PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fakhri El Hashem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). El Hashem kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kassaman. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

El Hashem
vs
Martinez

179 cm
34
154 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

178 cm
28
170 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
Grand Champion Apparel

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 16 - 13 - 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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jackson Martinez!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Hashem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
El Hashem throws a right and a left that both miss.
El Hashem misses with a few strikes there.
Martinez with the counter takedown but El Hashem avoids it easily.
El Hashem rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Martinez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
El Hashem tests Martinez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Martinez moves in looking to clinch but El Hashem pushes him off.
Martinez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and El Hashem has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Martinez throws a head kick that misses.
El Hashem was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Martinez avoids the body shot from El Hashem.
Martinez is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
El Hashem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martinez lands a head kick. El Hashem smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
El Hashem scores with a three punch combo!
El Hashem looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
El Hashem misses with a jab, cross combination.
El Hashem throws a nice looking combination but Martinez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
El Hashem avoids the body shot from Martinez.
El Hashem swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by El Hashem.
A punch combination from El Hashem misses.
Martinez misses with a kick to the body.
Martinez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
El Hashem misses with a straight left.
El Hashem throws a body punch but Martinez moves out of range.
El Hashem misses with a hook

and Martinez counters with a shoot takedown. El Hashem fights it but they end up in guard.
Martinez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
El Hashem keeping moving, preventing Martinez from controlling successfully.
Martinez wants to pass the guard but El Hashem is keeping the position.
El Hashem can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Martinez controls the pace.
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as El Hashem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martinez throwing strikes from guard but El Hashem blocks nicely.
Martinez looking to pass the guard.
Martinez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Martinez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as El Hashem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Martinez has gone for a leg lock! El Hashem slips out almost immediately though and dives into Martinez's guard.

Martinez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Martinez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. El Hashem defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Hashem has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Martinez is proving hard to escape from.
Martinez wants to sweep here but El Hashem controlling him for the moment.

Martinez has his foot on El Hashem's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. El Hashem works his way back into a safe position though.

Martinez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. El Hashem gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
El Hashem has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Martinez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but El Hashem can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

El Hashem avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.
Martinez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. El Hashem manages to get himself to full guard.

Martinez looking to sit in guard and control but El Hashem gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Martinez looking for subs off his back but El Hashem has passed one foot through into half guard.
Martinez regains full guard. Nicely done.

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

Martinez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fakhri El Hashem will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Martinez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martinez feints the counter takedown.

Martinez instigates a clinch.
El Hashem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Martinez's elbow.
El Hashem wants to get back to striking at distance but Martinez won't allow it.
Martinez lands a nice knee to the body.
Martinez keeps control of El Hashem as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Martinez trying to land knees to the body.
Martinez with a knee to the head.

It looks like Fakhri El Hashem has been cut.
Martinez working El Hashem over with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez throws an elbow but it's blocked.

El Hashem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Martinez throws a sloppy head kick and El Hashem moves out of range easily.
El Hashem throws a nice looking combination but Martinez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
El Hashem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martinez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez throws a leg kick but El Hashem sees it coming and moves out of range.
It looked like El Hashem wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

El Hashem gets tackled into the cage by Martinez. Martinez maintains the clinch.
Martinez misses with an elbow strike.
Martinez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martinez goes for a takedown in the clinch but El Hashem prevents it.
Martinez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
El Hashem has had enough of the clinch but Martinez keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Martinez.
Martinez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and El Hashem avoids it.
Martinez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
El Hashem managing to block the knees to the body from Martinez.
Martinez is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
El Hashem avoiding damage as Martinez throws knees to the body.
Martinez goes for a takedown attempt but El Hashem pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a nice outside leg kick.
A shot to the body from El Hashem misses

and Martinez counters with a nice double leg into side control. El Hashem won't be happy with that.

El Hashem sneaks out the side door and pushes Martinez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fakhri El Hashem is winning the standup battle so far.
El Hashem connects with the punch.
El Hashem misses with a looping right.
Fakhri El Hashem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Martinez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like El Hashem was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Martinez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
El Hashem digs a good hook to Martinez's body.
El Hashem ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martinez moves away.
El Hashem throws a shot from downtown. Martinez moves away and avoids it.
Martinez feints the counter takedown.
El Hashem throws a jab when Martinez was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from El Hashem. Martinez does a little dance to reset his feet.
A clash of legs there as El Hashem blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Hashem keeps the fight on the outside.
El Hashem looks to land a combination but Martinez avoids it well.
Martinez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
El Hashem throws a body punch but Martinez moves out of range.
Martinez tries to clinch up but El Hashem circles away and keeps his distance.

Martinez has El Hashem up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Martinez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
El Hashem on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
El Hashem is trying to push Martinez away but Martinez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

El Hashem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
El Hashem throws a body shot but no joy.
El Hashem rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Martinez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
El Hashem throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martinez gets a clinch.
Martinez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning El Hashem up against the cage.
Martinez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from El Hashem.

El Hashem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
El Hashem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
El Hashem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Martinez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Martinez connects with a leg kick. El Hashem looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Martinez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Martinez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Martinez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Martinez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jackson Martinez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Fakhri El Hashem's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Martinez.
An inside leg kick lands from Martinez.

Martinez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Martinez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
El Hashem wants to break free but Martinez has control.
El Hashem taking a breather.

El Hashem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Martinez fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martinez avoids a punch combination nicely.
El Hashem fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
El Hashem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Hashem works the jab nicely.
Martinez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? El Hashem is fending him off so far but Martinez persists. Nope, El Hashem circles away and we're back to standing.
El Hashem throws a big counter combination but Martinez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Martinez wants to clinch.
El Hashem takes a swing at Martinez's ribcage but misses.
El Hashem takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Martinez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Martinez postures up in El Hashem's guard and throws a big left but El Hashem blocks it.
El Hashem is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Martinez is controlling him.
Martinez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martinez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jackson Martinez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. El Hashem is keeping the position for now.
Martinez trying to control but El Hashem is working from the bottom.
El Hashem is looking to stand up but Martinez isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Martinez clinches with his opponent.
Martinez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Martinez.
El Hashem working hard to break the clinch.
Martinez misses with an elbow strike.
El Hashem prevents the takedown attempt.
Fakhri El Hashem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackson Martinez.
Martinez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
El Hashem wants to break free but Martinez has control.
El Hashem is looking to break free of the clinch but Martinez has double underhooks.

El Hashem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
El Hashem checks a leg kick.
El Hashem lands with a right hand.
El Hashem throws a right and a left that Martinez avoids nicely.
Martinez ducks under a wild hook from El Hashem.
Martinez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but El Hashem defends it well.
El Hashem throws a jab when Martinez was well out of range.
El Hashem is looking to wear down Martinez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Martinez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and El Hashem connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Martinez scrambles back to his feet.
El Hashem throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Martinez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Martinez.
El Hashem is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Martinez dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martinez throws a strike aimed at the side of El Hashem's head but El Hashem avoids it well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
El Hashem is trying to buck Martinez off.
Martinez trying to control the action but El Hashem is working from the bottom.
Martinez throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and El Hashem works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
El Hashem blocking the ground and pound attempt from Martinez.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jackson Martinez.
I think Martinez 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fakhri El Hashem!
A victorious Fakhri El Hashem thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.