PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zamir Dakarai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naseem Hamed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Dakarai might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Busta Rhymes, Dangerous. Naseem Hamed will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dakarai
vs
Hamed

204 cm
21
189 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
194 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Prefers standup

Syndicate Drugs

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zamir Dakarai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Naseem Hamed!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamed is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hamed throws a big shot that misses.
Dakarai has a takedown stuffed.
Hamed tries to clinch up.
Hamed tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Dakarai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dakarai tries for a takedown but Hamed sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hamed tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dakarai checks a leg kick.
Dakarai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hamed gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hamed working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamed looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hamed is trying to stall.
Hamed lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dakarai backwards.
Dakarai blocks an elbow strike.
Dakarai fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zamir Dakarai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left hand lands to the body for Hamed.
Dakarai missing with knees to the body.

Dakarai jumps guard and drags Hamed to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Dakarai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hamed can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dakarai looking for a sweep. Not yet Dakarai, not yet.
Hamed really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dakarai. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Dakarai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hamed gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dakarai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Dakarai trying to keep a closed guard but Hamed is proving a slippery customer.
Dakarai has a closed guard, preventing Hamed from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Dakarai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hamed can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Dakarai looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hamed has picked Dakarai up and slammed him! Dakarai can't keep hold of the triangle and Hamed manages to pass to side control!
Hamed tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Dakarai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamed tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Dakarai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hamed's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hamed wants to stand up but Dakarai is controlling the position.

Dakarai looking for submissions off his back.
Hamed seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dakarai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dakarai tries to get to full guard but Hamed has control of the leg.

Dakarai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hamed pulls his head out easily.
Hamed wants to take a breather but Dakarai is having none of it.

Dakarai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Dakarai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dakarai actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zamir Dakarai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hamed fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hamed tries to close the distance and clinch but Dakarai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hamed is looking to chop away at Dakarai's legs.
Hamed tries to clinch up.
Hamed tries to clinch but Dakarai is having none of it.
Hamed moves in looking to clinch but Dakarai pushes him off.
Hamed tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dakarai swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hamed tries to sprawl but Dakarai drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dakarai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hamed knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dakarai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hamed keeps working.
Dakarai scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamed makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hamed.

Dakarai drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hamed dives on top into guard.

Dakarai has his foot on Hamed's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hamed works his way back into a safe position though.

Dakarai is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dakarai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hamed gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hamed avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hamed looking to pass the guard.
Hamed would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Dakarai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Dakarai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamed trying to control but Dakarai is working from the bottom.

Dakarai looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hamed passes into side control.
Dakarai is looking for a sweep.
Hamed taking a break here but Dakarai is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Dakarai looking for submissions off his back.

Dakarai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dakarai looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zamir Dakarai dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hamed jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Zamir Dakarai has been cut.
Dakarai shoots in and drives through. Hamed sprawls well.
Dakarai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hamed works Dakarai's body with a nice hook.
Hamed tries to clinch but Dakarai moves out of range.
Hamed tries to clinch but Dakarai moves out of range.

Hamed clinches with his opponent.
Hamed gets through Dakarai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dakarai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hamed smiles and moves away.
Hamed tries to close the distance and clinch but Dakarai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dakarai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hamed doesn't manage to clinch there - Dakarai circles away.

Hamed moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dakarai swings wildly with an uppercut but Hamed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hamed tries to stall but Dakarai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hamed creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dakarai's defenses.
Dakarai really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hamed throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hamed lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dakarai backwards.
Hamed is trying to maintain a safe position but Dakarai gets an underhook and turns Hamed into the ropes.
Hamed lands with a left to the head.
Hamed lands with a light punch inside.

Hamed breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hamed tries to clinch up.
Hamed fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dakarai swats away the attempt to clinch by Hamed.
Hamed tries to clinch but Dakarai is having none of it.
Dakarai keeps the fight on the outside.
Dakarai fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zamir Dakarai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hamed moves in looking to clinch but Dakarai pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamed throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dakarai counters with a takedown into side control.
Hamed is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Dakarai has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hamed struggling a bit here.

Dakarai is trying to get an arm triangle but Hamed is defending well.
Hamed is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Dakarai has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Dakarai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hamed is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ground and pound from Dakarai seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dakarai wants to control but Hamed is keeping him busy.
Hamed sneaks back into half guard.
Hamed wants to get back to his feet.
Dakarai is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hamed reverses the position - he's now on top in Dakarai's guard.
Zamir Dakarai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Dakarai looking for a guillotine here but Hamed defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hamed has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dakarai is proving hard to escape from.
Dakarai will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Dakarai working for a triangle but Hamed defends it easily.

Dakarai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hamed doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hamed manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naseem Hamed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dakarai 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!