PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Don Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lutalo Hajjar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hall
vs
Hajjar

175 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

172 cm
24
150 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Don Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lutalo Hajjar!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hajjar shoots in but Hall avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hall cracks Hajjar with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hall leaves Hajjar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hall throws a jab when Hajjar was well out of range.
Hajjar has a takedown stuffed.
Don Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lutalo Hajjar.

Hajjar shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hajjar was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hall regains half guard.
Hall is trying to control but can't.
Hall is staying active underneath Hajjar, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hall is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajjar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hall is looking to improve his position.
Hall wants to control but Hajjar is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hajjar dives in and grabs Hall's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hall pushes down on Hajjar's head and hops out.
Hajjar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hall looks to land a combination. Hajjar sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hall looks to land a right hand but Hajjar moved out of range.
Hall misses with the combination.
Hall fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hajjar avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Hall counter with a right hand.
Hall misses with a body shot.
Hajjar misses with a takedown

and Hall counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hajjar's guard now.

Hall 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.
Hajjar keeping moving, preventing Hall from controlling successfully.
Hajjar is trying to keep Hall in close.
Hall preventing the sweep.
Hajjar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hall manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar stopping the sweep attempt from Hall.
Hajjar is stalling in the full guard.
Hajjar stopping the sweep attempt from Hall.
Hall trying to keep a closed guard but Hajjar is proving a slippery customer.
Hajjar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hajjar stopping the sweep attempt from Hall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hall is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hajjar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hajjar is stalling in the full guard.
Hall looking to control.
Hajjar controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hajjar looking to sit in guard and control but Hall gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hajjar wants to sweep but no luck.
Hall trying to control but Hajjar is working from the bottom.
Hall stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hajjar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Hall dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hajjar misses with a takedown attempt

and Hall counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hajjar's guard now.
Hajjar working a defensive guard here.
Hall pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hajjar is keeping the position for now.
Hajjar wants to sweep but no luck.
Hajjar is trying to keep Hall in close.
Hall passes Hajjar's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hall is trying to control the action in half guard but Hajjar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hajjar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hall counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hall thuds a left hand into Hajjar's body.
Don Hall seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hall closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hajjar to the mat! Hajjar manages to get full guard.
Hajjar wants to sweep but no luck.
Hall forces his way into half guard.
Hall throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hall trying to control from half guard but Hajjar is working away.
Hajjar wants to get back to full guard.
Hajjar is in trouble now - Hall has advanced to mount!
Hall trying to control but Hajjar is having none of it.
Hajjar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hajjar regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar trying to control here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hajjar manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hajjar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hall is one step ahead there.
Hall trying to control the position from guard on top but Hajjar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hajjar trying to keep a closed guard but Hall is proving a slippery customer.
Hall wants to control from the top but Hajjar keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hajjar slips under a jab.
Hajjar with a poor takedown
and Hall counters with a nice uppercut.
Don Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lutalo Hajjar.

Hajjar shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hall keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hajjar content just to control the position here.
Hall slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Hajjar seems content to control.
Hall is looking for a sweep. Hajjar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hajjar is just content to waste time from the top position. Hall takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Hall looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.

Hall is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hajjar controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Lutalo Hajjar.
Hall with a body punch. A glancing blow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Hall dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hall throws a series of punches but Hajjar moves out of range.
Hall throws a head kick that misses.
Hajjar misses with a takedown attempt
and Hall cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hajjar fails with the takedown
and Hall counters with a three punch combo that has Hajjar backing up. Hajjar nods at Hall to acknowledge the strikes.
Hajjar tries for a takedown but Hall circles away easily
and Hall counters with a two punch combo.
Don Hall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lutalo Hajjar.
Hall looks to score with a jab to the body but Hajjar is just out of range.
Hajjar misses with a takedown attempt
and Hall counters with a body kick that stops Hajjar in his tracks momentarily.
Hajjar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hall looks to score with a jab to the body but Hajjar is just out of range.
Hall tries for a takedown but Hajjar circles away easily

and Hajjar counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajjar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hajjar trying to control the position from guard on top but Hall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hajjar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hall manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hajjar is controlling an arm, preventing Hall from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
BOOM! Hall connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hajjar tries to hold on but Hall postures up.
Hajjar working to try and regain half guard.

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.
Hajjar wants to control but Hall is having none of it.
Hajjar working to try and regain half guard.
Hall wants to take his opponent's back but Hajjar doesn't allow it.
Hajjar gets back to half guard.
Hall is looking to advance position but Hajjar won't allow it.
Hall is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Hajjar defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hall.
Hajjar is squirming around, avoiding Hall's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hajjar tries to hold on but Hall postures up.
Hajjar tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hall is working for a guillotine from mount but Hajjar frees his head quite easily.
Hajjar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hall unloads with some shots from mount but Hajjar bucks and avoids them well.
Hajjar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hajjar manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Hall is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hajjar is just riding it out for now. Hall eventually gives up the hold.

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.
Hajjar is looking to improve his position.
Hall trying to pass the guard but Hajjar defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hajjar manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hajjar wants to sweep here but Hall controlling him for the moment.
Hajjar trying to control the position.
Hajjar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hajjar trying to control the position.

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 Don Hall.
Well Hall has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight for Don Hall!
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight for Don Hall!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Don Hall!

Don Hall wins by unanimous decision!