PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zied Hakimi (ranked 5154 p4p, 5603 weight class) and Taavi Tiivi (ranked 598 p4p, 621 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hakimi
vs
Tiivi

186 cm
18
195
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
192
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zied Hakimi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taavi Tiivi!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hakimi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tiivi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hakimi misses with a lunging right hand
and Tiivi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Hakimi misses.
Zied Hakimi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick from Hakimi misses.
Tiivi shoots in for a takedown but Hakimi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tiivi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hakimi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tiivi.

Tiivi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hakimi's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hakimi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hakimi looking for a guillotine here but Tiivi defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hakimi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiivi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakimi keeping moving, preventing Tiivi from controlling successfully.

Hakimi looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tiivi has picked Hakimi up and slammed him! Hakimi can't keep hold of the triangle and Tiivi manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Hakimi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hakimi is trying to get back to half guard.
Hakimi is not content to let Tiivi control the position.
Hakimi dodges the ground and pound from Tiivi.

Tiivi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tiivi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hakimi is looking to regain half guard here but Tiivi keeps moving and retains side control.
Tiivi controlling from side mount.
Hakimi wants to control but Tiivi postures up.
Hakimi is trying to improve his position.
The strikes coming from Tiivi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hakimi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakimi is trying to get back to half guard.
Hakimi avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tiivi.
Hakimi is looking for a sweep.

Tiivi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hakimi tries to improve position but can't.

Tiivi stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tiivi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hakimi backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakimi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hakimi gets caught napping as Tiivi dives in and scores a takedown. Hakimi manages to retain guard.

Hakimi looking for a guillotine here but Tiivi defends easily.

Hakimi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tiivi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tiivi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tiivi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hakimi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tiivi defends it easily.

Hakimi working for submissions but it's allowed Tiivi to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Taavi Tiivi dominated that round.
That's time! Hakimi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hakimi misses with a head kick.
Hakimi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tiivi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tiivi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hakimi is fending him off so far but Tiivi persists. Nope, Hakimi circles away and we're back to standing.
Tiivi is looking to land body kicks.
Hakimi slips a jab and a cross from Tiivi.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hakimi - that will leave a mark!
Tiivi checks a low kick from Hakimi.
Hakimi throws a hook but Tiivi avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Tiivi. No joy for Hakimi on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiivi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hakimi throws a series of punches but Tiivi moves out of range.
A nice side step and Tiivi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Tiivi scores with a takedown into Hakimi's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tiivi preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiivi wants to control from the top but Hakimi keeps moving.

Hakimi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiivi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tiivi trying to control but Hakimi is working from the bottom.

Hakimi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiivi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hakimi keeping moving, preventing Tiivi from controlling successfully.
Hakimi wants to control but Tiivi passes easily into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hakimi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hakimi wants to improve his position but Tiivi is controlling well.

Hakimi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiivi pulls his head out easily.
Tiivi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Hakimi actively working from the bottom here.
Tiivi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hakimi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hakimi looking for submissions off his back.
Tiivi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tiivi controlling the pace.
Tiivi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hakimi defending well though.
Hakimi is pressing down on Tiivi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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.

Hakimi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tiivi defends well.
Tiivi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tiivi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tiivi throws a big elbow that misses.
Tiivi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hakimi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tiivi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hakimi's guard.
Tiivi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hakimi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tiivi.

Hakimi actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tiivi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hakimi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tiivi wants to stand but Hakimi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Taavi Tiivi 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 cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hakimi throws a solid leg kick but Tiivi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hakimi.
Tiivi throws a counter combo.
Hakimi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hakimi scores with a leg kick.
Tiivi lands a jab-cross combination.
Hakimi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Tiivi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tiivi wants to clinch.
Hakimi stuffs the takedown attempt from Tiivi. Tiivi gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hakimi misses with a hook
and Tiivi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hakimi throws a low kick but Tiivi moves out of range easily.
Despite the aggression on Tiivi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Tiivi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hakimi!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakimi tries to improve position but can't.
Hakimi is trying to control Tiivi's posture but Tiivi avoids it.
Tiivi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hakimi looking for a sweep but Tiivi has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Tiivi controlling the pace for now.
Hakimi can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiivi tries to control but Hakimi wriggling away.
Hakimi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Hakimi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hakimi is desperately trying to improve his position but Tiivi has a good base and remains in mount.
Taavi Tiivi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tiivi 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.
Hakimi can't escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiivi wants to control the pace but Hakimi is squirming around nicely.
Hakimi tries to lock up and control but Tiivi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Tiivi working for a submission but Hakimi is keeping him at bay.
Hakimi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakimi tries to lock up and control but Tiivi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hakimi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tiivi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tiivi landing strikes from the mount.
Hakimi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tiivi throws some wild stikes that Hakimi manages to avoid easily.
Hakimi tries to improve his position but instead Tiivi has taken his back!
Hakimi prevents Tiivi from getting a body triangle.
Hakimi tries to roll but Tiivi sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tiivi working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Hakimi rolls, trying to escape but Tiivi keeps control of the position.
Tiivi punches the canvas rather than the man.
Hakimi tries to break free.
Tiivi is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Even with his hooks in, Tiivi manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Tiivi wants to control the position but Hakimi frees himself and scrambles - Tiivi manages to regain control in side control.
Hakimi tries to bench press Tiivi off him but Tiivi keeps the position.
Zied Hakimi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taavi Tiivi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hakimi tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taavi Tiivi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tiivi 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taavi Tiivi!