PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khaled Hussain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and First Soul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hussain
vs
Soul

175 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Khaled Hussain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, First Soul!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soul misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hussain throws a head kick that misses.
Soul is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soul fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hussain has a takedown stuffed.
Soul wants to clinch but Hussain slips to the side

and Hussain counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Soul is trying to maintain the position but Hussain is very close to passing his half guard.
Soul avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hussain.
Hussain is keen to just control but Soul is a slippery customer.
Soul is looking to control Hussain's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Soul avoid being mounted?
Soul wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain wants to take a breather but Soul is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Soul throws a right and a left that Hussain avoids nicely.
Soul changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hussain tries to avoid it but Soul manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hussain to the ground. Hussain escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Hussain forces Soul back against the cage and clinches.
Hussain avoids a wild elbow strike from Soul.
Soul wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Soul manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soul manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hussain manages to get himself to full guard.
Hussain wants to stand and escape but Soul is having none of it.
Soul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hussain is keeping the position for now.
Hussain is trying to control the position but Soul postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hussain looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hussain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hussain is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hussain is breathing heavily.
Hussain not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Khaled Hussain has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Soul clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soul is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Soul jumps into guard, dragging Hussain to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soul is controlling Hussain's posture.
Soul keeping moving, preventing Hussain from controlling successfully.
Soul has a closed guard, preventing Hussain from standing up.
Soul is looking to stand up but Hussain isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Soul is pulling down on Hussain's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khaled Hussain has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hussain shoots in for a takedown but Soul shows good takedown defense.
Soul shoots in for a takedown but Hussain shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Soul tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hussain swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hussain paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Soul shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hussain napping and manages to drive through into side control!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Soul has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Soul is looking to clinch but Hussain is avoiding it.
Soul shoots in but Hussain avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Khaled Hussain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of First Soul.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hussain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soul tries to clinch there but Hussain circles away.
Soul changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hussain tries to avoid it but Soul manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hussain to the ground. Hussain escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

First Soul dominated that round.
That's time! Hussain's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Soul is looking to clinch but Hussain is avoiding it.
A big left from Hussain misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soul looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hussain throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hussain darts in and clinches Soul up against the cage.

Soul breaks from the clinch.
Soul darts in trying to clinch
and Hussain counters with a good low kick that Soul was not able to check.

Soul 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.
Soul wanted to stand there but Hussain had control of the position.
Hussain not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain can't keep his opponent in guard - Soul advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soul tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hussain knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Soul stands up out of the half guard.
Hussain shoots in for a double leg but Soul sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
First Soul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Soul moves into the clinch.
Soul pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Soul stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Soul tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Soul is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hussain gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soul jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hussain walks away with a smile on his face. Soul gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Soul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Soul is defended easily by Hussain.
Khaled Hussain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of First Soul.
Hussain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soul tries to clinch but Hussain moves out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Soul tries to clinch there but Hussain circles away.
Soul has a takedown stuffed.
Soul lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hussain circles away quickly and effectively.
Soul tries to clinch up
and Hussain counters with a solid body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soul doesn't manage to clinch there - Hussain circles away.
Soul tries to clinch but Hussain is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hussain pulls guard effortlessly.
Soul sitting in guard here, content to control.
Soul is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Soul wants to stand but Hussain has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hussain is trying to keep Soul in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Soul controls the pace.
Let's hope that Soul has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

First Soul has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Soul dives in and grabs Hussain's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hussain pushes down on Soul's head and hops out.
Soul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soul fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soul doesn't manage to clinch there - Hussain circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soul tries to clinch but Hussain moves out of range.
Soul stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Soul wants it to stay on the feet.
Soul tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

First Soul 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!

Soul tries to clinch but Hussain is having none of it.
Soul closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hussain circles away.
Soul turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Hussain shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Soul is trying to control but can't.
Soul is concentrating on defense, preventing Hussain from advancing position.
Hussain thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Soul regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain wants to pass the guard but Soul is keeping the position.
Soul trying to keep a closed guard but Hussain is proving a slippery customer.

OK we're going to have a standup here. First Soul hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hussain is defended easily by Soul.
Soul tries to close the distance and clinch but Hussain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hussain looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Soul lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Soul lands with a nice combination. Hussain backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussain showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Soul.
Hussain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hussain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soul doesn't manage to clinch there - Hussain circles away.

Soul shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Soul was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Soul taking a breather here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Soul decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soul throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hussain's waist but Hussain gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soul off to one side.
Soul throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hussain.

Soul throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hussain was covering up waiting for the punch and Soul finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Soul wants to control from the top but Hussain keeps moving.

Hussain throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soul is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Soul gets to his feet. Hussain looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Soul delivers a nice body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Soul takes the fight into the clinch.

Soul pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
First Soul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soul 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... First Soul!