PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Hairi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Zack Hairi was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Dean
vs
Hairi

223 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ahmad Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zack Hairi!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hairi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hairi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Dean is rocked!

Hairi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hairi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dean gets full guard.
Dean really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hairi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dean works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dean is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hairi trying to control but Dean is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hairi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dean is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hairi, into his guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hairi is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean keeping full guard, as Hairi tries to pass.
Hairi throwing strikes but missing.
Dean looking for a sweep. Not yet Dean, not yet.
Dean is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hairi wants to control from the top but Dean keeps moving.
Hairi lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dean tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hairi passes into half guard.
Hairi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dean's head.
Dean avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hairi.
Hairi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dean wants to control but Hairi is keeping busy.
Hairi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Hairi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dean defends it well.
Hairi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hairi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hairi 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.

Hairi seems to be working for a kimura but Dean defends the submission attempt.

Hairi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dean defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hairi seems to be looking for submissions.
Dean has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hairi is working away from the top position though.
Hairi wants to take a breather but Dean is having none of it.
Dean is controlling Hairi's position as best he can from this difficult position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hairi with a poor takedown
and Dean counters with a one-two to the body.
Hairi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dean counters with a left and a right that stings Hairi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Hairi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dean scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hairi missing with punches from the bottom.
Hairi tries to roll over but Dean keeps him under control.
Dean seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dean is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dean will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dean throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dean is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dean working Hairi over with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hairi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dean thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hairi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dean.

Dean is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hairi is just riding it out for now. Dean eventually gives up the hold.
Hairi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dean wanted to stand there but Hairi had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hairi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Hairi uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zack Hairi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hairi misses with a takedown
and Dean counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hairi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Dean gets a takedown into half guard.
Dean working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean is thwarting Hairi's attempts to control the position.
Dean prevents Hairi from standing back up.
Dean is pressing down on Hairi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hairi is holding on for now.
Hairi is trying to stand back up but Dean is controlling him
Dean working over Hairi with some ground and pound. Hairi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Hairi actively working from the bottom here.
Hairi is breathing heavily.
Hairi gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dean stands up over Hairi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Hairi has his foot on Dean's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dean works his way back into a safe position though.
Dean won't allow Hairi to get back to his feet.
Zack Hairi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dean throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hairi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Dean got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hairi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dean has managed to get both his arms back between Hairi's legs - danger averted.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dean throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hairi was covering up waiting for the punch and Dean finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dean landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Dean dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Dean fails with a takedown attempt.

Dean throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hairi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dean is in Hairi's guard.
Hairi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hairi is looking for a triangle here but Dean uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Dean working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hairi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Dean's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean stops Hairi from getting back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dean connects with a nice short shot to Hairi's temple.
Hairi is trying to stand up here but Dean is controlling him well.
Dean is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Hairi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hairi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dean is working away from the top position though.
Hairi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hairi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dean.

Hairi manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Dean closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hairi's guard.
Dean scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hairi has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dean has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Hairi gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Dean is trying to control the position but Hairi postures up.
Hairi throwing strikes but missing.
Hairi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hairi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Dean is looking for a triangle but Hairi pushes his legs off easily.
Dean keeping moving, preventing Hairi from controlling successfully.
Hairi is pushing down on Dean's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dean is fighting to maintain full guard but Hairi has managed to sneak the leg through.

Hairi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hairi is looking to pass Dean's guard but actually Dean recovers to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Dean is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hairi forces his way into half guard.

Hairi seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hairi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hairi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dean's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Hairi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hairi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Hairi!