PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reima Maansiirto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalid Fatim El Hazad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maansiirto's entrance music is Enya - Boadicea (Hardstyle Remix). A fine choice. Fatim El Hazad is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Paul Van Dyk - Crush. Khalid Fatim El Hazad will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Maansiirto
vs
Fatim El Hazad

168 cm
26
162 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

188 cm
23
168 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

GTi - MTG - Everything $10 !!

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Reima Maansiirto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Khalid Fatim El Hazad!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fatim El Hazad displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maansiirto.
Horrible takedown by Maansiirto or perhaps it was just good defense by Fatim El Hazad which made him look bad.
Maansiirto shoots in for a takedown but Fatim El Hazad shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reima Maansiirto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maansiirto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fatim El Hazad tries to avoid it but Maansiirto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fatim El Hazad to the ground. Fatim El Hazad escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maansiirto.
Maansiirto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fatim El Hazad showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maansiirto.
Maansiirto shoots in for a double leg but Fatim El Hazad sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fatim El Hazad throws a wild body kick that Maansiirto sees coming a mile off.
Maansiirto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fatim El Hazad pinned against the cage. Fatim El Hazad gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fatim El Hazad throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fatim El Hazad throws a combination that misses

and Maansiirto counters with a single leg into guard. Fatim El Hazad didn't expect that.
Maansiirto throws a strike but Fatim El Hazad rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Fatim El Hazad trying to stand up but can't free himself from Maansiirto's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatim El Hazad with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Maansiirto looking for a guillotine here but Fatim El Hazad defends easily.
Fatim El Hazad wants to get up but he can't break Maansiirto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Fatim El Hazad controls from within his opponent's guard.

Maansiirto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fatim El Hazad defends it easily.
Maansiirto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fatim El Hazad has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maansiirto is proving hard to escape from.

Maansiirto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fatim El Hazad gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fatim El Hazad must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fatim El Hazad trying to control but Maansiirto is working from the bottom.
Fatim El Hazad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fatim El Hazad tries to stand but Maansiirto is controlling from the bottom.

Maansiirto looking for a guillotine here but Fatim El Hazad defends easily.

Maansiirto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fatim El Hazad can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Maansiirto is breathing heavily.
Fatim El Hazad trying to control the position from guard on top but Maansiirto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maansiirto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fatim El Hazad gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maansiirto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fatim El Hazad misses with a double jab.
Maansiirto tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fatim El Hazad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fatim El Hazad misses with a wild body shot.

Maansiirto shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fatim El Hazad wants to get back to full guard.

Maansiirto is working for an americana but Fatim El Hazad has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Maansiirto was thinking about the submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fatim El Hazad wants to get back to his feet but Maansiirto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fatim El Hazad looking for a sweep. Not yet Fatim El Hazad, not yet.
Maansiirto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maansiirto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fatim El Hazad trying to keep a closed guard but Maansiirto is proving a slippery customer.
Fatim El Hazad keeping full guard, as Maansiirto tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maansiirto dives in and grabs Fatim El Hazad's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fatim El Hazad pushes down on Maansiirto's head and hops out.
Fatim El Hazad falls off balance throwing a combination

and Maansiirto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fatim El Hazad!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reima Maansiirto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fatim El Hazad misses with a body kick.
Fatim El Hazad takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Maansiirto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fatim El Hazad's waist but Fatim El Hazad gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maansiirto off to one side.
Maansiirto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fatim El Hazad backs up against the cage.
Maansiirto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fatim El Hazad throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maansiirto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fatim El Hazad throws a combination that misses

and Maansiirto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maansiirto.
Reima Maansiirto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maansiirto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fatim El Hazad looking for a sweep. Not yet Fatim El Hazad, not yet.

Maansiirto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Fatim El Hazad looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Fatim El Hazad looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Fatim El Hazad!
Fatim El Hazad trying to control the position but Maansiirto is working away.
Maansiirto manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Fatim El Hazad is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Fatim El Hazad is going to stand back up.
Maansiirto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fatim El Hazad trying to control the pace.

Maansiirto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fatim El Hazad wants to stand up but Maansiirto has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Maansiirto actively working from the bottom here.
Fatim El Hazad content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Maansiirto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maansiirto closes the distance and clinches up with Fatim El Hazad, looking for a takedown. Maansiirto pushes Fatim El Hazad against the cage but Fatim El Hazad circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reima Maansiirto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fatim El Hazad looks to land a combination. Maansiirto sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Maansiirto moves out of range of the body kick from Fatim El Hazad.
Fatim El Hazad scores with a one two! Maansiirto had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Maansiirto closes the distance and clinches up with Fatim El Hazad, looking for a takedown. Maansiirto pushes Fatim El Hazad against the cage but Fatim El Hazad circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fatim El Hazad defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maansiirto.
Fatim El Hazad goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Fatim El Hazad fakes the leg kick and cracks Maansiirto in the body.
Fatim El Hazad throws a series of punches but Maansiirto moves out of range.
Maansiirto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fatim El Hazad circles away.
Fatim El Hazad fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maansiirto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fatim El Hazad.
Fatim El Hazad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Reima Maansiirto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maansiirto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fatim El Hazad misses with a two punch combination.
Fatim El Hazad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fatim El Hazad showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maansiirto.
Maansiirto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fatim El Hazad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maansiirto slips a jab and a cross from Fatim El Hazad.
Fatim El Hazad misses with a double jab

and Maansiirto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maansiirto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fatim El Hazad doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maansiirto.

Maansiirto is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Fatim El Hazad still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Fatim El Hazad has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Fatim El Hazad decides to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fatim El Hazad throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maansiirto fails to land the takedown.
A combination from Fatim El Hazad does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Fatim El Hazad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maansiirto looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Fatim El Hazad!

Maansiirto is working for a guillotine from mount but Fatim El Hazad frees his head quite easily.

Maansiirto swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Fatim El Hazad is now in Maansiirto's guard. A big mistake from Maansiirto there, giving up the dominant position!

Maansiirto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fatim El Hazad defends well.

Maansiirto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fatim El Hazad slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatim El Hazad would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Fatim El Hazad avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fatim El Hazad showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fatim El Hazad trying to stand up but can't free himself from Maansiirto's guard.
Fatim El Hazad won't allow Maansiirto to sweep him here.

Fatim El Hazad got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maansiirto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fatim El Hazad has managed to get both his arms back between Maansiirto's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fatim El Hazad scoring with some ground and pound.
Fatim El Hazad slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Maansiirto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Maansiirto swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Fatim El Hazad is now in Maansiirto's guard. A big mistake from Maansiirto there, giving up the dominant position!

Fatim El Hazad gets to his feet. Maansiirto looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Maansiirto misses with a double jab
and Fatim El Hazad makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Maansiirto really felt that one!
Fatim El Hazad throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Maansiirto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fatim El Hazad's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maansiirto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maansiirto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fatim El Hazad wants to stand but Maansiirto is controlling the position.

Maansiirto 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.
Fatim El Hazad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maansiirto is one step ahead there.
Fatim El Hazad avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maansiirto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Fatim El Hazad has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Maansiirto off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Maansiirto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fatim El Hazad pinned against the cage. Fatim El Hazad gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Maansiirto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Maansiirto fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Maansiirto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Maansiirto goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Fatim El Hazad rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Maansiirto's guard! Nice work there by Fatim El Hazad!

And that's the end of the fight!
Reima Maansiirto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maansiirto 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reima Maansiirto!