PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tom Joegensen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hassan Willidirim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Joegensen
vs
Willidirim

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Joegensen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hassan Willidirim!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Willidirim shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Willidirim showed some decent athleticism there.
Joegensen is trying to control but can't.
Joegensen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Willidirim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Joegensen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Willidirim trying to control the action but Joegensen is working from the bottom.
Willidirim thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Willidirim is trying to control. Joegensen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Hassan Willidirim has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Willidirim shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Joegensen is trying to defend but Willidirim finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Joegensen is doing well to control the position and prevent Willidirim from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joegensen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Willidirim thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Joegensen wants to get back to full guard.
Joegensen is refusing to be controlled, as Willidirim sits in half guard.
Joegensen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Willidirim is working away from the top position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Joegensen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Willidirim defends it nicely.

Willidirim gets a double leg takedown into Joegensen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joegensen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Joegensen trying to keep a closed guard but Willidirim is proving a slippery customer.

Willidirim gets to his feet - Joegensen follows without any prompting.
Joegensen throws a sloppy head kick
and Willidirim makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Willidirim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joegensen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Willidirim shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Joegensen is trying to defend but Willidirim finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joegensen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Joegensen is trying to control but can't.

Willidirim is looking for a kimura but Joegensen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Willidirim to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joegensen is trying to maintain the position but Willidirim is very close to passing his half guard.
Willidirim is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Willidirim looks gassed!
Willidirim trying to pass the guard but Joegensen defending well.
Joegensen punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Joegensen has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Willidirim escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Willidirim!

Willidirim wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Joegensen, who protects the arm well.
Joegensen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Willidirim wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joegensen is working hard here to advance position.
Willidirim controls the position.
Joegensen wants to control but Willidirim postures up.
Willidirim lands a few punches from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joegensen sneaks back into half guard.
Joegensen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hassan Willidirim dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Joegensen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Joegensen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Willidirim is looking for a sweep. Joegensen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joegensen stalling away here and it's allowed Willidirim to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Willidirim trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Willidirim wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Joegensen is now in half guard.
Joegensen is thwarting Willidirim's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joegensen prevents Willidirim from improving his position.

Joegensen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Willidirim gets back to full guard.
Joegensen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Willidirim lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Joegensen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joegensen has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Willidirim is looking to control Joegensen but Joegensen is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Willidirim wants to control the position but Joegensen frees himself and scrambles - Willidirim manages to regain control in side control.
Joegensen is trying to control Willidirim's posture but Willidirim avoids it.

Willidirim stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willidirim moves into range and clinches up with Joegensen.
Willidirim is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Joegensen tightens his grip and picks Willidirim up, before dumping him to the ground. Willidirim manages to land in guard.

Joegensen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Willidirim is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Willidirim has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Willidirim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Willidirim wants to get up but he can't break Joegensen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Joegensen controls Willidirim momentarily but Willidirim frees himself.
Willidirim seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willidirim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joegensen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Willidirim is pushing down on Joegensen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Joegensen is fighting to maintain full guard but Willidirim has managed to sneak the leg through.
Joegensen punching from the bottom.
Joegensen is looking to control Willidirim's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Joegensen avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joegensen tries to kick Willidirim off but Willidirim keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joegensen is looking to control Willidirim's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Joegensen avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hassan Willidirim will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Willidirim shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Willidirim showed some decent athleticism there.
Joegensen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Willidirim is trying to control the action in half guard but Joegensen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Willidirim in particular looking to stall.
Hassan Willidirim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joegensen gets back to full guard.
Joegensen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Willidirim wanted to stand there but Joegensen had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willidirim takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Willidirim postures up in Joegensen's guard and throws a big left but Joegensen blocks it.
Joegensen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Willidirim trying to control the position from guard on top but Joegensen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joegensen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Joegensen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Willidirim being controlled here momentarily.
Willidirim trying to control the position from guard on top but Joegensen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hassan Willidirim.
Joegensen thows a body shot but no joy.
Willidirim throws a shot to the body.

Willidirim drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Joegensen trying to keep a closed guard but Willidirim is proving a slippery customer.
Willidirim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joegensen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joegensen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Joegensen tries to get out of the position.
Willidirim postures up in Joegensen's guard and throws a big left but Joegensen blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joegensen keeping moving, preventing Willidirim from controlling successfully.
Joegensen trying to keep a closed guard but Willidirim is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Joegensen.

Willidirim gets a takedown into half guard.
Joegensen wants to control but Willidirim is keeping busy.
Willidirim throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joegensen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Willidirim.
Willidirim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Joegensen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Joegensen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Willidirim.
Willidirim trying to control the action but Joegensen is working from the bottom.
Joegensen punching from the bottom.
Tom Joegensen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Willidirim decides to stand and escape the position.

Joegensen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Willidirim napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willidirim sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hassan Willidirim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Joegensen is working for an americana but Willidirim has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Joegensen was thinking about the submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hassan Willidirim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Willidirim 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

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