PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Naga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakim Hamsho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hamsho has chosen Jump Around as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Naga
vs
Hamsho

176 cm
22
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
20
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

White Gorilla Nutrition
press submit Fighter Threads

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Naga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hakim Hamsho!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naga shoots in for a takedown but Hamsho shows good takedown defense.
A jab from Hamsho misses.
Hakim Hamsho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naga shoots in but no luck this time.
Hamsho lands with a straight right. Naga didn't see that one coming.
Hamsho misses with a straight left.

Hamsho has closed the distance and engaged Naga in a clinch.

Hamsho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Naga shoots in and bounces Hamsho off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Naga wants to pass the guard but Hamsho is keeping the position.
Naga looking to sit in guard and control but Hamsho gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Naga trying to control the position.

Naga looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamsho won't allow Naga to sweep him here.

Naga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Naga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Naga is breathing heavily.

Naga has his foot on Hamsho's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hamsho works his way back into a safe position though.

Naga has his foot on Hamsho's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hamsho works his way back into a safe position though.
Hamsho tries to stand but Naga is controlling from the bottom.

Hamsho decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Naga, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hamsho tests Naga's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Naga shoots for a double leg takedown but Hamsho sprawls well. He's pushed Naga's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Naga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hamsho scores with a one two! Naga had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hamsho keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hamsho lands a nice looking body shot.
Hamsho tries to bum rush Naga with a series of wild strikes but Naga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hamsho missing with a left hand there. Naga was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hamsho scores with a sloppy right hand. Naga should have avoided that one.
Hamsho throws a combination. Naga tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hamsho lands a jab.
Hamsho connects with a looping right hand.
Naga takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Naga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hamsho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hamsho scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hamsho cracks Naga with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hamsho looks to land a combination but Naga avoids it well.
Naga takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Naga moves out of range of the strikes.
Hamsho throws a jab but it's blocked by Naga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naga closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hamsho circles away.
Hamsho misses with a series of wild punches.
Naga drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Naga takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
No joy there for Hamsho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hamsho throws a series of punches but Naga moves out of range.
Naga dodges the punch combination from Hamsho.
A punch lands to the side of Naga 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hamsho throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice jab there from Hamsho.
Naga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hamsho pinned against the cage. Hamsho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hamsho!
Hamsho is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round!Naga had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Hamsho lands a jab.
Hamsho connects with a body shot.
Hamsho's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hamsho duly obliges.
Hamsho might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Hamsho rushes Naga and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Naga fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Hamsho manages to break the clinch.
Hamsho cracks a nice hook into Naga's ribs.
Hamsho swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Naga really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A punch combination from Hamsho misses.
A punch lands to the side of Naga 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hamsho catches Naga with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Hamsho takes the fight into the clinch.

Hamsho breaks the clinch.
Naga takes one to the side of the head.
Naga defending well as Hamsho loads up on a big left hand.
Naga slips a jab and a cross from Hamsho.
Naga fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Naga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hamsho pinned against the cage. Hamsho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Naga walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hamsho throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Naga is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Naga with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hamsho to score with a decent uppercut.
Hamsho throws a right and a left that Naga avoids nicely.
Naga moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakim Hamsho dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Hamsho has Naga up against the ropes in a clinch.
Hamsho lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Naga.

Hamsho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hamsho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nick Naga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hamsho throws a front kick that sends Naga stumbling back into the ropes.
Hamsho looks to land a right hand but Naga moved out of range.
Naga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hamsho swivels and escapes.
Hamsho tries to bum rush Naga with a series of wild strikes but Naga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Hamsho pushes Naga up against the ropes in a clinch.

Hamsho escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hamsho misses with a straight left.
Some wild striking there from Hamsho.
Hamsho throws a body punch but Naga moves out of range.
Hamsho throws the left hand but Naga avoids the punch easily.
Hamsho scores with a punch to the head.
Naga fails with a takedown attempt.
Hamsho throws a shot from downtown. Naga moves away and avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hamsho scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Naga takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice cross by Hamsho.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamsho lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Naga looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hamsho throws a nice looking combination but Naga bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hamsho smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Naga takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Danga de danga de dang - Hamsho scores with a four punch combination!
Naga avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hamsho bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Naga's head.
Naga takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hamsho works the jab nicely.
Hakim Hamsho seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hamsho misses with a hook. Naga ducked under it nicely.
Hamsho misses with a double jab.

Naga closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Naga lands in his opponent's guard.
Hamsho trying to control the position here.
Hamsho wants to stand but Naga is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamsho is trying to keep Naga in close.
Hamsho has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Naga trying to control the position from guard on top but Hamsho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hamsho swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hamsho really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Naga. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Naga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naga tries to free his leg and advance position but Hamsho is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A punch combination from Hamsho misses.
Hamsho lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hamsho scores with a nice head shot.
Hamsho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Naga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Hamsho. That snapped Naga's head back.

Naga closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Naga is trying to get an arm triangle but Hamsho is defending well.
Hamsho prevents Naga from improving position.
Hamsho is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Naga has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Naga goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hamsho has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Naga but great work by Hamsho.
Naga manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hamsho regains full guard. Nicely done.

Naga is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Naga is looking to advance position but Hamsho has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hamsho get's back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakim Hamsho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Naga fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hamsho getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Hamsho looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Naga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Naga trying to hold on to Hamsho's head to control him but Hamsho postures up.
Naga is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hamsho's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hamsho's back!
Hamsho trying to get back to his feet but Naga is in full control for now.
Hamsho is keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Naga has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hamsho has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Hamsho fending off the submission attempt from Naga.

Naga looking for the choke but no joy.
Hamsho has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Nick Naga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Naga looking for the choke but no joy.
Hamsho looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Hakim Hamsho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Naga looking for the RNC.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naga missing with punches from the back.
Hamsho is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Naga off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Hamsho is trying to get back to his feet but Naga has full control of the position and if anything, Hamsho has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Naga misses with a punch to the head.
Hamsho has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Hamsho is keeping busy.
Hamsho controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

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

Naga is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Hamsho wants to get back to his feet.

Naga is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Naga missing with strikes from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nick Naga.
I think Hamsho 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakim Hamsho!