PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ali Khusaif Al Hammadi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claudiu Lupu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Khusaif Al Hammadi
vs
Lupu

190 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

201 cm
25
258 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Tab Out Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ali Khusaif Al Hammadi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Claudiu Lupu!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lupu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Al Hammadi doesn't manage to clinch there - Lupu circles away.
Lupu looks for a takedown but Al Hammadi sprawls well.
Al Hammadi stuffs the takedown.
Al Hammadi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lupu fails with the takedown.
Ali Khusaif Al Hammadi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claudiu Lupu.

Lupu looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Al Hammadi!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Al Hammadi is trying to control Lupu's posture but Lupu avoids it.
Lupu controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupu wants to stand but Al Hammadi is controlling his arm.
Al Hammadi is trying to work for a sweep but Lupu has mounted him!
Lupu throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Al Hammadi tries to hold on but Lupu postures up.
Lupu is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Al Hammadi squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Al Hammadi is trying to escape the mount.
Lupu is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammadi wants to hold on but Lupu pushes him away.

Lupu looking to secure an arm triangle but Al Hammadi defends it well.
Al Hammadi can't escape the position.
Lupu wants to stand but Al Hammadi is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Al Hammadi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lupu on the ground.
Al Hammadi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Al Hammadi is squirming around, avoiding Lupu's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupu content just to control the position here.
Lupu landing strikes, looking to finish!
Al Hammadi is looking to improve his position but Lupu isn't that keen on the idea.
Al Hammadi is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupu throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Lupu unloading with bombs!
Al Hammadi tries to lock up and control but Lupu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lupu controlling from mount.
Al Hammadi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lupu looking to control but Al Hammadi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudiu Lupu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Al Hammadi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lupu sprawls well. Lupu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Al Hammadi gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Hammadi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Al Hammadi tries to clinch but Lupu moves out of range.
Al Hammadi tries to clinch up but Lupu circles away and keeps his distance.
Lupu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Al Hammadi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lupu shoots in for a takedown but Al Hammadi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ali Khusaif Al Hammadi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lupu tries to clinch but Al Hammadi moves out of range.
Lupu throws a head kick but Al Hammadi moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Al Hammadi.
Lupu slips a jab and a cross from Al Hammadi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hammadi scores with a nice head shot.
Al Hammadi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lupu misses with a body shot.
Lupu tries to clinch up but Al Hammadi circles away and keeps his distance.
Al Hammadi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Al Hammadi dives in and grabs Lupu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lupu pushes down on Al Hammadi's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Khusaif Al Hammadi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Al Hammadi rushes Lupu and presses him up against the cage.

Lupu manages to break the clinch.
Al Hammadi looks for a takedown but Lupu sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lupu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Al Hammadi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lupu tries to land a front kick but Al Hammadi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Lupu forces Al Hammadi back against the cage and clinches.
Lupu tries to pull guard but Al Hammadi holds him up against the cage and eventually Lupu drops back down to his feet.
Lupu looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lupu has Al Hammadi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Al Hammadi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lupu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Al Hammadi prevents it.
Lupu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lupu is trying to pull guard but Al Hammadi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lupu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Lupu closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lupu is pressing down on Al Hammadi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Al Hammadi is holding on for now.
Al Hammadi moves into full guard.
Al Hammadi is trying to control the position but Lupu postures up.
Lupu prevents Al Hammadi from getting back to his feet.
Lupu throws a big elbow that misses.
Lupu is looking to stand up but Al Hammadi won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupu trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Hammadi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Hammadi working a defensive guard here.
Al Hammadi is trying to hold Lupu in close to prevent damage but Lupu has managed to pass into half guard.
Lupu is keen to just control but Al Hammadi is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Al Hammadi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Claudiu Lupu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lupu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lupu looks for the body kick but Al Hammadi saw that one coming.
Nice sprawl there from Lupu as Al Hammadi shoots in.
Lupu stuffs the takedown attempt from Al Hammadi. Al Hammadi gets slowly back to his feet.
Lupu shoots in but no luck this time.
Al Hammadi tries to clinch up but Lupu circles away and keeps his distance.
Al Hammadi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lupu avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Khusaif Al Hammadi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Hammadi tries to clinch but Lupu moves out of range.

Lupu has closed the distance and engaged Al Hammadi in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupu keeps control of Al Hammadi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Lupu turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Lupu looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lupu is working Al Hammadi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Claudiu Lupu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lupu trying to control the action but Al Hammadi is working from the bottom.
Al Hammadi is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lupu is looking to take a break and control but Al Hammadi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lupu working the head with strikes.
Al Hammadi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lupu trying to control the position but Al Hammadi is working away.
Lupu throws a strike aimed at the side of Al Hammadi's head but Al Hammadi avoids it well.
Lupu creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Al Hammadi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Al Hammadi on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Lupu remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Lupu trying to control the action but Al Hammadi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lupu tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lupu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ali Khusaif Al Hammadi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Claudiu Lupu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lupu blocks the strikes from Al Hammadi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claudiu Lupu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lupu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudiu Lupu!