PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Philips (ranked 4125 p4p, 160 weight class) and Bashaad Al Hammad (ranked 21360 p4p, 237 weight class). Bashaad Al Hammad has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Philips
vs
Al Hammad

170 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

179 cm
31
160 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Woodshins' Ship

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Philips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bashaad Al Hammad!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Hammad looks to land a combination but Philips avoids it well.
Al Hammad throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Al Hammad catches Philips with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Philips tries to score a power double leg takedown but Al Hammad sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Philips somewhat.
Al Hammad scores with a leg kick.
Al Hammad throws a combination that misses

and Philips counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Al Hammad controls Philips momentarily but Philips frees himself.
Philips postures up in Al Hammad's guard and throws a big left but Al Hammad blocks it.

Al Hammad is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Philips is aware though and is defending well.
Al Hammad is pulling down on Philips's head. It's preventing any offense from Philips, at least for the moment.
Philips passes Al Hammad's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Hammad looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Philips wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Hammad keeps working.
Al Hammad is trying to maintain the position but Philips is very close to passing his half guard.
Philips wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Hammad keeps working.
Al Hammad is trying to maintain the position but Philips is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Philips content to control rather than advance.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Al Hammad is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Al Hammad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Philips takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Philips checks a low kick from Al Hammad.
Al Hammad misses with the combination.
Al Hammad throws a head kick but Philips moves out of range.

Philips shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Philips throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Philips thows a huge punch but Al Hammad dodges it nicely.
Al Hammad flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Al Hammad wants to control but Philips is keeping busy.
Al Hammad misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Al Hammad gets full guard.

Al Hammad had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Philips defends it easily.
Philips throwing strikes from guard but Al Hammad blocks nicely.

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.

Al Hammad looking for a guillotine here but Philips defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Hammad will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Philips postures up in Al Hammad's guard and throws a big left but Al Hammad blocks it.
Philips postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Philips gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Al Hammad misses the shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Hammad throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Philips changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Al Hammad throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Philips counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Al Hammad!
Al Hammad dodges the ground and pound from Philips.
Philips controls the position from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Philips dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Al Hammad with a jab.
Philips fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A little jabbing left from Al Hammad on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Philips goes for a double leg but Al Hammad avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Al Hammad continues to drive forward.

Philips feints and as Al Hammad raises his hands in defense, Philips changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Al Hammad is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Al Hammad throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Hammad is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Al Hammad working for a triangle but Philips defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Al Hammad has Philips pulled in close to control his posture.
Ryan Philips overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ryan Philips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Hammad scores with a decent looking hook.
Al Hammad stuffs the takedown attempt from Philips. Philips gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Philips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Hammad misses with a left hand

and Philips counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Al Hammad is trying to control the position but Philips postures up.
Philips loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Hammad looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Philips has picked Al Hammad up and slammed him! Al Hammad can't keep hold of the triangle and Philips manages to pass to side control!
Philips looks up at the clock and then as Al Hammad takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Philips smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Al Hammad wants to control but Philips postures up.
Al Hammad is trying to escape the position but Philips is controlling the position.
Philips is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Hammad can do to turn this around?
Al Hammad striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Philips working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Al Hammad misses with a strike from the bottom.
Philips in side control lands a decent elbow.
Al Hammad tries to buck Philips off but Philips is having none of it.
Al Hammad is holding Philips down, trying to stall.
Philips working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Philips throwing strikes but Al Hammad manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Philips tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Al Hammad working the ground and pound.
Philips gets back to half guard.
Philips slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Al Hammad trying to control but Philips is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Philips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Al Hammad content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Al Hammad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Al Hammad preventing the sweep.
Al Hammad missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Al Hammad throws a strike but Philips rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Al Hammad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Hammad is looking to sweep but instead, Philips has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Philips dominated that second round.
That's time! Philips's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Philips shoots in and drives through. Al Hammad sprawls well.
Philips dodges the punch combination from Al Hammad.
A jab from Al Hammad does it's job there.
Philips blocks a head kick by Al Hammad.
Philips avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Al Hammad throws a series of punches but Philips avoids them all with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Al Hammad. Philips does a little dance to reset his feet.

Philips drives through with a takedown into Al Hammad's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Al Hammad looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Al Hammad trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Hammad throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Al Hammad throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Al Hammad keeping moving, preventing Philips from controlling successfully.
Al Hammad wants to sweep but no luck.

Al Hammad is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Philips is aware though and is defending well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Al Hammad displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Philips.
Philips moves out of range of the body kick.
Al Hammad throws a series of punches but Philips avoids them all with ease.
Al Hammad throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Philips half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad throws a right and a left that both miss.
Philips shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Al Hammad as he jumps to the side.
Al Hammad throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Philips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Hammad misses with a lunging right hand

so Philips counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Philips postures up in Al Hammad's guard and throws a big left but Al Hammad blocks it.
Philips trying to control but Al Hammad is working from the bottom.
Philips keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Al Hammad's head.

Al Hammad is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Philips defends well.
Philips throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Al Hammad works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad striking off his back but it's not causing Philips any problems.
Philips slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Al Hammad is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Philips.
Philips tries to counter with a takedown but Al Hammad is quick to defend against it.
Al Hammad swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Al Hammad dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Philips dives in and grabs Al Hammad's left leg, looking for a takedown. Al Hammad pushes down on Philips's head and hops out.
Al Hammad throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Philips counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Philips.
Philips throws a big elbow that misses.

Philips avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Al Hammad keeping moving, preventing Philips from controlling successfully.
Philips has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad 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.
Al Hammad is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Philips looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Hammad is trying to control the position but Philips postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bashaad Al Hammad.
I think Philips 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Philips!