PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richie Hodges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahamud Najib Osman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hodges
vs
Najib Osman

213 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Richie Hodges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mahamud Najib Osman!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Najib Osman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Najib Osman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hodges.
Najib Osman is looking to land body kicks.
Najib Osman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hodges swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Najib Osman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hodges paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Najib Osman feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hodges's calf.
Hodges shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Najib Osman pinned against the cage. Najib Osman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Najib Osman tries to clinch up.

Hodges scores with a takedown into Najib Osman's guard.
Najib Osman wants to sweep here but Hodges controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hodges controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Najib Osman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hodges defends it easily.
Hodges seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Najib Osman is trying to hold Hodges in close to prevent damage but Hodges has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Najib Osman wants to improve his position but Hodges is controlling well.
Hodges looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hodges really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hodges seems to be looking for submissions.
Najib Osman wants to improve his position but Hodges is controlling well.
Hodges keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Najib Osman is trying to control but can't.
Hodges will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hodges controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Richie Hodges wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hodges fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Najib Osman sprawls well initially but Hodges persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hodges moves into full mount! Najib Osman won't be happy about that!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hodges controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Najib Osman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Najib Osman shoots in but Hodges avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hodges shoots in for a double leg but Najib Osman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Najib Osman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hodges manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Najib Osman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Najib Osman wants it to stay on the feet.

Hodges manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Najib Osman on his heels. He'll look to pass Najib Osman's guard now, I'm sure.
Najib Osman wants to stand up but Hodges is controlling him.
Najib Osman is trying to keep Hodges in close.
Hodges slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Najib Osman wants to control the position but Hodges says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hodges perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hodges is thwarting Najib Osman's attempts to control the position.
Hodges is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Najib Osman manages to get to full guard.
Hodges working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Najib Osman's head.
Hodges is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hodges trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hodges is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hodges passes Najib Osman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Najib Osman wants to get back to full guard.
Richie Hodges overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hodges is thwarting Najib Osman's attempts to control the position.
Najib Osman is breathing heavily.
Hodges is pressing down on Najib Osman's thigh, looking to free his foot. Najib Osman is holding on for now.
Hodges controlling the action here.
Hodges is trying to control the action in half guard but Najib Osman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hodges passes the guard and advances to mount!
Najib Osman tries to buck Hodges off but he can't manage it.
The referee warns Najib Osman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Najib Osman squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Najib Osman tries to hold on but Hodges pushes him away.
Hodges breaks from Najib Osman's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hodges content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hodges is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Najib Osman is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Najib Osman flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Hodges anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Najib Osman and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Hodges slips an arm under Najib Osman chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Hodges has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Hodges is squeezing on Najib Osman like an anaconda would it's prey. Najib Osman fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Richie Hodges!