PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bryann Hazzard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephane Ouelet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hazzard comes into the arena with We Will Rock You blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ouelet's choice of entrance music: Chien Fou . Bryann Hazzard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hazzard
vs
Ouelet

185 cm
23
160 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryann Hazzard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stephane Ouelet!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hazzard closes the distance and clinches.

Ouelet is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hazzard is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ouelet to the mat. Ouelet regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hazzard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ouelet swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hazzard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hazzard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ouelet really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hazzard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hazzard looking to sit in guard and control but Ouelet gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hazzard looking for a guillotine here but Ouelet defends easily.
Ouelet throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazzard trying to keep a closed guard but Ouelet is proving a slippery customer.
Ouelet must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ouelet wants to control from the top but Hazzard keeps moving.
Ouelet throws a big elbow that misses.
Hazzard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hazzard looking to control.
Ouelet throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hazzard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ouelet in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ouelet stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Ouelet gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from Hazzard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet tries to land a knee to the head but Hazzard blocks with his arms.
Ouelet tries to land a knee to the head but Hazzard blocks with his arms.
Ouelet goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hazzard prevents it.
Hazzard scores with a shot to the side of Ouelet's head.
Hazzard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ouelet throws an elbow that misses.
Hazzard misses with the head strike.
Ouelet lands an elbow inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ouelet with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hazzard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hazzard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good body shot from Hazzard.
Ouelet with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ouelet wants to take the fight to the mat but Hazzard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ouelet goes for a takedown attempt but Hazzard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bryann Hazzard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephane Ouelet.

Ouelet clinches up against the cage.
Hazzard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hazzard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ouelet throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ouelet gets underhooks to prevent Hazzard's takedown attempt.
Hazzard lands with a right to the head.
Ouelet's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Hazzard is trying to trip Ouelet. He has hold of a leg but Ouelet is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hazzard persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hazzard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hazzard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hazzard controls from within his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ouelet can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hazzard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ouelet works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hazzard throws a big right hand that misses.
Hazzard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ouelet swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hazzard passes Ouelet's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hazzard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ouelet keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ouelet moves into the clinch.
Ouelet tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ouelet gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hazzard tries a body shot but Ouelet blocks it.
Ouelet lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hazzard gets through Ouelet's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hazzard wants to break free but Ouelet has control.
Hazzard avoiding damage as Ouelet throws knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ouelet throws an elbow but misses.
Ouelet's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ouelet is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hazzard is defending well for now.
Hazzard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Hazzard.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Hazzard jumps into guard, dragging Ouelet to the mat.
Ouelet loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hazzard controls Ouelet momentarily but Ouelet frees himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hazzard wants to sweep here but Ouelet controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazzard wants to stand but Ouelet is controlling the position.
Ouelet is looking to work some ground and pound but Hazzard has wrist control.
Ouelet trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ouelet landing with the ground and pound.
Ouelet slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Hazzard.
Hazzard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ouelet.
Ouelet throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hazzard trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet throws a strike but Hazzard avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hazzard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ouelet manages to get himself to full guard.
Hazzard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hazzard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hazzard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hazzard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hazzard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ouelet is keeping the position for now.
Hazzard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet wants to sweep but no luck.
Hazzard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ouelet has a closed guard, preventing Hazzard from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hazzard wants to control from the top but Ouelet keeps moving.

Bryann Hazzard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Ouelet drives through and clinches with Hazzard against the cage.
Ouelet creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hazzard's defenses.
A right hook to the body lands for Hazzard.
Ouelet throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard tries to work over Ouelet's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ouelet is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hazzard is defending well.
Hazzard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hazzard throws an elbow that misses.
Ouelet trying to land knees to the body.
Hazzard is leaning against Ouelet and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ouelet tries a knee to the head but Hazzard blocks it.
Hazzard avoiding damage as Ouelet throws knees to the body.
Hazzard is looking to break free of the clinch but Ouelet has double underhooks.
Hazzard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hazzard has Ouelet pushed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hazzard just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ouelet's brow.
Ouelet is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hazzard is defending well for now.
Hazzard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hazzard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ouelet's elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ouelet throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ouelet tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hazzard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ouelet or not.
Ouelet is breathing heavily.
Ouelet throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hazzard has Ouelet pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryann Hazzard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Hazzard or perhaps it was just good defense by Ouelet which made him look bad.

Hazzard takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Hazzard.
A shot in the inside from Hazzard.

Hazzard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ouelet checks a leg kick.
A shot to the body from Ouelet misses

and Hazzard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hazzard digs a right hand into Ouelet's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ouelet's gas tank.
Ouelet misses with an elbow over the top.
Hazzard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ouelet backwards.
Hazzard avoiding damage as Ouelet throws knees to the body.
Ouelet with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hazzard misses with an elbow over the top.
Ouelet looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hazzard gets through Ouelet's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hazzard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ouelet has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouelet is looking for a takedown.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ouelet throws an elbow but misses.
Hazzard trying to stall but Ouelet improves his position.
Hazzard dodges an elbow strike from Ouelet.
Hazzard dodges an elbow strike from Ouelet.
Hazzard lands a left hand.
Bryann Hazzard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hazzard tries to throw a body punch but Ouelet avoids it by throwing Hazzard back against the cage.
Ouelet misses with an elbow strike.
Ouelet putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hazzard in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hazzard managing to block the knees to the body from Ouelet.
Hazzard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ouelet is keeping busy.
Hazzard takes an elbow to the forehead.

Hazzard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hazzard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ouelet works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hazzard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hazzard's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hazzard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hazzard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hazzard passes into half guard.
Hazzard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Still in half guard, Hazzard seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ouelet avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hazzard.

Hazzard is working for a submission of some sort.
Hazzard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hazzard scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouelet keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bryann Hazzard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hazzard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hazzard in particular looking to stall.

Ouelet makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Hazzard gets a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hazzard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryann Hazzard clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hazzard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ouelet.
Ouelet misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hazzard.

Ouelet moves into the clinch.
Ouelet misses with an elbow over the top.
Hazzard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ouelet avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ouelet trying to land knees to the body.
Hazzard looking to slow down the pace here.
Hazzard tries to land a knee to the head but Ouelet blocks with his arms.
Hazzard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hazzard lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hazzard digs a right hand into Ouelet's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ouelet's gas tank.
Hazzard avoids a wild elbow strike from Ouelet.
Ouelet lands an elbow just above Hazzard 's eye.
Ouelet using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hazzard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ouelet is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Hazzard lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazzard blocks the elbow strike.
Ouelet tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short body shot lands from Hazzard as the two fighters clinch.
Hazzard missing with knees to the body.

Hazzard lands a takedown into guard.
Hazzard is working Ouelet over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ouelet keeping moving, preventing Hazzard from controlling successfully.
Hazzard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazzard landing with the ground and pound.

Hazzard gets to his feet - Ouelet follows without any prompting.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hazzard throws a one two combo.

Ouelet is rocked!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ouelet is still on wobbly legs! Can Hazzard finish him?
Hazzard creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Ouelet with a big uppercut! Ouelet tries to clinch up but Hazzard pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Ouelet to the mat! Ouelet covers up and Hazzard unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Bryann Hazzard!
Bryann Hazzard retains his lightweight title!
In his post fight interview, Bryann Hazzard started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.