PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Feisal Aabi Hassan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Hairsten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hairsten is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Nazareth - Hair of the Dog. Hairsten has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Aabi Hassan
vs
Hairsten

175 cm
25
174 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

183 cm
19
179 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Feisal Aabi Hassan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Billy Hairsten!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hairsten uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aabi Hassan.
Hairsten lands with a slapping head kick.
Aabi Hassan misses with a jab to the body
and Hairsten counters with a nice leg kick.
Hairsten misses with a body kick.
Aabi Hassan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hairsten.
Hairsten feints a counter leg kick.
Hairsten's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Aabi Hassan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hairsten scrambles back to his feet.
Aabi Hassan swings for the body but Hairsten moves out of range.
Hairsten looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aabi Hassan throws a body punch but Hairsten moves out of range.
Aabi Hassan takes a swing at Hairsten's ribcage but misses.
Hairsten slips a jab and a cross from Aabi Hassan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aabi Hassan lands a nice hook to Hairsten's body. Hairsten takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Aabi Hassan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hairsten moves away.
Billy Hairsten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hairsten thows a body kick. Aabi Hassan tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Aabi Hassan is looking to wear down Hairsten with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hairsten misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hairsten darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Aabi Hassan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Aabi Hassan misses with a body shot.

Aabi Hassan fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hairsten to the ground. Aabi Hassan is now in Hairsten's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aabi Hassan landing some decent shots from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aabi Hassan pushes down on Hairsten's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hairsten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Aabi Hassan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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. Aabi Hassan connects with a nice short shot to Hairsten's temple.
Hairsten is trying to stand up here but Aabi Hassan is controlling him well.
Aabi Hassan wants to take a breather but Hairsten is having none of it.
Aabi Hassan is taking a breather. Hairsten says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Aabi Hassan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hairsten doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aabi Hassan.
Aabi Hassan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aabi Hassan is nestled in close to Hairsten, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Aabi Hassan prevents Hairsten from improving his position.
Aabi Hassan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Hairsten's thigh. Hairsten counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Aabi Hassan with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aabi Hassan is in close to Hairsten's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Aabi Hassan trying to control but Hairsten is working from the bottom.
Aabi Hassan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aabi Hassan content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aabi Hassan misses with a wild body shot.
Aabi Hassan just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aabi Hassan jabs Hairsten to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Hairsten fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aabi Hassan, pushing him back against the cage.
Aabi Hassan avoids the elbow strike from Hairsten, against the cage.
Hairsten tries to work over Aabi Hassan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aabi Hassan working hard to break the clinch.

Aabi Hassan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aabi Hassan loads up on a big right hand but Hairsten slips the punch.
A head kick misses from Hairsten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aabi Hassan misses with a straight right.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hairsten. That's going to slow Aabi Hassan down.
Hairsten takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aabi Hassan avoids a kick to the body.
Aabi Hassan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hairsten.
Aabi Hassan connects with a body shot that sends Hairsten's belly button to the back.
Aabi Hassan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hairsten was well out of range. Poor timing from Aabi Hassan.
Hairsten replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Aabi Hassan blocks it well.
Aabi Hassan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hairsten was well out of range. Poor timing from Aabi Hassan.
Aabi Hassan misses with a double jab
and Hairsten counters with a nice body kick.
Hairsten slips a jab and a cross from Aabi Hassan.
Hairsten scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aabi Hassan throws a body punch but Hairsten moves out of range.
Aabi Hassan connects with a single shot there.
Feisal Aabi Hassan is winning the standup battle so far.
Hairsten misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aabi Hassan.
Hairsten will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hairsten throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Aabi Hassan scores with a takedown into Hairsten's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aabi Hassan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hairsten is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aabi Hassan is looking to work some ground and pound but Hairsten has wrist control.
Hairsten preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Aabi Hassan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aabi Hassan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Aabi Hassan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hairsten manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aabi Hassan has Hairsten in his guard.

Aabi Hassan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Aabi Hassan working for a triangle but Hairsten defends it easily.
Aabi Hassan trying to keep a closed guard but Hairsten is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Feisal Aabi Hassan will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Aabi Hassan just misses with a punch to the body.
Aabi Hassan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hairsten throws out a counter right but Aabi Hassan avoids it with no problem.
Aabi Hassan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hairsten slips a straight right by Aabi Hassan.
Hairsten feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aabi Hassan's calf.
A solid body kick from Hairsten.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aabi Hassan slips a straight right by Hairsten.
Aabi Hassan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Aabi Hassan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hairsten was well out of range. Poor timing from Aabi Hassan.
Aabi Hassan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aabi Hassan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aabi Hassan. Hairsten does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hairsten is trying to counter with his kicks.
Aabi Hassan fails to land with a series of punches.
Hairsten counters with a body kick.
Aabi Hassan throws a body shot but no joy.
Hairsten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aabi Hassan.
Hairsten shapes to counter with a head kick.
Aabi Hassan misses with a hook.
Aabi Hassan throws a looping overhand right but Hairsten ducks down to avoid it.
Aabi Hassan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aabi Hassan swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hairsten counters with a body kick.
Billy Hairsten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aabi Hassan looks for a takedown but Hairsten sprawls well.
Aabi Hassan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hairsten.
Aabi Hassan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A combination from Aabi Hassan does no damage.
Hairsten looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hairsten feints and then cracks Aabi Hassan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Aabi Hassan down.
Aabi Hassan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hairsten was well out of range. Poor timing from Aabi Hassan.
Aabi Hassan takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hairsten tries to clinch but Aabi Hassan moves out of range.
Aabi Hassan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hairsten delivers a nice body kick.
Hairsten avoids the body shot from Aabi Hassan.
Good shot there by Hairsten.
Aabi Hassan blocks the body kick.
Aabi Hassan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hairsten follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Aabi Hassan just misses with a punch to the body.
Hairsten throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hairsten uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aabi Hassan.
Hairsten displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aabi Hassan throws out the jab.
Hairsten throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Aabi Hassan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Aabi Hassan checks a leg kick.
Aabi Hassan appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Feisal Aabi Hassan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hairsten lands a front kick.
A good leg kick by Hairsten.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A punch combination from Aabi Hassan misses.
Aabi Hassan misses the body punch
and Hairsten counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Hairsten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Aabi Hassan 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 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Feisal Aabi Hassan!
Billy Hairsten was interviewed post fight and said 'maybe I suck.'.