PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haile Gebreselassie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Hahar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haile Gebreselassie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gebreselassie
vs
Hahar

170 cm
25
198 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
190 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haile Gebreselassie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrew Hahar!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gebreselassie misses with a low kick as Hahar jumps back.
Gebreselassie moves out of range as Hahar strikes.
Hahar avoids the head kick by Gebreselassie.
Gebreselassie throws a head kick but Hahar moves out of range.
Hahar takes a swing at Gebreselassie's ribcage but misses.
Gebreselassie shoots in for a takedown but Hahar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hahar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horrible takedown by Hahar or perhaps it was just good defense by Gebreselassie which made him look bad.
Gebreselassie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hahar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hahar motions for Gebreselassie to come forward. Hahar throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gebreselassie throws a body kick that misses.
Hahar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hahar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gebreselassie manages to avoid it.
Hahar throws a leg kick but Gebreselassie sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gebreselassie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hahar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hahar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gebreselassie was well out of range. Poor timing from Hahar.

Hahar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hahar postures up.
Hahar content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hahar throws a big right hand that misses.
Hahar trying to control the position from guard on top but Gebreselassie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gebreselassie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gebreselassie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hahar is aware though and is defending well.
Hahar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hahar tries to free his leg and advance position but Gebreselassie is retaining full guard.
Hahar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Andrew Hahar wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gebreselassie defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hahar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hahar misses.
Hahar misses the shot to the body.
Gebreselassie dodges the punch combination from Hahar.
Hahar uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Hahar dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hahar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hahar misses with a wild body shot.
Gebreselassie shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hahar scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gebreselassie is looking to land body kicks.
Hahar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gebreselassie was well out of range. Poor timing from Hahar.
Hahar avoids the head kick by Gebreselassie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Gebreselassie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hahar misses with a few strikes there.
Hahar just misses with a punch to the body.

Hahar shoots in and gets a takedown into Gebreselassie's guard.
Hahar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gebreselassie is keeping the position for now.

Hahar drops back looking for a leg! Gebreselassie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gebreselassie manages to kick Hahar off! Hahar jumps back into Gebreselassie's guard.
Hahar trying to control but Gebreselassie is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gebreselassie is trying to control the position but Hahar postures up.

Gebreselassie working for a triangle but Hahar defends it easily.

Gebreselassie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gebreselassie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hahar wants to control from the top but Gebreselassie keeps moving.
Gebreselassie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hahar wants to pass the guard but Gebreselassie is keeping the position.

Hahar stands and steps away. Gebreselassie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hahar is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gebreselassie rather than just go for the knockout.

Hahar dives in and scores a takedown into Gebreselassie's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gebreselassie working for submissions but it's allowed Hahar to get to half guard.
Hahar tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gebreselassie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hahar is keen to just control but Gebreselassie is a slippery customer.
Gebreselassie tries to get to full guard but Hahar has control of the leg.
Gebreselassie wants to control but Hahar is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hahar passes the guard and advances to mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hahar controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Hahar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gebreselassie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Hahar fails to land with a series of punches.
Hahar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gebreselassie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hahar swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hahar shoots in for a takedown but Gebreselassie shows good takedown defense.
A head kick misses from Gebreselassie.
Andrew Hahar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gebreselassie throws a leg kick but Hahar moved away.
Hahar loads up on a big right hand but Gebreselassie slips the punch.
No luck for Hahar with that takedown attempt.
Gebreselassie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hahar misses the shot to the body.

That's two 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.
Hahar throws a hook but Gebreselassie avoids it easily.
Gebreselassie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hahar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gebreselassie won't be happy with that.
Hahar tries to move to mount but Gebreselassie blocks the move with his legs.

Hahar decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gebreselassie to his feet.
Hahar looks for a takedown but Gebreselassie sprawls well.
Haile Gebreselassie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Hahar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hahar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gebreselassie was well out of range. Poor timing from Hahar.
Gebreselassie connects with a leg kick. Hahar looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gebreselassie throws a leg kick but Hahar sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hahar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gebreselassie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hahar misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hahar shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gebreselassie defends it nicely.
Gebreselassie wants to land a leg kick but Hahar is out of range.
Andrew Hahar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hahar blocks the body kick.
Haile Gebreselassie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hahar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Hahar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hahar 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Hahar!