PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phelan Kell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed al Hadj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al Hadj has chosen Lebanon as his entrance music. Phelan Kell has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kell
vs
al Hadj

205 cm
24
190 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

191 cm
26
200 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™
Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Phelan Kell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohamed al Hadj!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
al Hadj takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kell throws a hook but al Hadj avoids it easily.
Kell throws the left hand but al Hadj avoids the punch easily.
al Hadj rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
al Hadj tries to close the distance and clinch but Kell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
al Hadj catches Kell with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
al Hadj fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kell moves out of range as al Hadj throws a body kick.
Phelan Kell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kell swinging wildly here.
Kell misses with a wild body shot.
al Hadj pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kell is out of range and al Hadj settles back down.
Kell misses with a wild body shot.
al Hadj moves out of range as Kell strikes.
al Hadj lands a head shot.
al Hadj looks to land a body kick but Kell moved away.
al Hadj throws a low kick but Kell avoids it.
al Hadj throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kell takes a head kick and keeps coming.
al Hadj lands a high kick!
Kell misses with a double jab.
al Hadj tries to clinch but Kell moves out of range.
Kell throws a big shot that misses.
al Hadj tries to clinch but Kell moves out of range.
al Hadj lands a glancing blow to the side of Kell's head.
Kell lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
al Hadj attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kell misses with a double jab.
Kell throws a lazy right hand but al Hadj sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from al Hadj, right into the meat.
al Hadj blocks a jab.
al Hadj throws a low kick but Kell avoids it.
Kell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kell connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kell moves out of range of the body kick.
Kell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kell stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A head kick from al Hadj lands but Kell takes it in his stride.
Kell paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
al Hadj with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kell looks to land a left hand but al Hadj moved out of range nicely.
Kell scores with a nice head shot.
al Hadj misses with a head kick.
al Hadj displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kell throws out the jab.
Kell misses with a hook.
Kell connects with a nice looking jab.
Kell is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kell takes a swing at al Hadj's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for Kell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj throws a head kick but Kell moves out of range.
al Hadj plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
al Hadj tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
al Hadj misses the shot to the body.
Kell takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
al Hadj throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
al Hadj throws a body punch but Kell moves out of range.
Kell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
al Hadj ducks under a wild hook from Kell.
Kell throws a shot from downtown. al Hadj moves away and avoids it.
al Hadj walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kell checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
al Hadj is looking to land body kicks.

al Hadj drives through and clinches with Kell against the cage.

al Hadj escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
al Hadj lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kell misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj is looking to clinch but Kell is avoiding it.
Kell takes a kick to the side of the head.
al Hadj is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kell rather than just go for the knockout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from al Hadj.
Kell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but al Hadj manages to avoid it.
Kell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but al Hadj moves away.
al Hadj misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kell.
Kell takes a swing at al Hadj's ribcage but misses.
al Hadj connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
al Hadj wants to clinch up but Kell keeps it at a distance.
Kell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
al Hadj lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A cross from Kell lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but al Hadj was well out of range. Poor timing from Kell.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
al Hadj is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kell is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohamed al Hadj dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kell misses with a body shot
enabling al Hadj to counter with a crisp jab.
No joy there for Kell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
al Hadj misses with a head kick.
al Hadj fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kell looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

al Hadj closes the distance and clinches.
al Hadj lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kell lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kell takes an elbow to the temple.
al Hadj lands an elbow inside that Kell shrugs off.
A right hook to the body lands for al Hadj.
al Hadj tries to land knees in the clinch but Kell avoids the damage to the body.
al Hadj throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kell blocks it with crossed arms.
al Hadj working Kell over with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
al Hadj missing with knees to the body.
al Hadj throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj lands a nice elbow.
al Hadj tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kell avoids it.
Kell has had enough of the clinch but al Hadj keeps him there for the moment.
Kell unloads a knee to the mid-section. al Hadj lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees in the clinch landing for al Hadj.
al Hadj tries to land knees in the clinch but Kell avoids the damage to the body.
Kell pushes al Hadj back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
al Hadj looking to throw knees to the head but Kell is blocking nicely.
al Hadj lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
al Hadj throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kell wants to break free but al Hadj has control.
al Hadj slows down the pace here.
Kell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kell manages to break the clinch.
al Hadj takes one to the side of the head.
al Hadj fails to land with a series of punches.
A cross from Kell lands.
Nice body punch from Kell.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
al Hadj throws a body punch but Kell moves out of range.
Kell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping al Hadj at a distance.
Kell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
al Hadj digs a good body shot into Kell's ribs.
Kell just misses with a punch to the body.
Kell throws a looping overhand right but al Hadj ducks down to avoid it.
Mohamed al Hadj seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good exchange - Kell coming out on top.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by al Hadj.
Kell throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent al Hadj stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj tries a head kick but it misses.
al Hadj fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
al Hadj misses with a body kick.
Some wild striking there from al Hadj.
The fight stays on the outside here - al Hadj looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
al Hadj lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kell backs up against the cage.
Kell avoids the head kick by al Hadj.
Kell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but al Hadj moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kell misses with a body shot.
al Hadj thows a body shot but no joy.
Kell is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
al Hadj thumps Kell with a low kick.
al Hadj needs to keep his hands up - Kell had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kell moves away.
Kell misses with a right hand
and al Hadj counters with an inside leg kick.
Kell misses with a lunging right hand
and al Hadj counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kell has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from al Hadj.
al Hadj chopping away at his opponent's legs.
al Hadj throws a body punch but Kell moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kell throws a hook to the side of al Hadj's head but al Hadj sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
al Hadj tries to clinch but Kell moves out of range.
al Hadj works Kell's body with a nice hook.
al Hadj tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A left lands for al Hadj.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
al Hadj throws a series of punches but Kell avoids them all with ease.
al Hadj is looking to clinch but Kell is avoiding it.
Kell digs a good body shot into al Hadj's ribs.
al Hadj tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohamed al Hadj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

al Hadj ducks under a wild hook from Kell.
Kell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but al Hadj manages to avoid it.
Kell with a jab.
A big left from Kell misses.
Kell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kell throws a jab but it's blocked by al Hadj.
Kell slips under a jab.
al Hadj slips under a jab.
Kell is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but al Hadj moves away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from al Hadj.
Nice defenses there by al Hadj.
Kell loads up on a big right hand but al Hadj slips the punch.
Kell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kell misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj misses with an uppercut.
al Hadj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kell misses with a hook. al Hadj ducked under it nicely.
Kell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but al Hadj manages to avoid it.
Kell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by al Hadj.
Kell misses with a two punch combination.
al Hadj misses with a straight right.
Kell misses with a wild body shot.
al Hadj steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kell.
al Hadj dodges the punch combination from Kell.
Kell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from al Hadj.
Kell throws an off balance right hand
and al Hadj makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
al Hadj moves in looking to clinch but Kell pushes him off.
Phelan Kell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but al Hadj was well out of range. Poor timing from Kell.
Kell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
al Hadj fails in his attempt to clinch.
al Hadj tries to work over Kell's front leg with a kick but Kell checks it.
al Hadj displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kell throws out the jab.
Kell throws a lazy right hand but al Hadj sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
al Hadj misses with a leg kick
and Kell counters with a one-two to the body.

It looks like Mohamed al Hadj has been cut.
al Hadj avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kell misses with a telegraphed body shot
and al Hadj counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but al Hadj moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kell swings and misses with a shot to the body
and al Hadj counters with a nice body shot.
Kell avoids the body shot from al Hadj.
Kell missing with a left hand there. al Hadj was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
al Hadj paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from al Hadj.
al Hadj dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kell. That did some damage!
Kell throws a lazy right hand but al Hadj sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kell uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from al Hadj.
al Hadj lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
al Hadj is looking to land body kicks.
al Hadj lands with a kick to the temple. Kell shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kell lands a really nice looking cross but al Hadj seems unphased.
al Hadj dips to his left and cracks Kell with an uppercut!
al Hadj throws a shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Kell.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
al Hadj throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj lands a body shot.
al Hadj throws a jab but it's blocked by Kell.
Kell looks to land a left hand but al Hadj moved out of range nicely.
al Hadj connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
al Hadj avoids the body shot from Kell.
Kell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kell throws a right hand that al Hadj ducks under and follows up with a left that al Hadj also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
al Hadj thows a body shot but no joy.
al Hadj with a body punch. A glancing blow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
al Hadj slips a straight right by Kell.
Kell 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.
al Hadj tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mohamed al Hadj.
Well al Hadj 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohamed al Hadj!
In his post fight interview, Mohamed al Hadj started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.