PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zabit Hussein (ranked 45 p4p, 107 weight class) and Magnus Larsen (ranked 7 p4p, 18 weight class). 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.

Hussein
vs
Larsen

184 cm
32
166
16 - 6 - 0

175 cm
29
157
16 - 8 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Conquer

NARCOS
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zabit Hussein!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 3, fighting out of London, Magnus Larsen!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Larsen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Larsen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Larsen moves out of range as Hussein strikes.
Larsen throws a poor cross that misses
and Hussein counters with a nice uppercut.
Hussein throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Larsen misses the jab.
Larsen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hussein counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A jab from Larsen misses.
Larsen takes a swing at Hussein's ribcage but misses.
Hussein fails with an attempt to clinch.
Larsen throws out a counter right but Hussein avoids it with no problem.
Hussein pivots, looking for a leg kick but Larsen is out of range and Hussein settles back down.
Larsen throws a hook but Hussein blocks it.
Larsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Hussein wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hussein lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A shot to the liver by Larsen. Beautiful body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hussein takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hussein throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Larsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hussein lands a really nice looking cross but Larsen seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein moves out of range as Larsen strikes.
Hussein avoids the head kick by Larsen.
Larsen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Larsen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Larsen throws a shot from downtown. Hussein moves away and avoids it.
Hussein lands a right hook to the body.
Larsen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Larsen moves away from the strike by Hussein.
Hussein connects with a nice looking jab.
A head kick from Hussein lands but Larsen takes it in his stride.
Hussein ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
It looks like Hussein has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Hussein tries to score with a low kick but Larsen moves his leg out of the way.
Hussein throws a jab but it's blocked by Larsen.
Larsen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hussein counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larsen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hussein is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hussein throws a big shot that misses.
Hussein blocks a leg kick.
Hussein thuds his right hand into Larsen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hussein moves away.
Larsen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hussein on the side of the head.
Hussein attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hussein looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Larsen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hussein.
Larsen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hussein avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hussein lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Larsen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Larsen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Larsen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hussein counters with a straight right hand.

Hussein rushes Larsen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Larsen struggles to land a body shot inside as Hussein controls his hands.
Hussein tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hussein fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Larsen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Larsen looks to throw a body kick
and Hussein counters with a thumping low kick.
Hussein lands with a good body shot.
Hussein dodges the punch combination from Larsen.
Larsen is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein throws a front kick that sends Larsen stumbling back into the cage.
Hussein takes a swing at Larsen's ribcage but misses.
Larsen throws a front kick aimed at Hussein's knee but Hussein avoids it well.
Larsen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Larsen throws out a counter right but Hussein avoids it with no problem.
The fighters circling - Larsen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Larsen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hussein sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Larsen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Larsen slips under a jab from Hussein.
Larsen throws a head kick that misses.
Hussein pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Larsen throws a sloppy head kick and Hussein moves out of range easily.
A good leg kick by Hussein.
Larsen misses with a few strikes there.
Larsen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hussein looks to land a left hand but Larsen moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen thuds his shin into the meat of Hussein's side.
Hussein steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Larsen.
It looked like Hussein wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hussein uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larsen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Larsen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Larsen misses with a wild body shot.
Larsen moves out of range of the body kick from Hussein.
Hussein on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Larsen. Larsen obviously looking to wear him down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hussein.
Hussein is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Larsen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hussein.
Hussein tries to clinch there but Larsen circles away.

Hussein gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hussein softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Larsen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Larsen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Larsen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zabit Hussein dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hussein jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hussein throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hussein.
Hussein with a hook.
Larsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Larsen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hussein. That's going to slow Larsen down.
Larsen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hussein pivots, looking for a leg kick but Larsen is out of range and Hussein settles back down.
Hussein feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Larsens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fighters circling - Larsen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hussein scores with a hook.
Larsen misses with a looping right.
Larsen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hussein thumps Larsen with a low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hussein stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Larsen.
Hussein misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Larsen.
Hussein connects with an inside leg kick.
Hussein is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Larsen can do to turn this around?
Larsen looks to land a left hand but Hussein moved out of range nicely.
Zabit Hussein is winning the standup battle so far.
Larsen misses the jab.
Hussein defending well as Larsen loads up on a big left hand.
Hussein wants to clinch.
Hussein stuns Larsen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Larsen throws a jab when Hussein was well out of range.
Larsen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hussein.
Hussein is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Larsen.
Hussein checks a low kick from Larsen.
Hussein lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Larsen throws a lazy body kick
and Hussein counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussein with a nice calf kick.
Nice jab there from Hussein.
Larsen misses with a wild combination.
Hussein tries to score with a low kick but Larsen moves his leg out of the way.
A little jabbing left from Larsen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larsen slips a jab from Hussein.

Hussein has taken the fight to the clinch.
Larsen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hussein blocks an uppercut.
Larsen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Larsen misses with a punch on the inside.
Larsen scores with a shot to the side of Hussein's head.
Larsen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Hussein pulls guard successfully.
Larsen postures up.
Larsen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hussein pushes a forearm under Larsen's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Larsen is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zabit Hussein!
Zabit Hussein retains his lightweight title!
A very excited looking Zabit Hussein rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.