PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Van Defoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rajin Hussain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Van Defoe could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rajin Hussain's chin.

Van Defoe
vs
Hussain

186 cm
25
233 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
277 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Hell's Kitchen Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Van Defoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rajin Hussain!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Defoe closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hussain circles away.

Hussain closes the distance and pushes Van Defoe back into the cage.
Van Defoe gets underhooks to prevent Hussain's takedown attempt.
Van Defoe prevents a takedown attempt there.

Hussain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Defoe swats away the attempt to clinch by Hussain.
Van Defoe goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Van Defoe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Hussain pushes Van Defoe up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Defoe drags the fight down to the ground.
Hussain loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Van Defoe pulls Hussain in close to prevent any damage.
Hussain must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Van Defoe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hussain is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Van Defoe is proving hard to escape from.
Van Defoe trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hussain postures up.
Van Defoe is really struggling to control Hussain but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Rafael Van Defoe has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Van Defoe.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Van Defoe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hussain shoots in for a takedown but Van Defoe shows good takedown defense.
Van Defoe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hussain counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hussain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hussain breaks the clinch.
Van Defoe could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hussain. Van Defoe shrugs it off though.
Van Defoe is breathing heavily.
Hussain is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hussain has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hussain escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hussain closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Van Defoe did well to prevent Hussain getting side control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hussain is pressing down on Van Defoe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Van Defoe is holding on for now.
Hussain sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Van Defoe defending well though.
Hussain is trying to control. Van Defoe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain moves nicely into side control.
Van Defoe struggling a bit here.
Hussain takes a little break here. Van Defoe wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Van Defoe tries to bench press Hussain off him but Hussain keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hussain moves into full mount!
Hussain really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Defoe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hussain tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe is squirming around, avoiding Hussain's attempts to control the action.
Hussain with good strikes from the mount here!
Van Defoe is looking to improve his position but Hussain isn't that keen on the idea.
Hussain with shots to the head and body - Van Defoe looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hussain avoids the attempt from Van Defoe to control.
Hussain tries to control but Van Defoe wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rajin Hussain dominated that round.
That's time! Van Defoe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hussain drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hussain taking a breather here.
Van Defoe is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hussain asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Van Defoe struggling a bit here.
Van Defoe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hussain's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain is thwarting Van Defoe's attempts to control the position.
Hussain throwing shots but Van Defoe is blocking nicely.
Hussain is looking to stall here but Van Defoe recovers full guard.
Hussain not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Van Defoe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Hussain trying to control but Van Defoe is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hussain would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hussainis looking to pass into half guard but Van Defoe pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Van Defoe is in guard.

Van Defoe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hussain has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Defoe has managed to get both his arms back between Hussain's legs - danger averted.
Hussain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Van Defoe stands up from Hussain's guard - Van Defoe perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hussain decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Van Defoe's guard.
Van Defoe is trying to control the position but Hussain postures up.
Hussain tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Defoe is retaining full guard.
Hussain is standing up over Van Defoe. Van Defoe looks to escape but Hussain dives into side control.
Hussain just content to control the position.
Hussain working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain wants to control but Van Defoe is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Van Defoe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Van Defoe manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rajin Hussain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Defoe closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Hussain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hussain moves into the clinch.
Van Defoe has had enough of the clinch but Hussain keeps him there for the moment.
Van Defoe looking to throw knees to the head but Hussain is blocking nicely.
Hussain lands a right hand.
Hussain is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Hussain's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Defoe with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hussain counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Van Defoe's guard now.
Van Defoe is trying to keep Hussain in close.
Hussain working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hussain accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hussain wants to stand and escape but instead Van Defoe has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Van Defoe postures up in Hussain's guard and throws a big left but Hussain blocks it.
Hussain looking for a sweep. Not yet Hussain, not yet.
Van Defoe trying to control but Hussain is working from the bottom.
Hussain wants to sweep here but Van Defoe controlling him for the moment.
Hussain wants to improve his position but instead Van Defoe has moved into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Van Defoe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Van Defoe is trying to control. Hussain wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hussain is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hussain has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Van Defoe is working away from the top position though.
Hussain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe trying to control the pace.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hussain takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Van Defoe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hussain counters with an outside leg kick.

Van Defoe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rajin Hussain has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hussain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Van Defoe keeping moving, preventing Hussain from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Defoe is trying to keep Hussain in close.

Hussain thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van Defoe wants to sweep here but Hussain controlling him for the moment.
Hussain's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rafael Van Defoe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rajin Hussain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rajin Hussain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hussain has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rajin Hussain!