PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mary Saunders (ranked 24572 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamza Hashim (ranked 3064 p4p, 0 weight class). Mary Saunders has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Saunders
vs
Hashim

195 cm
19
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

199 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mary Saunders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hamza Hashim!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hashim rushes Saunders and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Hashim decides to pull guard.
Saunders landing with the ground and pound.
Saunders working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saunders has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saunders makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Saunders throwing strikes but missing.
Saunders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saunders landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hashim looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saunders distracts Hashim with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hashim controls Saunders momentarily but Saunders frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders scoring with some ground and pound.
Saunders lands a couple of elbows.
Saunders won't allow Hashim to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saunders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saunders landing some decent shots from guard.
Saunders with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Saunders lands a couple of digs.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saunders's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saunders accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hashim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saunders throwing strikes from guard but Hashim blocks nicely.
Hashim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saunders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders stands up over Hashim, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saunders throws an elbow that misses. Hashim uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saunders's guard. Nice move by Hashim!

Hashim wants to get up but he can't break Saunders's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Saunders managing to control the position.
Saunders keeping moving, preventing Hashim from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saunders controls Hashim momentarily but Hashim frees himself.
Saunders keeping moving, preventing Hashim from controlling successfully.
Hashim wanted to stand there but Saunders had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hashim moves into range and clinches up with Saunders.
Hashim is trying to break free.
Hashim throws a punch but it's blocked by Saunders.
Saunders tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hashim's elbow.

Saunders breaks the clinch.
Saunders moves forwards but Hashim connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Saunders tries to keep at a distance but Hashim has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hashim is looking to control Saunders's arms but Saunders gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hashim has his back to the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Hashim's face as he tries to break 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 Mary Saunders will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hashim scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hashim looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Hashim pushes Saunders up against the cage in a clinch.
Saunders controlling the action here for a moment.
Saunders taking a breather.

Hashim has picked Saunders up - he's going for a ride! Hashim dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hashim is looking to stall here but Saunders recovers full guard.
Hashim passes Saunders's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saunders tries to get to full guard but Hashim has control of the leg.
Saunders really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Saunders actively working from the bottom here.
Saunders is trying to maintain the position but Hashim is very close to passing his half guard.
Hashim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Saunders knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Saunders gets back to full guard.
Saunders keeping moving, preventing Hashim from controlling successfully.
Mary Saunders overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Saunders is pulling down on Hashim's head. It's preventing any offense from Hashim, at least for the moment.
Saunders is trying to control the position but Hashim postures up.
Hashim trying to control the position from guard on top but Saunders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hashim would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Saunders dives in and scores a takedown into Hashim's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hashim trying to keep a closed guard but Saunders is proving a slippery customer.
Saunders prevents Hashim from getting back to his feet.
Hashim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saunders missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hashim trying to keep a closed guard but Saunders is proving a slippery customer.
Hashim 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.
Saunders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saunders stands up over Hashim, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Saunders chips away with some ground and pound.
Saunders keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hashim's head.
Hashim is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Saunders trying to hold on to Hashim's head to control him but Hashim postures up.

Hashim is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hashim wants to pass to mount but Saunders is defending the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saunders manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hamza Hashim will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hashim closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hashim tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hashim creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Saunders sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ground and pound from Hashim seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saunders tries to bench press Hashim off him but Hashim keeps the position.

Hashim working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Saunders tries to buck Hashim off but Hashim is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hashim tries to move to mount but Saunders blocks the move with his legs.
Hashim moves into full mount!
Hashim looking to finish with strikes here!
Saunders is looking to improve his position but Hashim isn't that keen on the idea.

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.

Hashim looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hashim misses with a head shot.
Saunders tries to hold on but Hashim postures up.
Hashim tries to control but Saunders wriggling away.
Hashim might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Saunders haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hashim misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Saunders is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hashim wants to get back to his feet but Saunders is holding on tight.
Hashim wants to control the pace but Saunders is squirming around nicely.
Saunders is desperately trying to improve his position but Hashim has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hashim can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saunders is looking to escape.
Saunders wants to control but Hashim is having none of it.
Hashim trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hashim is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hashim trying to control but Saunders is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamza Hashim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hashim has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamza Hashim!