PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Babli Al Hassan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ainsley Clearly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ainsley Clearly will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Al Hassan
vs
Clearly

165 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Babli Al Hassan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ainsley Clearly!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clearly shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Al Hassan pinned against the cage. Al Hassan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Al Hassan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Clearly as he avoids it easily.
Clearly shoots and misses
and Al Hassan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Clearly's knee momentarily.
Clearly looks gassed!

Al Hassan drives through and clinches with Clearly against the cage.
Clearly tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Babli Al Hassan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ainsley Clearly.

Al Hassan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Clearly looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Al Hassan is fending him off so far but Clearly persists. Nope, Al Hassan circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Hassan has closed the distance and engaged Clearly in a clinch.
Al Hassan tries to break the clinch but Clearly is controlling the position.

Al Hassan breaks the clinch.
Clearly takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Ainsley Clearly has been cut.
Al Hassan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clearly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Al Hassan misses.
A combination from Al Hassan does no damage.
Al Hassan stalks Clearly and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Clearly's face. Clearly staggers backwards, shaken.
Al Hassan thumps Clearly with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hassan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Clearly doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a stiff right hand.
Al Hassan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Al Hassan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Clearly misses with a takedown attempt
and Al Hassan counters with a three punch combo that has Clearly backing up. Clearly nods at Al Hassan to acknowledge the strikes.
Al Hassan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Clearly's calf.
Clearly takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A nice combination there by Al Hassan.
Al Hassan throws a series of strikes that have Clearly backpedaling.

Al Hassan gets the takedown into side control.

Al Hassan decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A punch combination from Al Hassan misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan works over Clearly's head and body with a nice combination.
Clearly misses with a takedown
and Clearly takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Clearly blocks a head kick by Al Hassan.
A punch combination from Al Hassan misses.
Al Hassan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Clearly avoids it really well and circles away.
Clearly shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Al Hassan pinned against the cage. Al Hassan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Clearly doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a good low kick that Clearly was not able to check.
Clearly has a takedown stuffed.
Ainsley Clearly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Al Hassan moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan can't break the clinch.
Clearly is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Al Hassan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Al Hassan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Clearly.
Al Hassan wants to get back to striking at distance but Clearly won't allow it.

Al Hassan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Al Hassan throws a right hand that Clearly ducks under and follows up with a left that Clearly also avoids with ease.
Clearly fails with the takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a nice body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clearly is defended easily by Al Hassan.
Clearly doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Clearly shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Al Hassan is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clearly sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Al Hassan defending well though.
Al Hassan tries to kick Clearly off but Clearly keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nice strikes from Clearly there.
Clearly lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Clearly is nestled in close to Al Hassan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clearly not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Babli Al Hassan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ainsley Clearly's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clearly tries for a takedown but Al Hassan circles away easily
and Al Hassan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A nice combination there by Al Hassan.
Clearly throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Al Hassan's waist but Al Hassan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clearly off to one side.
Al Hassan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Al Hassan.
Al Hassan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Al Hassan is working the combinations to good effect here.
Al Hassan swinging wilding here.
Al Hassan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clearly tries for a takedown but Al Hassan circles away easily
enabling Al Hassan to counter with a crisp jab.
Babli Al Hassan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ainsley Clearly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Hassan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clearly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clearly misses with a takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a series of strikes. Clearly will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clearly looks for a takedown but Al Hassan sprawls well.
Clearly tries for a takedown but Al Hassan circles away easily

and Al Hassan counters by moving into the clinch.
Clearly is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Al Hassan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Clearly is trying to drag Al Hassan to the mat but Al Hassan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Clearly tries for a takedown. No joy.
Clearly looking for a takedown.

Al Hassan breaks the clinch.
Clearly is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Al Hassan's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Al Hassan duly obliges.
Clearly dives in and grabs Al Hassan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Al Hassan pushes down on Clearly's head and hops out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Clearly.
Babli Al Hassan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clearly shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Clearly with that takedown attempt.
Clearly fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Al Hassan avoids it really well and circles away.
Al Hassan stalks Clearly and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Clearly's face. Clearly staggers backwards, shaken.
Clearly slips a jab and a cross from Al Hassan.
Nice takedown defense from Al Hassan. No joy for Clearly on that attempt.
Clearly shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Hassan but Al Hassan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Clearly shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Hassan tries to sprawl out of it but Clearly keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Hassan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Clearly misses with a takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clearly fails with the takedown
and Al Hassan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Al Hassan as Clearly shoots in.

Al Hassan closes the distance and clinches.
Clearly has Al Hassan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Al Hassan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Clearly can't get the takedown.
Al Hassan working hard to break the clinch.
Clearly tries to score a body lock takedown but Al Hassan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Al Hassan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Clearly is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Clearly tries to pull guard but Al Hassan won't allow it.
Clearly tries for a takedown but Al Hassan manages to get underhooks.
Clearly misses with some punches.
Al Hassan prevents the takedown attempt.
Al Hassan is pressed up against the cage. Clearly has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Al Hassan down to the mat. Al Hassan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Clearly will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Clearly tries to clinch up
and Al Hassan counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hassan lands a jab-cross combination.
Al Hassan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Clearly fails with the takedown.
Clearly has his takedown stuffed

and Al Hassan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Clearly wants a takedown but no success here.
Clearly goes for a takedown attempt but Al Hassan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Al Hassan rushes Clearly and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Clearly decides to pull guard.
Al Hassan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Babli Al Hassan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ainsley Clearly's cut.
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. This is the final round!

A combination from Al Hassan does no damage.
Clearly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Al Hassan can pounce on him.

Al Hassan closes the distance and clinches.
Clearly is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Al Hassan breaks the clinch.
Al Hassan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Al Hassan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Clearly gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Al Hassan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Clearly tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hassan stopping the sweep attempt from Clearly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Hassan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Clearly keeping moving, preventing Al Hassan from controlling successfully.
Clearly lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Al Hassan!
Al Hassan really is a fat lump.
Clearly fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Al Hassan squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Clearly punishing his opponent with strikes.
Al Hassan is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Al Hassan avoids a series of strikes thrown by Clearly.
Al Hassan trying desperately to get to his feet.
Al Hassan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Clearly tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Clearly thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Clearly throws some wild stikes that Al Hassan manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clearly with shots to the head and body - Al Hassan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Al Hassan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Al Hassan tries to get out of the position.
The referee warns Al Hassan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Clearly cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Poor strikes thrown by Clearly there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Al Hassan is trying to stand up.
Al Hassan is bucking up trying to escape but Clearly cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Al Hassan's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Al Hassan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Clearly tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Clearly working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Clearly has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Clearly with a couple of short strikes.
Al Hassan is trying to stand up.
Al Hassan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ainsley Clearly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clearly lands with some strikes.
Clearly throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
BOOM! Clearly connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Clearly cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Al Hassan is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Hassan trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Babli Al Hassan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Clearly moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Al Hassan has worked his arm free - good work by Al Hassan!

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 Babli Al Hassan.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Al Hassan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Babli Al Hassan!