PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hassan i Sabbah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabbah comes to the cage accompanied by War Dogs. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

i Sabbah
vs
Spencer

193 cm
25
187 lbs
19 - 1 - 0

192 cm
27
192 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hassan i Sabbah!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shawn Spencer!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spencer misses the body punch
and Sabbah counters with a head kick.
Spencer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sabbah counters with a thumping low kick.
Sabbah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spencer was well out of range. Poor timing from Sabbah.
Sabbah lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Spencer misses with a left hand
and Sabbah counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sabbah.
Spencer throws a poor cross that misses
and Sabbah counters with a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sabbah throws a head kick that half lands.
Sabbah fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Spencer looks gassed!
Spencer tries to bum rush Sabbah with a series of wild strikes but Sabbah uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabbah fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sabbah scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sabbah moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sabbah thuds his shin into the meat of Spencer's side.
Spencer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sabbah. Sabbah obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sabbah throws a shot to the body.
Sabbah tries to clinch up but Spencer circles away and keeps his distance.
Sabbah moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Sabbah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah scores with a jab.
Sabbah throws a head kick that misses.

Sabbah has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good body shot from Sabbah.
A right hand to the body from Sabbah.
Sabbah stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sabbah - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sabbah is working Spencer over against the cage.

Sabbah manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sabbah rushes Spencer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Sabbah.
Sabbah lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sabbah taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sabbah scores with a shot to the side of Spencer's head.
Spencer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sabbah just leaning against Spencer, taking a breather.
Sabbah lands with a right to the head.
Spencer wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah prevents Spencer from breaking the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sabbah stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sabbah throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Spencer wants to break free but Sabbah has control.
Come on Sabbah - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sabbah lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee is keeping an eye on Sabbah - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A nice leg kick lands there from Sabbah.
Spencer throws a jab when Sabbah was well out of range.
Hassan i Sabbah is winning the standup battle so far.
Spencer lands with a shot to the body.
Sabbah ducks under a wild hook from Spencer.
Sabbah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shawn Spencer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spencer fails to land with a series of punches.
Spencer throws a hook but Sabbah blocks it.
Sabbah connects with a leg kick. Spencer looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabbah with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Spencer is breathing heavily.
A jab lands there for Spencer.
Spencer misses with a lunging right hand
and Sabbah counters with a series of strikes. Spencer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sabbah turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sabbah tries to move into range but Spencer moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Spencer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sabbah counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sabbah connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sabbah.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spencer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sabbah is looking to wear down Spencer with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Sabbah.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sabbah.
Sabbah feints and then cracks Spencer's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Spencer down.
Sabbah moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Spencer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sabbah can pounce on him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sabbah, right into the meat.
Sabbah buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Sabbah takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Spencer or not.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short uppercut from Sabbah.

Sabbah pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sabbah throws a nice inside leg kick.
Spencer gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Spencer misses with a right hand
and Sabbah counters with a body kick.
Spencer misses with an uppercut
and Sabbah counters with a nice low kick that buckles Spencer's knee momentarily.
Spencer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sabbah.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabbah scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sabbah thumps Spencer with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sabbah is looking to slow Spencer down with leg kicks.
Spencer throws an off balance right hand
and Sabbah counters with a low kick, right behind Spencer 's knee.
Sabbah connects with a leg kick. Spencer looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Sabbah forces Spencer back against the cage and clinches.
Sabbah lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sabbah lands with a short shot to the head.
Sabbah lands an uppercut.
Sabbah avoiding damage.
Spencer's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sabbah gets through Spencer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Spencer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer wants to break the clinch but can't.
The referee calls for Sabbah to work.
Sabbah working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Spencer tries to circle away but Sabbah has him pinned against the cage.
Sabbah lands with a left to the head.
Sabbah lands with a right to the head.
Sabbah leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sabbah is working Spencer over against the cage.
Sabbah misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sabbah.
A body shot lands from Sabbah.
Sabbah is leaning against Spencer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Spencer is trying to drag Sabbah to the mat but Sabbah just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah slows down the pace here.
Spencer tries to break free but Sabbah pushes him back against the cage.
Sabbah works on Spencer's body with a couple of short punches.
Spencer is trying to break free.
Sabbah lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A short left from Sabbah.
Spencer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Sabbah.
Sabbah lands a body shot.
Sabbah slowing the pace effectively.
Sabbah lands a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sabbah getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sabbah throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Spencer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Spencer works the jab nicely.
Spencer throws a poor cross that misses
and Sabbah makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sabbah throws out a leg kick but Spencer moves out of range and Sabbah only half commits.
Sabbah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Spencer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Spencer throws an off balance right hand
and Sabbah counters with a nice low kick that buckles Spencer's knee momentarily.
Sabbah lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sabbah throws a head kick that Spencer semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabbah tried to score with a low kick but Spencer checks it.

Sabbah clinches.
Sabbah lands a nice shot to the body.
Sabbah pushes Spencer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sabbah is struggling to control the position.
Sabbah is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spencer can do to turn this around?
Spencer tries to pull guard but Sabbah won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sabbah lands with a light punch inside.
Sabbah throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sabbah.
Sabbah lands a nice shot to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Sabbah.
Sabbah pressing his opponent against the cage.
A hook to the body from Sabbah.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sabbah.
Sabbah lands with a left to the head.
Sabbah stalls.
Sabbah scores with a hook to the body.
Spencer trying to control the position but instead, Sabbah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Spencer into the cage.
Spencer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sabbah lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sabbah pushes Spencer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sabbah lands an uppercut.
Spencer has had enough of the clinch but Sabbah keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sabbah.
Spencer is trying to break the clinch but Sabbah has him pressed against the cage.
Sabbah lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan i Sabbah had his way with Shawn Spencer in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sabbah throws a wild body kick that Spencer sees coming a mile off.
Sabbah throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
That kick from Sabbah tenderised Spencer's leg. Spencer is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sabbah throws a nice outside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sabbah. That's going to slow Spencer down.
Sabbah connects with an inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sabbah.
Spencer takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Spencer is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sabbah throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sabbah has managed to clinch.
Come on Sabbah - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sabbah seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
A short body shot lands from Sabbah as the two fighters clinch.
Sabbah is pushing Spencer up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Shawn Spencer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Spencer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sabbah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spencer's efforts to push away.
Sabbah lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Spencer or not.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sabbah takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sabbah digs a right hand into Spencer's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Spencer's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sabbah walks away with a smile on his face. Spencer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sabbah connects with a body shot that sends Spencer's belly button to the back.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sabbah.
Sabbah with a nice cross.
Spencer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sabbah moves away.
Sabbah lands a nice leg kick that just misses Spencer's sensitive parts.
Sabbah lands a nice leg kick that just misses Spencer's sensitive parts.
Spencer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sabbah.
Nice body punch from Sabbah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabbah fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Spencer.
Sabbah connects with a leg kick. Spencer looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sabbah throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sabbah looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sabbah lands a slapping body shot.
Hassan i Sabbah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sabbah lands a nice leg kick that just misses Spencer's sensitive parts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabbah lands a nice looking body shot.
Sabbah buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hassan i Sabbah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sabbah 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 50:43
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 50:43
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 50:43

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hassan i Sabbah!
Hassan i Sabbah retains his middleweight title!