PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandar Mihaylov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saladin Hussain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mihaylov comes to the cage accompanied by Watch Out For This (Bumaye). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mihaylov
vs
Hussain

180 cm
26
198 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

168 cm
27
194 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Alcatraz Apparel

Atlantis

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aleksandar Mihaylov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Saladin Hussain !
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mihaylov catches Hussain with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mihaylov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mihaylov looks to clinch

and Hussain counters with a shoot takedown. Mihaylov fights it but they end up in guard.
Hussain postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hussain loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hussain content to stall in guard here.
Mihaylov keeping moving, preventing Hussain from controlling successfully.
Mihaylov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mihaylov tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain looking to pass the guard.
Mihaylov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hussain on the ground.
Mihaylov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mihaylov throws out a powerful jab.
Hussain takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mihaylov.
Hussain doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Mihaylov misses the target.
A little jabbing left from Hussain on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mihaylov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hussain was well out of range. Poor timing from Mihaylov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihaylov lands a nice shot to the body.
Mihaylov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Aleksandar Mihaylov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hussain tries to move into range but Mihaylov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mihaylov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mihaylov wants to clinch

and Hussain counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hussain trying to control but Mihaylov is working from the bottom.
Hussain stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mihaylov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hussain trying to control the position from guard on top but Mihaylov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hussain stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mihaylov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hussain slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hussain has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Mihaylov!
Hussain looking to control but Mihaylov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hussain content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain looking to ground and pound but Mihaylov is blocking nicely.
Hussain unloads with some shots from mount but Mihaylov bucks and avoids them well.
Mihaylov blocking the ground and pound.
Mihaylov really wants to buck Hussain off and get back to his feet.

Mihaylov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hussain .
Hussain thowing shots but they're missing.
Mihaylov wants to hold on but Hussain pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saladin Hussain will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hussain gets a takedown into half guard.
Mihaylov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hussain looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hussain is keen to just control but Mihaylov is a slippery customer.
Mihaylov is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain content to control rather than advance.
Hussain not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hussain looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hussain slips a straight right by Mihaylov.
Hussain has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Mihaylov darts in and clinches Hussain up against the cage.

Mihaylov breaks from the clinch.
Mihaylov with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihaylov misses with a straight left.
Hussain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aleksandar Mihaylov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hussain shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Mihaylov counter with a right hand.
Mihaylov scores with a nice head shot.
Mihaylov tries to clinch there but Hussain circles away.
And Hussain tries to counter it with a takedown but Mihaylov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mihaylov throws the left hand but Hussain avoids the punch easily.
Hussain feints the counter takedown.
The fighters circling - Mihaylov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mihaylov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hussain momentarily.
Mihaylov with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hussain with a poor takedown
and Mihaylov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mihaylov lands a big uppercut and Hussain crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Hussain looks OK. Mihaylov waves Hussain back to his feet!

Hussain is rocked!
Mihaylov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hussain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hussain feints the counter takedown.
Hussain is still on wobbly legs! Can Mihaylov finish him?
A big right from Mihaylov misses.
Hussain seems to have recovered his senses.
Mihaylov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hussain looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hussain drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hussain steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mihaylov.
Mihaylov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hussain has time to react.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mihaylov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hussain sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hussain is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mihaylov scores with a shot to the body.
Hussain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mihaylov.
Hussain swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hussain defending well as Mihaylov loads up on a big left hand.
Hussain is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mihaylov throws a hook but Hussain avoids it easily.
Hussain displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mihaylov throws out the jab.
Hussain changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mihaylov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mihaylov misses with a looping left.
A left lands for Mihaylov.
Mihaylov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hussain moves away.
Mihaylov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hussain was well out of range. Poor timing from Mihaylov.

Mihaylov takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandar Mihaylov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mihaylov looks to throw the jab but Hussain is out of range.
Hussain swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hussain blocks a jab.
Hussain is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mihaylov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hussain under the eye.
Mihaylov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hussain has time to react.
Nice defenses there by Hussain .
Hussain swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Mihaylov moves into the clinch.
Mihaylov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hussain is looking to control Mihaylov's arms but Mihaylov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hussain has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hussain can't get the takedown.
Mihaylov misses with a body punch.
Mihaylov lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihaylov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mihaylov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hussain can do to turn this around?
Mihaylov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mihaylov tries to throw a body punch but Hussain avoids it by throwing Mihaylov back against the cage.
Mihaylov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hussain has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mihaylov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Aleksandar Mihaylov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saladin Hussain .
Mihaylov misses with some punches.
Hussain blocks a body shot from Mihaylov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mihaylov.
Mihaylov lands a body punch.
Mihaylov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mihaylov scores with a shoulder strike.
Mihaylov has Hussain pressed against the cage, preventing Hussain from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihaylov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mihaylov.
Mihaylov misses with a punch to the body.
Mihaylov misses with a body punch.
Mihaylov pushes Hussain back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hussain is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Hussain is working for takedown but Mihaylov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mihaylov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hussain is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hussain is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mihaylov is defending well.

Mihaylov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hussain shoots in and drives through. Mihaylov sprawls well.
It looked like Mihaylov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mihaylov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Aleksandar Mihaylov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hussain takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mihaylov sprawls well. Mihaylov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hussain gets slowly back to his feet.
Mihaylov tries to clinch up but Hussain circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice straight punches there by Mihaylov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mihaylov.
Mihaylov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mihaylov connects with the punch.
Mihaylov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Mihaylov clinches up against the cage.
Mihaylov scores with a shot to the side of Hussain 's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihaylov stops a takedown attempt from Hussain .
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mihaylov.
Hussain goes for a takedown attempt but Mihaylov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mihaylov is looking to clinch.
And Hussain tries to counter it with a takedown but Mihaylov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mihaylov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hussain fails with the takedown
and Mihaylov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mihaylov lands an overhand right.
Mihaylov scores with the left hand. Hussain knows he should have avoided that one.
Saladin Hussain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mihaylov moves into range and connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandar Mihaylov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mihaylov 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Aleksandar Mihaylov!
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Aleksandar Mihaylov!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Aleksandar Mihaylov!

Aleksandar Mihaylov wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Aleksandar Mihaylov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.