Sabbah bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sabbah throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Sabbah sprawls well.
Gracie shoots in but Sabbah avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sabbah throws a leg kick but Gracie sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sabbah displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Sabbah as he connects with a hook.
Gracie on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sabbah paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gracie takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Hassan i Sabbah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Gracie.
Sabbah throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Sabbah dips to his left and cracks Gracie with an uppercut!
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Sabbah connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gracie momentarily.

Sabbah forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabbah misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sabbah just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Gracie is trying desperately to land a takedown but Sabbah is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Gracie.
Sabbah scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sabbah wants to break free but Gracie has control.
Sabbah lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Sabbah holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Gracie prevents Sabbah from breaking the clinch.
Gracie keeps control of Sabbah as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Sabbah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie avoiding damage as Sabbah throws knees to the body.
Sabbah scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sabbah tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Sabbah back against the cage.
Sabbah misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sabbah swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sabbah throws a head punch that misses.
Sabbah wants to get back to striking at distance but Gracie won't allow it.
A left hand lands to the body for Sabbah.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Sabbah fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sabbah walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hassan i Sabbah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sabbah is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A cross from Sabbah lands.
Sabbah swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gracie.
Sabbah catches Gracie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sabbah lands with a straight right. Gracie didn't see that one coming.
Gracie has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sabbah stuns Gracie with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sabbah throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gracie on the side of the head.
A left lands for Sabbah.
Sabbah lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sabbah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sabbah shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sabbah cracks Gracie with an open hand slap.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Gracie drops his hands momentarily and Sabbah takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sabbah looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sabbah to score with a decent uppercut.
Sabbah works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sabbah lands a head shot.
Gracie tries to work over Sabbah's front leg with a kick but Sabbah checks it.
Sabbah darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sabbah scores with a nice strike.

Sabbah has managed to clinch.
Sabbah is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sabbah down to the mat. Sabbah avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sabbah lands with a hook. Gracie tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sabbah scores with a decent looking hook.
Sabbah doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Sabbah as Gracie shoots in.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hassan i Sabbah is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to de liver by Sabbah. Beautiful body shot.
Gracie needs to keep his hands up - Sabbah had a free shot at his head there.
Sabbah cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jab from Sabbah.
Sabbah scores with a nice right hand.
Gracie tries to clinch but Sabbah is having none of it.
Sabbah misses with a low kick.

Sabbah moves into the clinch.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sabbah fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sabbah stalks Gracie and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gracie's face. Gracie staggers backwards, shaken.
Sabbah tries to clinch

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sabbah seems keen to control Gracie's posture.
Sabbah knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Sabbah's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sabbah tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sabbah connects with the punch.
Sabbah keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sabbah lands a jab.
A left lands for Sabbah.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabbah throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sabbah moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sabbah to score with a decent uppercut.
Sabbah stuns Gracie with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sabbah misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Sabbah closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sabbah scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sabbah landing knees to the head.
Sabbah makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sabbah.
Sabbah works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sabbah gets through Gracie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sabbah with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sabbah looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Sabbah lands a shot to the body.
Sabbah lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Sabbah tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Sabbah prevents the takedown attempt.
Hassan i Sabbah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Gracie.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
Good body shot from Sabbah.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sabbah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sabbah.
Sabbah presses Gracie against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sabbah looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Sabbah wants to break free but Gracie has control.
Sabbah tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.

Gracie gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sabbah regains guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Sabbah keeps moving.
Sabbah working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Sabbah is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Sabbah keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sabbah not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sabbah looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Sabbah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Sabbah misses.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Sabbah instigates a clinch.
Sabbah misses with some punches.
Sabbah looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Sabbah tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hassan i Sabbah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
Sabbah trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sabbah misses with a knee strike.
Sabbah throws a knee to the head but misses.

Gracie pulls guard effortlessly.
Ronaldo Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hassan i Sabbah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sabbah, 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:26
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:26

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