PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fred El Celso (ranked 6380 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bashaad Al Hammad (ranked 20083 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Fred El Celso has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

El Celso
vs
Al Hammad

168 cm
19
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

179 cm
36
160 lbs
14 - 23 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fred El Celso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bashaad Al Hammad!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Celso shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Hammad tries to sprawl out of it but El Celso keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Hammad manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
El Celso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice uppercut lands for El Celso. That snapped Al Hammad's head back.
Al Hammad stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Al Hammad wants it to stay on the feet.
Al Hammad is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
No joy there for El Celso, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bashaad Al Hammad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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

El Celso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Al Hammad gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Al Hammad stopping the sweep attempt from El Celso.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Celso is working hard here to advance position.
Al Hammad not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Celso trying to keep a closed guard but Al Hammad is proving a slippery customer.
Al Hammad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
El Celso wants to sweep here but Al Hammad controlling him for the moment.

El Celso working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Al Hammad has passed into half guard!
El Celso wants to get back to full guard.

Al Hammad is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
El Celso tries to get to full guard but Al Hammad has control of the leg.

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.
Al Hammad is thwarting El Celso's attempts to control the position.
Well, if Al Hammad is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
El Celso wants to improve his position but Al Hammad is controlling well.

El Celso is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Al Hammad pulls his head out easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Celso shoots in looking for a takedown but Al Hammad manages to keep the fight standing, pushing El Celso's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred El Celso. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Al Hammad scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Al Hammad moves nicely into side control.
Al Hammad advances to full mount.
Al Hammad tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
El Celso tries to get back to half guard but can't.
El Celso has given up his back.
You can see the frustration on El Celso's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad controls the action.
El Celso is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Al Hammad working for the choke.
Al Hammad biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bashaad Al Hammad dominated that round.
That's time! El Celso's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A momentary lapse in concentration from El Celso enables Al Hammad to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. El Celso manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Al Hammad slips nicely into half guard.
El Celso wants to get back to full guard but Al Hammad has passed into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
El Celso tries to buck Al Hammad off but Al Hammad is having none of it.
Al Hammad taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Celso is trying to work for a sweep but Al Hammad has mounted him!
Al Hammad controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hammad is looking to work his way around to El Celso's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
El Celso regains half guard.
Al Hammad slows the pace down in half guard.
El Celso wants to improve his position but Al Hammad is controlling well.
Al Hammad wants to pass the guard but El Celso is defending well.
El Celso has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Al Hammad is working away from the top position though.

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.
El Celso is in trouble now - Al Hammad has advanced to mount!
Al Hammad manages to capitalize on a mistake by El Celso to take his back!
Al Hammad has good solid back control here.
El Celso can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Hammad is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. El Celso defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
El Celso tries to escape but Al Hammad has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bashaad Al Hammad has got the better of the ground game so far.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Let's hope that Al Hammad has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

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 is looking for the choke from the back position but El Celso is controlling his hands well.
Al Hammad has the hooks in. El Celso is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Al Hammad is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I really don't envy El Celso right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bashaad Al Hammad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Al Hammad closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
El Celso is trying to improve his position.
El Celso looking for a sweep but Al Hammad has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Al Hammad controlling his opponent.
Al Hammad prevents El Celso from getting the reversal.
Al Hammad sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
El Celso is trying desperately to improve position.
Al Hammad tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Celso keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Hammad content just to control the position here.
Al Hammad wants to take El Celso's back but he can't do it this time.
El Celso tries to hold on but Al Hammad pushes him away.

That's two 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.
El Celso wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
El Celso manages to reverse the position and now he's in Al Hammad's guard. Nice work there by El Celso.
We've been hearing good reports from El Celso'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.
El Celso might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
El Celso being controlled here momentarily.
El Celso tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Hammad is retaining full guard.
El Celso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Al Hammad wants to sweep here but El Celso controlling him for the moment.
El Celso tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Hammad is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Celso wants to control from the top but Al Hammad keeps moving.
Al Hammad is pulling down on El Celso's head. It's preventing any offense from El Celso, at least for the moment.
Al Hammad wants to sweep but no luck.
Al Hammad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. El Celso manages to get himself to full guard.

Al Hammad preventing the sweep.

El Celso looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Al Hammad passes into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Hammad advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Celso is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Al Hammad controlling from the full mount.
Fred El Celso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
El Celso regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bashaad Al Hammad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Al Hammad winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bashaad Al Hammad!
An out of breath and clearly excited Bashaad Al Hammad thanked Strong Suplementos 159Q/$200 for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
In defeat, Fred El Celso stepped up to the mic, saying 'ok.. okkk. plez food>???'.