PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Sanchez (ranked 25400 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alaaeddine Ben Hassine (ranked 25413 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sanchez
vs
Ben Hassine

188 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roberto Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alaaeddine Ben Hassine!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ben Hassine clinches up with Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.

Sanchez pushes Ben Hassine up against the cage in a clinch.
Ben Hassine is trying to pull guard but Sanchez has him pressed against the cage.
Ben Hassine prevents the takedown attempt.
Sanchez jumps guard but Ben Hassine turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Ben Hassine lands a takedown into guard.
Sanchez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ben Hassine wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

Sanchez working for a triangle but Ben Hassine defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez is trying to control the position but Ben Hassine postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben Hassine is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez striking from his own guard.
Sanchez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Ben Hassine from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but Ben Hassine sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roberto Sanchez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchez drives through and clinches with Ben Hassine against the cage.

That's two 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.
Sanchez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ben Hassine manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ben Hassine tries for a takedown but Sanchez manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Sanchez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sanchez working hard to break the clinch.

Sanchez drags the fight down to the ground.

Sanchez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ben Hassine defends well.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Ben Hassine from controlling successfully.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sanchez managing to control the position.

Sanchez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ben Hassine defends well.
Ben Hassine won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.
Ben Hassine scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ben Hassine would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.
Sanchez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Ben Hassine from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ben Hassine misses with a takedown attempt - Sanchez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sanchez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ben Hassine. Ben Hassine obviously looking to wear him down.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ben Hassine tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sanchez swivels and escapes.
Ben Hassine rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sanchez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sanchez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sanchez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sanchez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
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 Roberto Sanchez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ben Hassine fakes the leg kick and cracks Sanchez in the body.
Ben Hassine lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ben Hassine stuffs the takedown.
Ben Hassine throws out a loose jab but Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ben Hassine blocks a head kick by Sanchez.

Ben Hassine has closed the distance and engaged Sanchez in a clinch.
Ben Hassine has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sanchez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sanchez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ben Hassine fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanchez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ben Hassine's guard.
Sanchez passes Ben Hassine's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez works his way into full mount!
Ben Hassine is trying desperately to improve position.

Sanchez is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ben Hassine has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ben Hassine!
Roberto Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ben Hassine trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ben Hassine showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sanchez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ben Hassine is controlling him.
Ben Hassine tries to stand but Sanchez is controlling from the bottom.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Sanchez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ben Hassine wants to get up but he can't break Sanchez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ben Hassine wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sanchez slows the pace down in half guard.
Sanchez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Ben Hassine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Sanchez seems to be working for a kimura but Ben Hassine defends the submission attempt.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ben Hassine counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sanchez thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alaaeddine Ben Hassine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ben Hassine is fending him off so far but Sanchez persists. Nope, Ben Hassine circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanchez throws a low kick, looking for Ben Hassine's leg but Ben Hassine calmly moves out of range.
Roberto Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ben Hassine misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Ben Hassine will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ben Hassine bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Ben Hassine. Ben Hassine gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanchez misses with a takedown attempt
and Ben Hassine makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sanchez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ben Hassine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ben Hassine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Roberto Sanchez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alaaeddine Ben Hassine.
Ben Hassine stuffs the takedown.
Ben Hassine raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ben Hassine shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanchez defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ben Hassine. That's going to slow Sanchez down.
Alaaeddine Ben Hassine seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ben Hassine throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sanchez was covering up waiting for the punch and Ben Hassine finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ben Hassine trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ben Hassine controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sanchez controls Ben Hassine momentarily but Ben Hassine frees himself.
Sanchez pulls Ben Hassine in to control the position.
Ben Hassine must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sanchez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown attempt from Ben Hassine. Ben Hassine gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sanchez or perhaps it was just good defense by Ben Hassine, which made it look bad.
Ben Hassine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sanchez.
Sanchez sets himself, and Ben Hassine steps forward looking for the clinch! Sanchez avoids it this time.
Sanchez scores with a one two! Ben Hassine had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ben Hassine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanchez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ben Hassine somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ben Hassine is fending him off so far but Sanchez persists. Nope, Ben Hassine circles away and we're back to standing.
Ben Hassine feints the counter takedown.
Sanchez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A combination from Ben Hassine does no damage.

Ben Hassine closes the distance and clinches.

Ben Hassine breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ben Hassine as he jumps to the side.
Ben Hassine throws a counter combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alaaeddine Ben Hassine.
I think Ben Hassine 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alaaeddine Ben Hassine!