PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manny Sessions (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghazala Hussein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hussein has chosen Enae Volare Mezzo as his entrance music. Manny Sessions has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sessions
vs
Hussein

169 cm
24
156 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

179 cm
29
157 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manny Sessions!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ghazala Hussein!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Hussein misses the target.
Both fighters circling a little - Sessions finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hussein scores with a hook.
Hussein scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sessions in his tracks.
Hussein takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hussein throws a hook to the side of Sessions's head but Sessions sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hussein misses with a left hand

and Sessions counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hussein trying to control but Sessions postures up.
Sessions thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sessions is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sessions looks to land a strike but Hussein avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sessions trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sessions has gone for a leg lock! Hussein slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sessions's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hussein pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sessions is keeping the position for now.
Hussein wants to control from the top but Sessions keeps moving.
Hussein engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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.
Sessions avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hussein is stalling in the full guard.
Hussein wants to control from the top but Sessions keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ghazala Hussein.
Hussein avoids a kick to the body.
Hussein looks to land a right hand but Sessions moved out of range.
Hussein swings widly with a right hand

and Sessions holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hussein throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sessionss head.
Sessions throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sessions is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hussein lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hussein working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sessions tries to land knees in the clinch but Hussein avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sessions obliges.
Hussein working aggressively here.
Sessions tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hussein avoids it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sessions.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hussein.
Sessions scores with a shot to the side of Hussein's head.
A head punch on the inside from Sessions fails to land.
Sessions misses with an elbow over the top.
Hussein presses Sessions against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sessions missing with knees to the body.
Hussein blocks an elbow strike from Sessions.
Sessions tries a body shot but Hussein blocks it.
Hussein swings wildly with an uppercut but Sessions uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sessions tries a body shot but Hussein blocks it.
Hussein misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sessions wants a takedown but no success here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sessions just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hussein's brow.
Hussein lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hussein dodges an elbow strike from Sessions.
Sessions throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hussein lands a body shot.
Hussein takes an elbow to the temple.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sessions.
Hussein throws a head punch that misses.
Hussein throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sessions is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sessions throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sessions just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hussein's brow.
Sessions misses with an elbow strike.
Hussein scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hussein scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hussein takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sessions is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hussein pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sessions throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hussein works on Sessions's body with a couple of short punches.
Hussein fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sessions blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Hussein.
Sessions tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hussein scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sessions wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Sessions. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hussein avoids a wild elbow strike from Sessions.
Sessions is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hussein is defending well for now.
Hussein lands a nice uppercut.
Hussein works on Sessions's body with a couple of short punches.
Hussein avoids a wild elbow strike from Sessions.
Hussein presses Sessions against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hussein is working Sessions over against the cage.
Hussein lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Hussein.
Sessions can't find room to land a body shot as Hussein controls the action.
Hussein lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazala Hussein dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sessions on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Manny Sessions seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sessions throws a wild body kick that Hussein sees coming a mile off.
Hussein is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sessions.
Hussein blocks the body kick.
Hussein swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hussein throws a sloppy body shot
and Sessions counters with an inside leg kick.
Sessions throws a body kick the misses
and Hussein counters with a nice body shot.
Sessions displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hussein throws out the jab.
Sessions throws a body kick the misses
and Hussein counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hussein might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hussein's corner calls for a 1-2. Hussein obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hussein scores with a kick to the body.
Sessions moves out of range as Hussein strikes.
Hussein is looking to score with low kicks.
Sessions tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hussein manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sessions lands a leg kick that knocks Hussein off balance momentarily.
Sessions moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sessions shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hussein as he jumps to the side.
Ghazala Hussein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hussein wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hussein lands a nice shot to the body.
Sessions avoids the body shot from Hussein.
Hussein misses with a body shot.
Sessions slips under a jab.
Sessions misses with a low kick as Hussein jumps back.
Sessions on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hussein. Hussein obviously looking to wear him down.
Hussein connects with a nice looking jab.
Hussein scores with a jab to the head.
Sessions throws a sloppy head kick and Hussein moves out of range easily.
Hussein throws a jab when Sessions was well out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hussein.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sessions keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hussein.
Hussein swats away the attempt to clinch by Sessions.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hussein darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hussein dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sessions tries to land a front kick but Hussein steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A big right from Hussein misses.
Sessions misses with a body kick.
Sessions closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hussein wants to slow Sessions down by chopping away at his legs.
Sessions gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Hussein to counter with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sessions feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hussein's calf.
Hussein blocks a low kick nicely.
Hussein throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hussein on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sessions uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hussein.
Hussein thows a body shot but no joy.
Sessions throws a lazy body kick
and Hussein counters with a straight right hand.

Sessions has managed to clinch.
Hussein lands a hook that snaps the head of Sessions backwards.
Hussein throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sessionss head.
Hussein dodges an elbow strike from Sessions.
A head punch on the inside from Hussein fails to land.
Sessions comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A shot in the inside from Hussein.
Sessions pushes off an throws an elbow but Hussein leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hussein lands a left hand.
Hussein tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sessions throws an elbow but it misses.
Hussein blocks the elbow strike.
Sessions creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hussein dodges an elbow strike from Sessions.
Hussein swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hussein works on Sessions's body with a couple of short punches.
Sessions working aggressively here.
Hussein lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sessions backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussein blocks an elbow strike.
Hussein looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hussein works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hussein scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sessions throws an elbow but misses.
Hussein working aggressively here.
Sessions lands an elbow inside that Hussein shrugs off.
Sessions misses with an elbow strike.
Hussein misses with the head strike.
Hussein blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hussein lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Hussein.
Sessions trying to land knees to the body.
Hussein digs a right hand underneath Sessions's ribcage. Sessions let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sessions misses with an elbow over the top.
Sessions misses with a punch to the body.
Nice elbow from Sessions.
Nice body punch from Hussein.
Hussein scores with an uppercut up the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A right hook to the body lands for Hussein.
Sessions is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hussein is defending well for now.
A right hand to the body from Hussein.
Hussein lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sessions or not.
A hook to the body from Hussein.
Hussein cracks Sessions with a nice body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hussein working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazala Hussein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hussein scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ghazala Hussein seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hussein throws a lazy right hand but Sessions sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hussein ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sessions tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hussein sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hussein looks to score with a jab to the body but Sessions is just out of range.
Hussein misses with a leg kick
and Sessions counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hussein is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hussein misses with a low kick as Sessions jumps back.
Hussein uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sessions has time to react.
Hussein works Sessions's body with a nice hook.
Sessions throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hussein misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Hussein throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hussein catches Sessions with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hussein moves out of range of the body kick from Sessions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein throws the left hand but Sessions avoids the punch easily.
Hussein throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sessions keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hussein.
Sessions takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sessions thows a body kick. Hussein tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sessions tries a head kick but it misses.
Hussein misses with a right hand
and Sessions counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hussein missing with a left hand there. Sessions was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sessions uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hussein.
Sessions throws a leg kick
and Sessions takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sessions tries to clinch there but Hussein circles away.
Sessions throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sessions throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hussein.
Hussein misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussein avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sessions looks for the body kick but Hussein saw that one coming.
Sessions lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sessions looks to throw a body kick
letting Hussein counter with a right hand.
Hussein connects with a nice looking jab.
Sessions throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hussein avoids the head kick by Sessions.
Sessions blocks a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sessions.
Sessions tries to clinch but Hussein moves away
and Hussein counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sessions wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Sessions gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hussein misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sessions misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hussein.
Sessions misses with the head strike.
Sessions lands an elbow just above Hussein 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sessions changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hussein fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sessions throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hussein counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sessions takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sessions throws a lazy body kick
and Hussein counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hussein misses with a low kick.
Hussein misses with a leg kick.
Sessions lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hussein takes a step back to recover.
Hussein misses the jab.
Hussein ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sessions misses with a body kick.
Hussein moves out of range of the body kick from Sessions.
Hussein swings for the body but Sessions moves out of range.
Hussein lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hussein thows a leg kick but Sessions checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sessions is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hussein sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A low kick from Sessions misses
and Hussein connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sessions moves away from the strike by Hussein.
Hussein misses with a straight right.
Manny Sessions has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hussein will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hussein pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sessions moves out of range as Hussein strikes.
Hussein throws a jab but it's blocked by Sessions.
Sessions avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sessions misses with a kick to the body.
Sessions pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sessions shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hussein as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Sessions. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hussein throws a chopping leg kick but Sessions manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ghazala Hussein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hussein winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ghazala Hussein!