PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sameer Hamadoui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Neeson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hamadoui kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lights Out. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hamadoui
vs
Neeson

180 cm
32
143 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

175 cm
27
146 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sameer Hamadoui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liam Neeson!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hamadoui drives through and clinches with Neeson against the cage.
Neeson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hamadoui gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Neeson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hamadoui is defending well.

Hamadoui breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Neeson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hamadoui but Hamadoui pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sameer Hamadoui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Neeson.
Hamadoui stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hamadoui wants it to stay on the feet.
Neeson misses with a leg kick.
Neeson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hamadoui throws a sloppy head kick and Neeson moves out of range easily.
Neeson closes the distance and clinches up with Hamadoui, looking for a takedown. Neeson pushes Hamadoui against the cage but Hamadoui circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Hamadoui. Those never looked like landing.
Neeson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hamadoui is fending him off so far but Neeson persists. Nope, Hamadoui circles away and we're back to standing.

Neeson tries to keep at a distance but Hamadoui has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hamadoui breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hamadoui throws a shot to the body.
Neeson has his takedown stuffed
and Hamadoui counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamadoui scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Neeson shoots in but no luck this time.
Neeson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hamadoui digs a good hook to Neeson's body.
Neeson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sameer Hamadoui is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hamadoui moves in looking to clinch but Neeson pushes him off.
Sameer Hamadoui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hamadoui throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Neeson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hamadoui swinging wildly here.
Neeson fails with a takedown attempt.
Hamadoui moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hamadoui stuns Neeson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Hamadoui closes the distance and clinches.

Hamadoui's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hamadoui throws a leg kick which misses Neeson's front leg but catches the back leg as Neeson tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamadoui scores with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hamadoui throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hamadoui really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hamadoui throws a right hand that Neeson ducks under and follows up with a left that Neeson also avoids with ease.
Hamadoui misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Neeson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hamadoui fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Neeson misses with a takedown
and Hamadoui counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A combination from Hamadoui does no damage.
Hamadoui is looking to wear down Neeson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hamadoui fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hamadoui thows a body shot but no joy.
Neeson fails with a takedown attempt.
Neeson takes one to the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hamadoui. Neeson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Neeson walks into a straight right hand from Hamadoui.
Neeson is trying desperately to land a takedown but Hamadoui is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Neeson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamadoui throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Neeson's head.

Hamadoui pushes Neeson up against the cage in a clinch.

Hamadoui breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Neeson misses with a takedown
and Hamadoui counters with a head kick. That will keep Neeson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hamadoui throws a good cross that connects.
Neeson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hamadoui circles away.
Hamadoui fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Neeson tries for a takedown but Hamadoui sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Neeson misses with a takedown attempt
and Hamadoui counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hamadoui misses with a body shot.
Hamadoui lands with an overhand left.
Neeson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hamadoui doesn't manage to clinch there - Neeson circles away.
Hamadoui misses with a few strikes there.
Hamadoui connects with a good right hand that stumbles Neeson. Neeson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamadoui throws a series of punches but Neeson avoids them all with ease.
Neeson shoots for a double leg takedown but Hamadoui sprawls well. He's pushed Neeson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Neeson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hamadoui.
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!
Hamadoui with a nice cross.
Neeson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hamadoui sprawls well. Hamadoui wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Neeson gets slowly back to his feet.
Neeson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Hamadoui moves into the clinch successfully.

Hamadoui escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Neeson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Neeson tries to keep at a distance but Hamadoui has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hamadoui breaks the clinch.

Hamadoui forces Neeson back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sameer Hamadoui dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A nice inside leg kick there by Hamadoui. That's going to slow Neeson down.
Sameer Hamadoui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hamadoui misses with a double jab.
Hamadoui throws a right and a left that both miss.
Neeson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hamadoui fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Hamadoui, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Neeson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Neeson thows a huge punch but Hamadoui dodges it nicely.
Hamadoui is trying to stand.

Hamadoui kicks off Neeson and gets to his feet.
Hamadoui displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Neeson.
Neeson shoots in but Hamadoui avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sameer Hamadoui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Neeson.
Hamadoui connects with a body shot that sends Neeson's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamadoui moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hamadoui tries to clinch but Neeson is having none of it.
Neeson looks for a takedown but Hamadoui sprawls well.
Neeson blocks a head kick by Hamadoui.
Hamadoui scores with a head kick. Neeson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hamadoui misses with a double jab.
Hamadoui looks to land a combination. Neeson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neeson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hamadoui's half guard.
Neeson is keen to just control but Hamadoui is a slippery customer.
Neeson stops Hamadoui from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neeson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hamadoui is refusing to be controlled, as Neeson sits in half guard.
Neeson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hamadoui defending well though.
Hamadoui wants to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Neeson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neeson is working for a kimura but Hamadoui is defending it quite comfortably.
Neeson prevents Hamadoui from standing back up.
Neeson is looking to take a break and control but Hamadoui is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Neeson controlling the pace.
Neeson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hamadoui keeps working.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hamadoui tries to kick Neeson off but Neeson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neeson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Liam Neeson.
Hamadoui throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Neeson with that takedown attempt.
Neeson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hamadoui pinned against the cage. Hamadoui gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Neeson keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Neeson.

Hamadoui clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Liam Neeson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Hamadoui looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hamadoui doesn't manage to clinch there - Neeson circles away.
Hamadoui plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A shot to the liver by Hamadoui. Beautiful body shot.
Hamadoui tries to close the distance and clinch but Neeson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hamadoui stalks Neeson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Neeson's face. Neeson staggers backwards, shaken.
Nice sprawl there from Hamadoui as Neeson shoots in.
Hamadoui lands a lovely overhand right.
Hamadoui throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Neeson swings for the body but Hamadoui moves out of range.
Neeson misses with a takedown attempt - Hamadoui sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hamadoui connects with a good right hand that stumbles Neeson. Neeson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Neeson.
Sameer Hamadoui has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Neeson.
Hamadoui swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neeson shoots in for a takedown but Hamadoui shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Neeson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Hamadoui counter with a right hand.
Neeson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Neeson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Neeson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Neeson fails with the takedown.
Neeson takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Hamadoui takes the fight into the clinch.

Hamadoui tightens his grip and picks Neeson up, before dumping him to the ground. Neeson manages to land in guard.
Hamadoui trying to control the position from guard on top but Neeson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Neeson trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hamadoui stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hamadoui misses with a body shot.
Neeson with a poor takedown

and Hamadoui counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hamadoui.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neeson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hamadoui just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hamadoui scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Hamadoui breaks the clinch.
Neeson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hamadoui.
Hamadoui throws a nice looking combination but Neeson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hamadoui tries to bum rush Neeson with a series of wild strikes but Neeson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hamadoui looks to score with a jab to the body but Neeson is just out of range.
Hamadoui misses with the combination.
Neeson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hamadoui sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neeson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Neeson is defended easily by Hamadoui.
No joy there for Hamadoui, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Neeson misses with a takedown attempt - Hamadoui sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Some wild striking there from Hamadoui.
Sameer Hamadoui is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Neeson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Neeson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hamadoui sprawls well. Hamadoui wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Neeson gets slowly back to his feet.
Hamadoui works Neeson's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamadoui scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Neeson doesn't seem bothered though.
Neeson shoots in and drives through. Hamadoui sprawls well.
Hamadoui scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hamadoui tries to clinch but Neeson moves out of range.
Neeson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hamadoui as he jumps to the side.
Neeson shoots in and drives through. Hamadoui sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Hamadoui.

Neeson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hamadoui is trying to buck Neeson off.
Liam Neeson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sameer Hamadoui showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hamadoui has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Sameer Hamadoui!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Sameer Hamadoui!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Sameer Hamadoui!

Sameer Hamadoui wins by unanimous decision!