PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mohamed al Hadj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyr Asgaard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). al Hadj comes to the cage accompanied by Hypnotized Lebanon. Asgaard has chosen Oingo Boingo as his entrance music. Tyr Asgaard told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

al Hadj
vs
Asgaard

191 cm
30
200 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

189 cm
28
199 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohamed al Hadj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tyr Asgaard!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Asgaard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. al Hadj was covering up waiting for the punch and Asgaard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Asgaard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
al Hadj preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
al Hadj working a defensive guard here.
Asgaard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Asgaard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
al Hadj looking to hit a scissor sweep but Asgaard is one step ahead there.
Asgaard trying to control the position from guard on top but al Hadj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
al Hadj working a defensive guard here.
Asgaard looking to pass the guard.

Asgaard drops back, looking for a kneebar! al Hadj looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. al Hadj looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from al Hadj!
al Hadj has control of an arm but Asgaard manages to advance to al Hadj's back!

Asgaard is looking for a rear naked choke here but al Hadj reverses the position brilliantly into Asgaard's guard!
al Hadj tries to stand but Asgaard is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Asgaard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead al Hadj passes into side control.
Asgaard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Asgaard controls the position for a moment.

al Hadj stands up.
al Hadj misses with a leg kick

and Asgaard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asgaard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
al Hadj works his way to full guard. Good work.
al Hadj is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Asgaard postures up in al Hadj's guard and throws a big left but al Hadj blocks it.
Asgaard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. al Hadj is keeping the position for now.
Asgaard trying to move into half guard but instead al Hadj has managed to sweep!

al Hadj got a little sloppy there for a moment and Asgaard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, al Hadj has managed to get both his arms back between Asgaard's legs - danger averted.

Asgaard is looking for a triangle but al Hadj pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Asgaard working for submissions but it's allowed al Hadj to get to half guard.
al Hadj tries to stand and escape but Asgaard is controlling the position.
Asgaard wants to control but al Hadj is keeping busy.
Asgaard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Asgaard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asgaard has a closed guard, preventing al Hadj from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyr Asgaard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Asgaard throws a hook but al Hadj blocks it.
al Hadj fails to land with a series of punches.
al Hadj scoring well with a low kick there.
al Hadj takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
al Hadj lands a head kick. Asgaard smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Tyr Asgaard has been cut.
Asgaard throws a nice looking combination but al Hadj bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
al Hadj looks to throw the jab but Asgaard is out of range.
Asgaard throws a head kick that misses.
al Hadj ducks under a wild hook from Asgaard.
Asgaard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. al Hadj sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Asgaard tries a head kick but it misses.
Asgaard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
al Hadj scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Asgaard pushes al Hadj up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by al Hadj.
al Hadj misses with a hook from the clinch.
al Hadj is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Asgaard is defending well for now.
Asgaard blocks an elbow strike.
A short right from al Hadj.
Asgaard managing to block the knees to the body from al Hadj.
al Hadj throws an elbow but it's blocked.
al Hadj displaying some good clinch control by pressing Asgaard up against the cage.
Asgaard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
al Hadj pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, al Hadj throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, al Hadj just misses with a elbow thrown towards Asgaard's brow.
Asgaard managing to block the knees to the body from al Hadj.
al Hadj misses with the head strike.
al Hadj throws an elbow but it misses.
Asgaard dodges an elbow strike from al Hadj.
al Hadj pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Asgaard managing to block the knees to the body from al Hadj.
al Hadj lands an elbow that stopped Asgaard in his tracks for a moment.
Asgaard prevents a body shot from al Hadj.
Asgaard blocks an elbow strike from al Hadj.
Asgaard blocks an elbow strike from al Hadj.
Asgaard drops down looking for an ankle pick but al Hadj pulls his leg out and moves away.
Asgaard throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asgaard connects with the punch.
al Hadj lands a slapping body shot.
Asgaard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Asgaard stuns al Hadj with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Asgaard misses with a body shot.
Asgaard cracks al Hadj with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mohamed al Hadj is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Asgaard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Asgaard closes the distance and clinches.
al Hadj creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Asgaard's defenses.
al Hadj trying to land knees to the body.
al Hadj prevents the takedown attempt.
Mohamed al Hadj has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyr Asgaard.
Asgaard is looking for a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Asgaard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj lands an elbow inside.
al Hadj misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Asgaard.
al Hadj pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
al Hadj looks to throw an elbow but misses.
al Hadj misses with an elbow strike.
al Hadj lands a damaging elbow.
al Hadj creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
al Hadj lands on the inside with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
al Hadj holding his opponent close, against the cage.
al Hadj lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohamed al Hadj dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyr Asgaard's cut.
That's time! al Hadj's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

al Hadj connects with an inside leg kick.
Asgaard misses with a leg kick
and al Hadj counters with a series of strikes. Asgaard will be more careful next time no doubt.
al Hadj getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Asgaard moves into range and clinches up with al Hadj.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
al Hadj lands a damaging elbow.
Asgaard avoiding damage as al Hadj throws knees to the body.
Asgaard blocks an elbow strike from al Hadj.
Asgaard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but al Hadj gets the underhooks and prevents it.
al Hadj throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Asgaards head.
al Hadj creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
al Hadj misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asgaard tries to score a body lock takedown but al Hadj shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
al Hadj throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
al Hadj throws an elbow but it's blocked.
al Hadj misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Asgaard.
Asgaard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but al Hadj pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mohamed al Hadj has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyr Asgaard.
Asgaard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Asgaard avoiding damage as al Hadj throws knees to the body.
Asgaard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but al Hadj gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Asgaard can't break the clinch.
Asgaard takes an elbow to the forehead.

That has opened up Tyr Asgaard's cut even more.
A nice glancing elbow lands by al Hadj.
Asgaard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. al Hadj fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Asgaard sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
al Hadj slips under a jab from Asgaard.
Asgaard lands a really nice looking cross but al Hadj seems unphased.
al Hadj fails in his attempt to clinch.
Asgaard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asgaard throws a jab but it's blocked by al Hadj.
Mohamed al Hadj is winning the standup battle so far.
Asgaard blocks a head kick by al Hadj.
al Hadj wants to clinch up but Asgaard keeps it at a distance.
Asgaard misses with a hook.
A slapping leg kick lands for al Hadj.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asgaard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
al Hadj buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Asgaard throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck al Hadj on the side of the head.
Asgaard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
al Hadj ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
al Hadj fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Asgaard has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Asgaard shoots in for a takedown but al Hadj shows good takedown defense.
Asgaard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
al Hadj fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Asgaard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
al Hadj fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
al Hadj scores with a three punch combo!

The cut above Tyr Asgaard's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
A head kick from al Hadj lands but Asgaard takes it in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
al Hadj ducks under a wild hook from Asgaard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
al Hadj throws a sloppy head kick and Asgaard moves out of range easily.
al Hadj takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
al Hadj lands a leg kick that knocks Asgaard off balance momentarily.

Asgaard closes the distance and clinches.
Asgaard blocks the elbow strike.
al Hadj is defending well against a takedown attempt.
al Hadj lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Asgaard goes for a takedown attempt but al Hadj pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
al Hadj lands a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Asgaard throws a lazy right hand but al Hadj sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Asgaard has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Asgaard there as he acknowledges the shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohamed al Hadj showed his dominance in that final round.
I think al Hadj has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohamed al Hadj!
Mohamed al Hadj was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.