PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Youssef Hadji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Geoff Connolly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hadji
vs
Connolly

179 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Youssef Hadji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Geoff Connolly!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hadji looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hadji passes to side control.
Connolly is looking to reverse the position.
Hadji tries to advance to mount but Connolly denies him.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Hadji thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Connolly wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Hadji is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Connolly knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Connolly tries to buck Hadji off but Hadji is having none of it.
Connolly is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Hadji looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Connolly wants to get back to his feet.
Connolly wants to control but Hadji postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connolly stops Hadji from passing to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Connolly fails with the takedown

and Hadji counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hadji slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Hadji is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Connolly has escaped the position, nice work there.
Connolly tries to improve position but can't.

Hadji tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hadji has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hadji is breathing heavily.

Hadji tries for a kimura but Connolly is defending well.
Connolly tries to buck Hadji off but Hadji is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connolly sneaks back into half guard.
Connolly trying to control here.
Connolly pushes Hadji off but Hadji dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connolly is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hadji off and has taken his back!
Hadji prevents Connolly from getting a body triangle.
I really don't envy Hadji right now.

Connolly is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Hadji defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Hadji manages to reverse the position and now he's in Connolly's guard. Nice work there by Hadji.
Connolly trying to keep a closed guard but Hadji is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Connolly looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Connolly is pulling down on Hadji's head. It's preventing any offense from Hadji, at least for the moment.
Connolly wants to stand and escape but Hadji is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hadji stopping the sweep attempt from Connolly.

Connolly is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hadji drops down looking for an ankle pick but Connolly pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hadji shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hadji was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Connolly wants to hold on but Hadji pushes him away.

Hadji looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Connolly is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connolly has given up his back. Will we see Hadji going for some submissions?
Hadji avoiding Connolly 's attempts to control his hands.
Connolly manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hadji's guard. Nice work there by Connolly.
Connolly must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Connolly won't allow Hadji to sweep him here.

Hadji working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Connolly doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Connolly manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Connolly pushing down on Hadji's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Hadji looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hadji manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Hadji is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Connolly frees his head nicely. Oh but Hadji has switched to an armbar! Connolly is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Youssef Hadji!