PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tarmugi Hassan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Francis (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.

Hassan
vs
Francis

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tarmugi Hassan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Francis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Francis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hassan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Francis somewhat.
Francis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Francis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Francis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tarmugi Hassan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hassan shoots in for a double leg but Francis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Francis keeps the fight on the outside.

Francis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hassan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Francis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Francis is looking to advance position but Hassan won't allow it.
Francis with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hassan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hassan looking for submissions off his back.
Francis wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Francis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Hassan actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hassan is looking to control Francis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hassan avoid being mounted?
Francis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Francis lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis trying to control the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Michael Francis wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hassan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Francis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hassan wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hassan tries to clinch up but Francis circles away and keeps his distance.
Hassan shoots in looking for a takedown. Francis tries to sprawl out of it but Hassan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Francis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hassan misses with a wild combination.
Hassan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hassan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Francis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hassan fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Hassan decides to stand up, so the ref orders Francis to his feet.
Hassan is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hassan fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Francis will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hassan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Francis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hassan lands with a cross.
Francis defending well as Hassan loads up on a big left hand.
Francis staying out of range there.

Francis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Francis moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hassan is trying to control Francis's posture but Francis avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Francis in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Michael Francis hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Francis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Francis 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis looking to pass the guard.

Hassan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Francis looking to pass the guard.
Francis trying to control but Hassan is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Francis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hassan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hassan wants it to stay on the feet.
Hassan lands a jab to the nose.
Hassan shoots for a takedown but Francis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hassan goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hassan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Francis swivels and escapes.

Francis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Francis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Francis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Francis slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Francis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Francis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hassan.
Hassan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Francis.
Hassan cracks Francis with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hassan tries to clinch up.
Hassan works Francis's body with a nice hook.
Francis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Francis wants it to stay on the feet.
Hassan shoots for a takedown but Francis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarmugi Hassan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloppy strikes from Francis. Those never looked like landing.
Francis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hassan stalks Francis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Francis's face. Francis staggers backwards, shaken.
Francis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hassan.
Tarmugi Hassan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Francis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hassan!

Francis decides to stand back up. Francis steps back and let's Hassan get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Francis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Francis showed some decent athleticism there.

Francis stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Francis closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hassan quickly recovers to half guard.
Francis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Francis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hassan sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Francis is working for a kimura but Hassan is defending it quite comfortably.
Francis trying to control from half guard but Hassan is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hassan trying to control but Francis postures up.

Francis gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Francis throws a leg kick that is checked

and Hassan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hassan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Francis's head.
Hassan is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Francis holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hassan wants to stand but Francis has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Francis is defending against the submission attempts here by Hassan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hassan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Francis defending well though.
Hassan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Francis's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Francis flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Francis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Francis.
Tarmugi Hassan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Francis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Francis pushes Hassan off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Francis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Francis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Francis!