PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Saddam Hussain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesh Masilungan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hussain's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dabke Huwara. Masilungan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Heaven Hell kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hussain
vs
Masilungan

162 cm
27
140 lbs
16 - 1 - 0

167 cm
26
143 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Balco Boys - Hilo
Fight Club Clothing™

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saddam Hussain!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jesh Masilungan!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hussain is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Masilungan.
Hussain tries to close the distance and clinch but Masilungan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masilungan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hussain wants to clinch.
Hussain moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Masilungan blocks a jab.
Masilungan cracks a nice hook into Hussain's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masilungan misses with a head kick.
Masilungan avoids the body shot from Hussain.
Hussain lands a jab to Masilungan's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masilungan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hussain.
Masilungan has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hussain finds it's way round the side to connect with Masilungan's head.
Hussain swings away with a body shot that misses
and Masilungan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Some wild striking there from Hussain.
Hussain lands with a cross.
Hussain wants to clinch
and Masilungan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hussain tests Masilungan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hussain waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Masilungan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussain throws a chopping leg kick but Masilungan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Saddam Hussain is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Hussain misses.
Masilungan moves out of range of the leg kick from Hussain.
Masilungan throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Masilungan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Masilungan scores with a decent looking hook.
Masilungan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hussain moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hussain throws a sloppy head kick
and Masilungan counters with a straight right hand.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Masilungan checks it
and Masilungan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Masilungan blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan misses with an uppercut.
Masilungan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hussain.

Masilungan moves into the clinch successfully.

Masilungan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Masilungan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hussain wants to clinch
and Masilungan counters with a stiff right hand.
Hussain blocks a jab.
A slow jab from Hussain misses its intended target.
Hussain thumps Masilungan with a low kick.
Masilungan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hussain manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Masilungan moves away from the strike by Hussain.
Masilungan throws out a loose jab but Hussain uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hussain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Masilungan checks it
and Masilungan counters with a leg kick.
Masilungan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hussain.
Hussain misses with a looping left.
Hussain moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hussain misses with a hook to the body
and Masilungan counters with an inside leg kick.
Hussain missing with a left hand there. Masilungan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hussain on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Saddam Hussain will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Masilungan throws a hook but Hussain blocks it.
Masilungan scores with a one two! Hussain had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hussain lands with a nice body punch.
Masilungan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hussain throws a combination that misses
letting Masilungan counter with a right hand.
Hussain misses the shot to the body.
Hussain lands with a good body shot.
Hussain waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Masilungan.
Hussain falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Masilungan to counter with a crisp jab.
Hussain scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masilungan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hussain thows a body shot but no joy.
Hussain misses with a jab to the body
and Masilungan counters with a left to the body.
Hussain wants to clinch but Masilungan slips to the side
and Masilungan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Masilungan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hussain moves away.
Masilungan looks to clinch
and Hussain counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Masilungan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Masilungan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hussain throws out the jab.
Masilungan is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Masilungan looks to score with a jab to the body but Hussain is just out of range.
Hussain throws a lazy right hand but Masilungan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hussain throws a hook but Masilungan avoids it easily.
Hussain throws a leg kick

and Masilungan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Masilungan is trying to break free.
Masilungan wants a takedown but no success here.

Masilungan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hussain is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hussain tries to close the distance and clinch but Masilungan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hussain turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Saddam Hussain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Masilungan misses
and Hussain counters with an outside leg kick.
Hussain cracks the inside of Masilungan's front leg.
A leg kick checked by Masilungan.
Masilungan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A combination from Masilungan does no damage.
Hussain swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Masilungan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fighters circling - Masilungan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hussain tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Masilungan is able to avoid easily.
Hussain takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Masilungan instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hussain misses with some punches.
Masilungan tries to break the clinch but Hussain is controlling the position.
Masilungan wants to break free but Hussain has control.
Masilungan tries a body shot but Hussain blocks it.
Hussain lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hussain misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masilungan wants to get back to striking at distance but Hussain won't allow it.

Masilungan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Hussain throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hussain throws a lazy body kick
and Masilungan counters with an outside leg kick.
Masilungan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hussain slaps away a takedown attempt from Masilungan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Saddam Hussain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesh Masilungan.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Masilungan checks it
and Masilungan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hussain waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Masilungan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saddam Hussain dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A low kick from Hussain is predictable there
and Hussain takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hussain scores with a nice head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Masilungan misses the target.
Hussain is looking to clinch.
Hussain throws a leg kick that is checked
and Masilungan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hussain throws an overhand right that lands on Masilungan's shoulder, as Masilungan tries to avoid the shot.
Masilungan gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hussain connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hussain clinches but Masilungan breaks the clinch
letting Masilungan counter with a right hand.
Hussain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Masilungan misses.
Masilungan scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hussain fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Masilungan on the side of the head.
Hussain lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Masilungan backs up against the cage.
Hussain misses with a hook. Masilungan ducked under it nicely.
Hussain pivots, looking for a leg kick but Masilungan is out of range and Hussain settles back down.
Hussain tries to land a body kick
and Masilungan counters with a two punch combo.
Hussain misses with an uppercut.
Hussain misses with a body shot
and Masilungan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hussain wants to clinch
and Masilungan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussain misses with a wild body shot.
Hussain throws out a loose jab but Masilungan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masilungan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hussain ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hussain tries to clinch up
letting Masilungan counter with a right hand.
Hussain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Masilungan.
Saddam Hussain is winning the standup battle so far.
Masilungan tries to bum rush Hussain with a series of wild strikes but Hussain uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan throws a lazy right hand but Hussain sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Masilungan moves out of range of the strikes.
Masilungan shoots in looking for a takedown. Hussain tries to sprawl out of it but Masilungan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hussain manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Masilungan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hussain.
Jesh Masilungan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hussain pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hussain throws a quick inside leg kick.
Masilungan misses with a combination
and Hussain counters with a good, hard body kick but Masilungan shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain lands a nice looking body shot.
Good shot there by Hussain.
Masilungan lands a jab-cross combination.
Hussain throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Masilungan to counter with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hussain looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hussain connects with a good right hand that stumbles Masilungan. Masilungan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Masilungan throws a leg kick but Hussain sees it coming and moves out of range.
Masilungan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saddam Hussain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A punch combination from Masilungan misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saddam Hussain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hussain, 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saddam Hussain!
Saddam Hussain retains his bantamweight title!