PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rachid Hadji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vaughn Shaunessey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hadji's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, From Here to Eternity. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Hadji
vs
Shaunessey

165 cm
30
150 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

164 cm
21
152 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brute
(MFS) Macto Fight System

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rachid Hadji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vaughn Shaunessey!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey dodges the punch combination from Hadji.
Hadji jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shaunessey works over Hadji's head and body with a nice combination.
Shaunessey bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hadji's head backwards.
Hadji throws a leg kick but Shaunessey sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hadji lunges at Shaunessey with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shaunessey's hand.
Hadji moves out of range of the leg kick from Shaunessey.
Hadji misses with a low kick.
Shaunessey scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaunessey takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hadji fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shaunessey manages to avoid it.
Shaunessey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hadji.
Some wild striking there from Hadji.
Shaunessey throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hadji looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hadji dodges the punch combination from Shaunessey.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Hadji.
Shaunessey scores with a jab to the body.
Shaunessey lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hadji backs up against the cage.

It looks like Rachid Hadji has been cut.
Shaunessey throws a head kick but Hadji moves out of range.
A jab from Shaunessey misses.
Hadji works over Shaunessey's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Vaughn Shaunessey has been cut.
Hadji thuds his shin into the meat of Shaunessey's side.
Shaunessey tries to land a front kick but Hadji steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shaunessey throws a front kick aimed at Hadji's knee but Hadji avoids it well.

Hadji closes the distance and clinches.
Shaunessey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shaunessey leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hadji tries to land knees in the clinch but Shaunessey avoids the damage to the body.
Hadji tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shaunessey blocks an elbow strike from Hadji.
A bit of stalling here from Hadji.
Shaunessey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shaunessey is trying to stall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shaunessey misses with a knee to the head.
Hadji trying to land knees to the body.
Hadji pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hadji tries to land knees in the clinch but Shaunessey avoids the damage to the body.
Hadji throws an elbow but it misses.
Hadji is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shaunessey is defending well for now.
A head punch on the inside from Hadji fails to land.
Hadji tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shaunessey just leaning against Hadji, taking a breather.
Hadji creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hadji takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shaunessey.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Shaunessey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hadji lands a lovely overhand right.
Hadji throws a lazy right hand but Shaunessey sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shaunessey wants to land a leg kick but Hadji is out of range.
Shaunessey throws a sloppy head kick and Hadji moves out of range easily.

Shaunessey has Hadji up against the cage in a clinch.
Hadji is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shaunessey blocks an elbow strike.
Shaunessey lands a body shot.

Shaunessey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hadji throws a right and a left that Shaunessey avoids nicely.
Shaunessey avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadji takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shaunessey lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shaunessey lands a lovely overhand right.
Shaunessey tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shaunessey throws a leg kick which misses Hadji's front leg but catches the back leg as Hadji tries to avoid it.
Shaunessey will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shaunessey tries to work over Hadji's front leg with a kick but Hadji checks it.
Shaunessey misses with a body kick.
Shaunessey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hadji manages to avoid it.
Shaunessey looks to land a body kick but Hadji moved away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shaunessey throws a head kick that misses.
Shaunessey moves out of range of the strikes.
Shaunessey pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A clash of legs there as Shaunessey blocks the low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaughn Shaunessey dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shaunessey throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hadji is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shaunessey.
Hadji misses with an attempted mid kick.
Shaunessey lands with a slapping head kick.
Shaunessey thows a leg kick but Hadji checks it
and Hadji counters with a nice low kick that buckles Shaunessey's knee momentarily.
Hadji lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shaunessey at a distance.
Hadji attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shaunessey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hadji.
Hadji throws a hook to the side of Shaunessey's head but Shaunessey sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hadji throws a right hand that misses
and Shaunessey counters with an inside leg kick.
Hadji tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hadji throws a nice looking combination but Shaunessey bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A head kick misses from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey wants to clinch.
Hadji has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shaunessey.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shaunessey has Hadji up against the cage in a clinch.
Hadji is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shaunessey is defending well for now.
Shaunessey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shaunessey tries to land knees in the clinch but Hadji avoids the damage to the body.
Hadji stalling in the clinch but Shaunessey improves position.
Shaunessey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hadji creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Shaunessey dodges an elbow strike from Hadji.
Hadji pushes off an throws an elbow but Shaunessey leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Shaunessey breaks from the clinch.
Shaunessey blocks a head kick by Hadji.
Hadji tries to close the distance and clinch but Shaunessey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hadji misses with a low kick.
Hadji tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hadji is looking to score with low kicks.
Shaunessey throws out a leg kick but Hadji moves out of range and Shaunessey only half commits.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shaunessey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hadji misses with a series of wild punches.
Hadji takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vaughn Shaunessey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hadji checks a low kick from Shaunessey.
Hadji throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Shaunessey tries to clinch but Hadji is having none of it.
That kick from Hadji tenderised Shaunessey's leg. Shaunessey is trying to keep his angry face on.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Shaunessey drives through and clinches with Hadji against the cage.
Shaunessey manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Shaunessey wants to break free but Hadji has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Shaunessey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hadji tries to clinch up but Shaunessey circles away and keeps his distance.
Shaunessey scores with a jab to the body.
A low kick from Shaunessey is predictable there
and Hadji counters with a big head kick but Shaunessey shrugs it off.
A bone on bone clash there as Shaunessey blocks the leg kick.
Hadji uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Shaunessey has time to react.
A jab from Hadji misses.
Hadji throws a low kick, looking for Shaunessey's leg but Shaunessey calmly moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Shaunessey misses.
Shaunessey looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shaunessey throws a low kick but Hadji avoids it.
Shaunessey misses with a body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Shaunessey blocks the leg kick.
Hadji throws a body punch but Shaunessey moves out of range.
Shaunessey attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hadji checks a leg kick.
Hadji sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hadji throws out a loose jab but Shaunessey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shaunessey feints and then cracks Hadji's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hadji down.
Shaunessey throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shaunessey throws a leg kick which misses Hadji's front leg but catches the back leg as Hadji tries to avoid it.
Both fighters circling a little - Shaunessey finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hadji misses with a lunging right hand
and Shaunessey makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Shaunessey thumps Hadji with a low kick.
Shaunessey lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shaunessey throws a front kick that sends Hadji stumbling back into the cage.
Shaunessey scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shaunessey throws a half hearted mid kick.
Shaunessey throws a right and a left that Hadji avoids nicely.
Hadji has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shaunessey.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaughn Shaunessey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shaunessey turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hadji is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hadji throws out a loose jab but Shaunessey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shaunessey feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hadji's calf.
Shaunessey throws a sloppy head kick and Hadji moves out of range easily.
Hadji wants to clinch up but Shaunessey keeps it at a distance.
Shaunessey throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hadji ducks under a wild hook from Shaunessey.
Hadji will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Shaunessey moves into the clinch successfully.
Hadji throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shaunessey lands a left hand.
Hadji letting Shaunessey take a breather here.
Shaunessey lands a knee to the head.
Shaunessey lands a hook that snaps the head of Hadji backwards.
Shaunessey content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hadji is trying to maintain a safe position but Shaunessey gets an underhook and turns Hadji into the cage.
Hadji landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hadji tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shaunessey avoids it.
Hadji takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hadji effectively controlling the action here.
Shaunessey scores with a shot to the side of Hadji's head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shaunessey scores with a knee to the head.
Shaunessey with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hadji with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shaunessey as Hadji tries to tie him up.
Shaunessey avoids the elbow strike from Hadji, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey avoids a wild elbow strike from Hadji.
Hadji tries to land knees in the clinch but Shaunessey avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey working Hadji over with knees to the body.
Shaunessey blocks the elbow strike.
Shaunessey is stalling here.
Hadji using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shaunessey has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice elbow from Shaunessey.
Shaunessey throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shaunessey crunches a lovely knee into Hadji's ribcage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hadji pushes off an throws an elbow but Shaunessey leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hadji throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Shaunessey takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hadji prevents a body shot from Shaunessey.
Hadji tries a body shot but Shaunessey blocks it.
Shaunessey holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Shaunessey missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hadji throws an elbow but misses.
A knee to the head by Shaunessey.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shaunessey tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hadji looking to stall.

Shaunessey breaks the clinch.
Shaunessey misses with a hook. Hadji ducked under it nicely.
Hadji tries to clinch but Shaunessey moves out of range.
Shaunessey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hadji paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hadji tries to clinch there but Shaunessey circles away.
Vaughn Shaunessey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shaunessey throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hadji's head.
Shaunessey has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hadji throws an overhand right that lands on Shaunessey's shoulder, as Shaunessey tries to avoid the shot.
Rachid Hadji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaunessey connects with an inside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Shaunessey.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hadji throws a shot to the body.
Hadji on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shaunessey pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hadji tries to move into range but Shaunessey moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hadji attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shaunessey staying out of range there.
Vaughn Shaunessey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shaunessey blocks a jab.
Hadji takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hadji throws the left hand but Shaunessey avoids the punch easily.
Hadji misses with a low kick.
A jab from Hadji misses.
Shaunessey feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hadji's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vaughn Shaunessey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shaunessey 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vaughn Shaunessey!
Our winner, Vaughn Shaunessey, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.