PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Hempele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azar Qasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qasi has chosen For Whom The Bell Tolls as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hempele
vs
Qasi

170 cm
22
160 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
166 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London
Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jussi Hempele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azar Qasi!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Dean Styles and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qasi throws a combination. Hempele tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Qasi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hempele tries to avoid it but Qasi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hempele to the ground. Hempele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hempele half committed to a counter leg kick.
Qasi has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hempele is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Qasi lands with a straight right. Hempele didn't see that one coming.
Hempele throws a leg kick that is checked
and Qasi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Qasi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Qasi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hempele as he jumps to the side.
A counter left hand to the body from Hempele misses its target.
Hempele defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Qasi.
We've been told by Hempele's head coaches at Altaca gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azar Qasi.
Horrible takedown attempt by Qasi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hempele, which made it look bad.
Hempele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Qasi.
Qasi misses with a left hand
and Hempele counters with a nice kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice sprawl there from Hempele as Qasi shoots in.
Hempele tried to counter with a leg kick but Qasi avoided it.
Sloppy strikes from Qasi. Those never looked like landing.
Hempele feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Qasis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Qasi closes the distance and clinches up with Hempele, looking for a takedown. Qasi pushes Hempele against the cage but Hempele circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hempele quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
An inside leg kick lands from Hempele.
Hempele keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hempele tried to counter with a leg kick but Qasi avoided it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hempele slips a straight right by Qasi.
Jab from Hempele.
Qasi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Qasi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hempele appears to be looking for a big counter.
Qasi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Qasi throws a jab but it's blocked by Hempele.
Qasi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hempele but Hempele pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hempele throws a nice head kick!
Hempele lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Qasi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hempele circles away.
Qasi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hempele swivels and escapes.
Hempele throws a big counter combination but Qasi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Qasi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qasi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hempele moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Qasi fails with a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hempele misses with a body kick.
Hempele stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hempele wants it to stay on the feet.
Hempele misses with a looping right.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Qasi.
Nice takedown defense from Hempele. No joy for Qasi on that attempt.
Hempele is looking to counter punch.
Hempele scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Qasi misses with a takedown
and Hempele counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hempele misses with a straight left.
Hempele on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jussi Hempele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hempele ducks under a wild hook from Qasi.
Hempele lands with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Hempele.
Qasi goes for a double leg but Hempele avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hempele continues to drive forward.
Hempele tries to land a front kick but Qasi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hempele takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good leg kick by Hempele there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hempele throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Qasi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hempele misses with a straight left.
Qasi fails with a takedown attempt.
Hempele with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hempele connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Hempele. No joy for Qasi on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qasi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hempele. Hempele obviously looking to wear him down.
Azar Qasi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Qasi has a takedown stuffed.
Hempele is looking to counter punch.
Hempele looks to land a body kick but Qasi moved away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Qasi!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Qasi fails with a takedown attempt.
Qasi scores with a decent looking hook.
Qasi misses with a takedown attempt
and Hempele counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Qasi is defended easily by Hempele.
Hempele appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hempele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hempele tries to score with a low kick but Qasi moves his leg out of the way.
Qasi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hempele as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Qasi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hempele circles away.
Hempele misses the shot to the body.
Qasi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hempele counters with a low kick, right behind Qasi 's knee.
Jussi Hempele is winning the standup battle so far.
Hempele moves out of range as Qasi strikes.
Qasi shoots in but no luck this time.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azar Qasi.
Hempele thuds his shin into the meat of Qasi's side.
Qasi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Qasi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hempele as he avoids it easily.
A good leg kick by Hempele.
Qasi tries for a takedown but Hempele sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Qasi shoots in looking for a takedown. Hempele tries to sprawl out of it but Qasi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hempele manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Azar Qasi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qasi throws a jab but it's blocked by Hempele.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hempele - that will leave a mark!
Donk. Qasi catches Hempele right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qasi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hempele sprawls well. Hempele wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Qasi gets slowly back to his feet.
Qasi is breathing heavily.
Hempele lands a nice looking body shot.
Hempele thuds his shin into the meat of Qasi's side.
Qasi takes one to the chin there.
Qasi shoots for a takedown but Hempele saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Qasi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hempele, which made it look bad.
Hempele lands a leg kick that knocks Qasi off balance momentarily.
Qasi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Qasi looks for a takedown but Hempele sprawls well.
Hempele stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hempele wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hempele moves out of range of the strikes.
Hempele lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hempele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Qasi can do to turn this around?
Hempele is looking to slow Qasi down with leg kicks.
Qasi throws a right and a left that Hempele avoids nicely.
Hempele bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Qasi's head backwards.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Qasi might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Hempele has got the better of the exchanges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Qasi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Qasi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from Hempele. No joy for Qasi on that attempt.
Hempele stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hempele throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick from Hempele lands but Qasi takes it in his stride.
Hempele throws a hook but Qasi avoids it easily.
Hempele goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Qasi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hempele's guard.
Hempele has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Qasi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Qasi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hempele is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Qasi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hempele is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Qasi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Qasi avoids the body shot from Hempele.
Qasi blocks a head kick by Hempele.
Qasi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Qasi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Qasi dives in for a single leg takedown but Hempele sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Qasi shoots in but no luck this time.
Hempele stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hempele wants it to stay on the feet.
Hempele keeps Qasi at a distance using the push kick.
Hempele throws a big shot that misses.
Qasi misses with a double jab.
Hempele throws a big counter combination but Qasi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Hempele dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Qasi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hempele, which made it look bad.
Qasi shoots in for a double leg but Hempele sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hempele looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
A good leg kick by Hempele.
Hempele tries to work over Qasi's front leg with a kick but Qasi checks it.
Hempele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hempele lunges at Qasi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Qasi's hand.
Hempele is looking to score with low kicks.
A nice side step and Qasi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Qasi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hempele tries to avoid it but Qasi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hempele to the ground. Hempele escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And Hempele counters with a quick kick to the body but Qasi blocks it.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azar Qasi.
Qasi shoots in but no luck this time.
Hempele tried to counter with a leg kick but Qasi avoided it.
Qasi blocks the body kick.
Qasi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hempele leaves Qasi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hempele throws a body punch but Qasi moves out of range.
Qasi shoots in but no luck this time.
Hempele throws a quick counter kick to the body but Qasi avoids it.
Qasi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hempele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hempele jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qasi closes the distance and clinches up with Hempele, looking for a takedown. Qasi pushes Hempele against the cage but Hempele circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hempele loads up on a big right hand but Qasi slips the punch.
Hempele lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Hempele.
Qasi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hempele sprawls well. Hempele wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Qasi gets slowly back to his feet.
Hempele throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hempele looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Qasi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hempele.
Qasi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Qasi throws a lazy uppercut
and Hempele cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Qasi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hempele on the side of the head.
Azar Qasi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jussi Hempele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qasi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hempele connects with a single shot there.
Hempele scores with a jab to the head.
Qasi fails with a takedown attempt.
Qasi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hempele throws a nice outside leg kick.

Qasi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hempele to the ground. Qasi is now in Hempele's guard.
Qasi being controlled here momentarily.
Hempele's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qasi stops Hempele from standing up.
Qasi throwing strikes from guard but Hempele blocks nicely.
Hempele seems keen to control Qasi's posture.
Hempele trying to keep a closed guard but Qasi is proving a slippery customer.
Qasi is fighting to break Hempele's control of his arms but Hempele is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Qasi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hempele has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Hempele fakes the leg kick and cracks Qasi in the body.
Qasi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Qasi throws a jab when Hempele was well out of range.
Qasi has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hempele.
Hempele thuds a left hand into Qasi's body.
Hempele dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Qasi. That did some damage!
Qasi misses with a lunging right hand
and Hempele counters with a low kick, right behind Qasi 's knee.
Qasi misses with a takedown
and Hempele counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hempele works the jab nicely.
Qasi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hempele turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jussi Hempele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hempele, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jussi Hempele!
A relieved looking Jussi Hempele thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.