PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fakhri El Hashem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Mera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). El Hashem comes to the cage accompanied by Kassaman. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

El Hashem
vs
Mera

179 cm
31
154 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

168 cm
30
150 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fakhri El Hashem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Mera!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mera shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mera tries to pass the half guard into mount. El Hashem knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
El Hashem tries to kick Mera off but Mera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mera trying to pass the guard but El Hashem defending well.
Mera wants to control but El Hashem is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mera uses his free foot to push down on El Hashem's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for El Hashem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mera throwing strikes here but El Hashem is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Mera goes for an armbar but he's not got it… El Hashem turns into him and now he's in Mera's guard.
Mera 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.
El Hashem has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
El Hashem is looking to stand up but Mera won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mera wants to sweep but no luck.
Mera keeps trying to improve his position.
El Hashem wants to get up but he can't break Mera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Mera looking for subs off his back but El Hashem has passed one foot through into half guard.

El Hashem decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from El Hashem.
A right-left combo lands from El Hashem.
Mera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by El Hashem.
El Hashem takes a swing at Mera's ribcage but misses.
El Hashem swings and misses with a hook to the body.
El Hashem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
El Hashem keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
El Hashem throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
El Hashem uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mera.
El Hashem throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mera stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
El Hashem looks to land a combination. Mera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
El Hashem lands a glancing blow to the side of Mera's head.
El Hashem cracks Mera with an open hand slap.
El Hashem misses with a series of wild punches.
El Hashem throws a body punch but Mera moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mera scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mera controlling the action here.
El Hashem wants to get back to his feet.
Mera wants to pass to mount but El Hashem is defending the position.
Mera passes the guard and advances to mount!
Mera throws some wild stikes that El Hashem manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fakhri El Hashem dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

El Hashem just misses with a punch to the body.
Fakhri El Hashem is winning the standup battle so far.
El Hashem scores with a body shot.
El Hashem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mera avoids the body shot from El Hashem.
El Hashem throws a right and a left that Mera avoids nicely.
El Hashem misses with the combination.

Mera feints and as El Hashem raises his hands in defense, Mera changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jose Mera has got the better of the ground game so far.
El Hashem working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mera.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
El Hashem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
El Hashem keeping moving, preventing Mera from controlling successfully.
El Hashem is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mera can do to turn this around?
Mera looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera trying to control the position from guard on top but El Hashem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mera drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and El Hashem dives on top into guard.

Mera is working an open guard so El Hashem takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
El Hashem is looking to wear down Mera with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
El Hashem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
El Hashem lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mera shoots in for a takedown but El Hashem shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mera's hands are dropping dangerously low here and El Hashem connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mera scrambles back to his feet.
El Hashem scores with a nice right hand.
El Hashem throws a right and a left that Mera avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Hashem keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mera.
Fakhri El Hashem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from El Hashem. Mera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
El Hashem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
El Hashem dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
El Hashem fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
El Hashem misses with a two punch combination.
El Hashem ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mera moves away.
El Hashem is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mera shoots in but El Hashem avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fakhri El Hashem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Mera.
Jab, jab by El Hashem - just one landing.
Mera tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but El Hashem defends well and Mera ends up having to push El Hashem into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mera working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
El Hashem is trying to force a seperation but Mera has the dominant position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mera takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Hashem gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mera.

El Hashem escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mera ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mera slips under a jab from El Hashem.
El Hashem fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mera manages to avoid it.
El Hashem lands a two punch combo.
El Hashem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Mera closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. El Hashem quickly recovers to half guard.
Mera working the head and body with strikes.
Mera not doing much here.

Mera is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mera wants to pass the guard but El Hashem is defending well.
Mera trying to advance position but El Hashem counters by regaining guard.

Mera drops back, looking for a kneebar! El Hashem looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. El Hashem looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from El Hashem!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fakhri El Hashem dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by El Hashem.
El Hashem scores with a nice strike.
Mera fails to land the takedown.
El Hashem seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
El Hashem lands with an uppercut that bounces Mera off the cage and back into range.
Mera tries to clinch but fails miserably
and El Hashem cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Danga de danga de dang - El Hashem scores with a four punch combination!
El Hashem jabs Mera right on the nose. Mera blinks but takes it well.

Mera is rocked!
El Hashem misses with a series of wild punches.
Mera is still on wobbly legs! Can El Hashem finish him?
El Hashem lands an overhand right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
El Hashem drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Mera right on the button. Mera goes down! El Hashem follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! El Hashem gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fakhri El Hashem!
During a confident post fight interview, Fakhri El Hashem thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.