PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabouzi Massu (ranked 2980 p4p, 377 weight class) and Nails Hammer (ranked 2576 p4p, 337 weight class). Hammer is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by I'm Gonna Beat You Up!. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Massu
vs
Hammer

196 cm
27
200 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

193 cm
31
216 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabouzi Massu !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nails Hammer!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Massu throws a leg kick but Hammer checks it.
Hammer feints the counter takedown.
Massu throws a looping overhand right but Hammer ducks down to avoid it.
Massu thuds his right hand into Hammer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Massu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hammer moves away.
Massu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Massu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Massu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Massu jabs at Hammer's body.
Massu 's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hammer under the eye.
Massu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massu lands a body shot.
Massu misses with a body shot.
Hammer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Massu .
Jab from Massu .
Massu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hammer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Massu throws a good cross that connects.
Massu looks to land a left hand but Hammer moved out of range nicely.
Massu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Massu swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massu throws a looping overhand right but Hammer ducks down to avoid it.
Hammer feints the counter takedown.
Massu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Massu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hammer on the side of the head.
Massu wants to clinch up but Hammer keeps it at a distance.
Hammer defending well as Massu loads up on a big left hand.
Hammer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Massu motions for Hammer to come forward. Massu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hammer feints the counter takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Massu misses with a looping right.
Massu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Massu takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massu misses with a punch on the inside.
Hammer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Massu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Massu struggles to land a body shot inside as Hammer controls his hands.
Massu lands with a short shot to the head.
Massu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Massu misses with a body punch.
Massu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hammer tries for a takedown but Massu manages to get underhooks.
Massu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hammer backwards.
Massu throws a head punch that misses.
Massu 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Massu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Massu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Massu has Hammer pressed against the cage.
Hammer blocks a body shot from Massu .
Massu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Massu cracks Hammer with a nice body shot.
Hammer blocks a body shot from Massu .
Massu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Massu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hammer has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Massu after a bit of a struggle.
Fabouzi Massu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nails Hammer.
Massu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hammer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Massu smiles and moves away.
Fabouzi Massu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hammer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Massu .
Hammer feints the counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabouzi Massu dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Massu misses with a wild body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Massu .
Massu lands a lovely overhand right.
Massu throws a shot from downtown. Hammer moves away and avoids it.
Hammer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Massu is looking to clinch but Hammer is avoiding it.
Hammer throws a counter combo.
Massu throws a leg kick but Hammer checks it.
And Hammer tries to counter it with a takedown but Massu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer checks a leg kick.
Fabouzi Massu is winning the standup battle so far.
Hammer avoids the body shot from Massu .
Hammer throws a counter combo.
Massu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As Massu backs off Hammer throws a huge counter combo but Massu manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massu misses with a wild body shot.
Hammer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hammer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Massu looks to clinch

and Hammer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Massu won't be happy with that.
Massu tries to buck Hammer off but Hammer is having none of it.

Hammer thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammer is working Massu over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hammer working the body and head with strikes.
Hammer wants to control but Massu is keeping him busy.
Hammer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Massu is looking to reverse the position.
Massu being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massu is looking to reverse the position.

Hammer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've been hearing good reports from Massu 's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Massu gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Massu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hammer on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Massu is refusing to be controlled, as Hammer sits in half guard.
Massu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hammer wants to pass the guard but Massu is keeping the position.
Hammer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Massu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammer looking to pass the guard.
Hammer slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Massu sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hammer frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Massu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Massu avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hammer.
Hammer working Massu over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Massu bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Hammer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Massu defends well.
Hammer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Massu controls the pace.

Hammer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Massu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Massu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Massu trying to control but Hammer is working from the bottom.
Massu is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hammer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
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 Fabouzi Massu will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hammer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Massu throws a leg kick that is checked

and Hammer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Massu holds on and takes a little breather.
Hammer preventing the sweep.
Massu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hammer controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammer throwing strikes from guard but Massu blocks nicely.
Nails Hammer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Massu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hammer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Massu is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Massu has escaped and now he's on top!

Massu sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hammer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hammer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hammer looking for a sweep. Not yet Hammer, not yet.
Massu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Hammer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Massu defends well.
Massu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer looking for a sweep. Not yet Hammer, not yet.
Massu is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Massu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hammer can do to turn this around?

Hammer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Massu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Massu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammer will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hammer thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Hammer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Massu passes into side control.
Hammer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massu moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hammer is trying to improve his position.
Massu wants to control but Hammer is keeping him busy.
Hammer regains half guard.
Hammer tries to roll over but Massu keeps him under control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Massu in particular looking to stall.
Massu trying to mount his opponent but Hammer defends it.
Hammer wants to control but Massu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Hammer tries to roll over but Massu keeps him under control.
Massu seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fabouzi Massu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hammer manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hammer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hammer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Massu controls the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nails Hammer.
I think Massu 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabouzi Massu !
Fabouzi Massu bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.