PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Drew Branch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daanish Hussain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hussain has chosen Don Omar Feat. Tego Calderon - Bandoleros as his entrance music. Daanish Hussain struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 137.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Branch
vs
Hussain

173 cm
19
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Elite Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Drew Branch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daanish Hussain!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branch connects with a looping right hand.
Hussain looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Branch misses with a wild combination.
Branch fails to land with a series of punches.
Branch scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A combination from Branch does no damage.
Branch with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hussain slips a jab and a cross from Branch.
Hussain fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hussain scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Branch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Branch.

Branch had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hussain is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Branch Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hussain's back instead.
Hussain covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Branch trying to control momentarily.

Hussain is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branch is punishing Hussain with strikes - can he finish him?!
Branch lands a shot to the body.

Branch has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Hussain turns into Branch and is now in his guard.
Branch keeping full guard, as Hussain tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussain pushes down on Branch's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Hussain is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Branch is just riding it out for now. Hussain eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Branch moves into full guard.
Hussain trying to control but Branch is working from the bottom.

Branch throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hussain escapes and throws Branch's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hussain tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hussain has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Branch sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Branch is staying active underneath Hussain, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Branch works his way to full guard. Good work.
Branch controls Hussain momentarily but Hussain frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Branch is on top in guard.
Branch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hussain's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branch trying to control the position from guard on top but Hussain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Branch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hussain works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Branch tries to free his leg and advance position but Hussain is retaining full guard.
Branch lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hussain has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Branch is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hussain.
Branch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hussain keeps working.

Branch looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Branch passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hussain!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drew Branch dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Branch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hussain dodges the punch combination from Branch.
Hussain has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Branch throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hussain stuffs the takedown.

Branch looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hussain!
Branch is landing with some decent strikes but Hussain is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hussain slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hussain is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Branch's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Branch's back!
Branch is in bad spot here.
Hussain is breathing heavily.
Hussain avoiding Branch 's attempts to control his hands.
Branch is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Branch is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Branch manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hussain's guard. Nice work there by Branch.
Branch trying to control the position from guard on top but Hussain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branch working some strikes from top position.
Branch missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Branch wants to pass the guard but Hussain is keeping the position.
Branch passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Branch decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hussain to his feet.
Drew Branch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hussain slips a jab and a cross from Branch.
A nice combination there by Branch.
Hussain has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Branch finds it's way round the side to connect with Hussain's head.

Hussain drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hussain wants to control from the top but Branch keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Branch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hussain doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hussain manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Branch wants to sweep but no luck.
Branch has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hussain has passed into side control.
Branch sneaks back into half guard.
Drew Branch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Branch wants to get back to full guard.
Branch manages to get to full guard.
Branch working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Branch is trying to control the position but Hussain postures up.
Hussain won't allow Branch to sweep him here.
Branch has his hands on Hussain's head, controlling the position.

Hussain is sitting in close to Branch's body. Branch has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Hussain is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Hussain is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Branch.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Drew Branch!