PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xiao Hua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saddam Hussain (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.

Hua
vs
Hussain

176 cm
32
155 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

162 cm
36
155 lbs
28 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute
Mango Nutrition

Mango Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Xiao Hua!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saddam Hussain!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Hussain.
Hussain jabs Hua to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hussain lands a right hook to the body.
Hussain tries to land a front kick but Hua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hussain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hua.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Hua checks it
and Hua counters with a body kick.
Hua on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Saddam Hussain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hussain defending well as Hua loads up on a big left hand.
Hua avoids the head kick by Hussain.
A clash of legs there as Hua blocks the low kick.
Hussain misses with a kick to the body.

Hua instigates a clinch.
Hussain is leaning against Hua and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hua working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hua lands a knee to the body.
Hua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Hua.
Hussain working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hussain doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike from Hua.
Hua softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hua tries a body shot but Hussain blocks it.
Hua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hua misses with the head strike.
Hua lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hussain avoiding damage as Hua throws knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hua.
Hua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hua misses with an elbow over the top.
Hussain makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hussain has a couple of punches blocked by Hua.
Hua working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hussain has a couple of punches blocked by Hua.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hussain misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hua pushes off an throws an elbow but Hussain leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussain swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hussain lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hua backwards.
Hua trying to land knees to the body.
Hua pushes off an throws an elbow but Hussain leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hussain goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hua misses with an elbow strike.
Hussain scores with a shot to the side of Hua's head.
Hussain avoiding damage as Hua throws knees to the body.
Hussain avoids the elbow strike from Hua, against the cage.
Hussain misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hussain lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hua.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hussain creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Hussain fails to land.
Hussain avoids a wild elbow strike from Hua.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hua.

It looks like Saddam Hussain has been cut.
Hua pushes off an throws an elbow but Hussain leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hua lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Hussain.
Hussain tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hussain can't find room to land a body shot as Hua controls the action.
Hua pushes off an throws an elbow but Hussain leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hussain can't find room to land a body shot as Hua controls the action.
Hussain is working Hua over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hussain.
Hua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hussain blocks the elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hua throws an elbow but misses.
Hussain swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hussain can't find room to land a body shot as Hua controls the action.
Nice body punch from Hussain.
Hua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hussain dodges an elbow strike from Hua.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike.
Hussain lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Hua.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hua lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hua misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hua missing with knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Hussain.
A short body shot lands from Hua as the two fighters clinch.
Hussain lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hua backwards.
Hua blocking some punches.
Hussain swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hua swings wildly with an uppercut but Hussain uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hussain swings wildly with an uppercut but Hua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike from Hua.
Hua tries to land knees in the clinch but Hussain avoids the damage to the body.
Hua misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hussain lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hua working Hussain over with knees to the body.
Hussain tries to work over Hua's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Hussain.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike from Hua.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saddam Hussain will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Saddam Hussain'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.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hussain lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hua has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hua and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hussain swats away the attempt to clinch by Hua.
Hua throws a half hearted mid kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hua.
Hua tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Good shot there by Hussain.
Hua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Hua checks it
and Hua counters with a nice body shot.
Hussain swings for the body but Hua moves out of range.
Hussain scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hua throws a body kick that misses.
An inside leg kick from Hussain misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hua at a distance.
Hussain ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hua moves away.
Hua feints and then cracks Hussain's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hussain down.
Hussain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hua.
Hua shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hussain with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hussain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hussain jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hussain tried to score with a low kick but Hua checks it.
Hussain circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hussain. Hua does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hua's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hua duly obliges.
Hussain misses with a shot to the body
and Hua counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hussain throws the kick towards the body but Hua avoids it.
Hua checks a low kick from Hussain.
Hua throws a hook but Hussain avoids it easily.
Hussain looks to score with a jab to the body but Hua is just out of range.
Hussain misses with an uppercut.
Hussain throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hussain lands a head shot.
A low kick from Hussain is predictable there
and Hua counters with a body kick.
Hussain blocks the body kick.
Hua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hua slips under a jab from Hussain.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hussain!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain lands a nice looking body kick.
Hua throws a push kick but Hussain slaps the foot to one side.
Hussain throws a body kick that misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hua.
Hussain throws a sloppy head kick and Hua moves out of range easily.
Hua on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hussain wants to land a leg kick but Hua is out of range.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Hua checks it
and Hua counters with an inside leg kick.
Hua walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hussain.
Hussain defending well as Hua loads up on a big left hand.
Hussain bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hua's head backwards.
Hua is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hua rushes Hussain and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hua blocking some punches.
Hussain blocks a body shot from Hua.
Hua misses with a punch to the body.
Hussain dodges an elbow strike from Hua.
Hua tries to work over Hussain's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hussain misses with a hook from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hussain.
Hua lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hussain takes an elbow to the temple.
Hussain misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hua throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hua lands an elbow inside.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike from Hua.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hua.
Hua blocks a body shot from Hussain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saddam Hussain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saddam Hussain's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A kick lands to the mid section there for Hua.
Hua lands an overhand right.
Hussain with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hussain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hua manages to avoid it.
Hussain motions for Hua to come forward. Hussain throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hussain throws the kick towards the body but Hua avoids it.
Hussain lands with a good body shot.
Hua avoids the body shot from Hussain.
Saddam Hussain seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hua ducks under a wild hook from Hussain.
Crunch! Hua slams his shin into Hussain's torso.
Hua tries to clinch up.
Hussain misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hua moves out of range as Hussain throws a body kick.
Hussain fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hussain uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hua has time to react.
Hua tries to land a leg kick but Hussain saw it coming and moves away.
Hussain blocks a head kick by Hua.
Hussain misses with a low kick.
Hua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hua lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hussain is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hua rather than just go for the knockout.
Hussain misses with a low kick.
Hussain swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hussain misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Hussain!
Hua with a jab.
Hua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hussain swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hussain works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hussain throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hussain does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hussain throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hussain throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hussain throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hua.
A shot to the liver by Hussain. Beautiful body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hussain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hua moves out of range as Hussain throws a body kick.
Hussain moves out of range as Hua strikes.
Hussain throws a hook but Hua blocks it.
Hussain has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hua finds it's way round the side to connect with Hussain's head.
Hua uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hussain.
Hussain finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hua tries a head kick but it misses.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Hua checks it
and Hua counters with a straight right hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Hussain.

Hua gets a clinch.
Hussain misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Hua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain gets through Hua's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hua throws an elbow but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hussain swings wildly with an uppercut but Hua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hussain blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hua lands an uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hua obliges.
Xiao Hua has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hussain avoids a wild elbow strike from Hua.
Hussain lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hua throws an elbow but it misses.
Hussain lands a right hand.
Hua blocks a body shot from Hussain.
Hussain scores with an uppercut up the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hua blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hua misses with an elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Hua.
Hussain blocks the elbow strike.
Hua tries to work over Hussain's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saddam Hussain really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saddam Hussain's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hussain throws an overhand right that lands on Hua's shoulder, as Hua tries to avoid the shot.
Hussain looks for the body kick but Hua saw that one coming.
Hua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hussain throws out the jab.
Hua tries to clinch up but Hussain circles away and keeps his distance.
Hua is looking to clinch.
Hua blocks the body kick.
Hussain works Hua's body with a nice hook.
Hussain throws a low kick, looking for Hua's leg but Hua calmly moves out of range.
Hussain's corner calls for a 1-2. Hussain obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hussain misses with a body shot.
Hua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hua is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hussain throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hua stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hua lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hua scores with a spinning back kick!

Hua moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hua.
Hua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hussain lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hua blocks a body shot from Hussain.
Hua misses with an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Hua.
Hua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hua misses with an elbow strike.
A short right from Hussain on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hua tries to land knees in the clinch but Hussain avoids the damage to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hua gets through Hussain's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Hua.
Hussain misses with a body punch.
Hussain blocks a body shot from Hua.
Hussain lands an uppercut.
Hussain tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hua's elbow.
Hussain misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hussain lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hussain misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hua goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hussain misses with a body punch.
Hua scores with a shot to the side of Hussain's head.
Hua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hussain misses with a punch to the body.
Hussain doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Hussain scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hussain misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hua fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hussain is defending well for now.
Hussain fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hussain misses with a punch to the body.
Hussain can't find room to land a body shot as Hua controls the action.
Hua lands a nice elbow.
Hua misses with the head strike.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike from Hua.
Hussain avoids a wild elbow strike from Hua.
Hua takes a shot to the head.
Hua lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hua misses with an elbow strike.
Hua lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hussain tries to throw a body punch but Hua avoids it by throwing Hussain back against the cage.
Hua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hua prevents a body shot from Hussain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain managing to block the knees to the body from Hua.
Hussain lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hua or not.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short body shot lands from Hua as the two fighters clinch.
Hussain lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hua.
Hua lands an elbow inside.
Hussain misses with a punch on the inside.
Hua pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hussain avoiding damage as Hua throws knees to the body.
Hussain scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hussain lands a shoulder strike.
Hussain tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hua's elbow.
Hussain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hua lands a body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Hua fails to land.
Hussain has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hua.
Hua blocks a body shot from Hussain.
Hua creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Xiao Hua will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Saddam Hussain's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hussain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain throws a hook to the side of Hua's head but Hua sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hua.
Hua ducks right into an uppercut from Hussain.
Hussain throws a hook but Hua avoids it easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hussain lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hua has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hua and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hua misses with a body kick.
Hua lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hussain swings widly with a right hand
and Hua finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hussain misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain just misses with a punch to the body.
Hussain tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hua pushes Hussain away with a front kick.

Hua closes the distance and clinches.
Hussain lands a shoulder strike.
Hua lands a right hand.
Hua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short left from Hussain.
Hua's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hussain blocks the elbow strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hussain.

Hua is rocked!
Hussain struggles to land a body shot inside as Hua controls his hands.
Oh Hua is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike.
Hussain tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hussain throws a head punch that misses.
Hussain blocks an elbow strike from Hua.
Hussain working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hua trying to land knees to the body.
Hussain digs a right hand into Hua's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hua's gas tank.
Hua throws an elbow that misses.
Hussain struggles to land a body shot inside as Hua controls his hands.
Hussain lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hussain lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hussain lands with a short shot to the head.
Hua throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hussain lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hussain unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Hua! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Hussain is unloading with more strikes now! Hua drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Saddam Hussain!
Saddam Hussain is the new featherweight champion!
Saddam Hussain decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.