PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sadiq Hossein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hossein
vs
Speed

170 cm
33
152 lbs
25 - 15 - 4

177 cm
29
159 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

REAR NAKED CHOKE NUTRITION

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 25 - 15 - 4, fighting out of New York, Sadiq Hossein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rufus Speed!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hossein throws a jab but it's blocked by Speed.
Hossein throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Speed stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Speed fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Hossein. Those never looked like landing.
Speed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hossein manages to avoid it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hossein crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Speed - the referee stops the clock and Hossein gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Speed. Hossein manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Speed scores with a decent looking hook.
Hossein is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Speed.
Hossein ducks under a wild hook from Speed.
Speed tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hossein is able to avoid easily.
Hossein checks a leg kick.
Speed fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hossein is out of range.
Hossein moves out of range as Speed throws a body kick.
Hossein connects with the punch.
Hossein misses with a few strikes there.
Speed feints and then cracks Hossein's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hossein down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Speed lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hossein misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Speed finds it's target.

Speed darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hossein tries to get to full guard but Speed has control of the leg.
Hossein is trying to control but can't.

Speed is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Speed slips a nice elbow through Hossein's hands, connecting with Hossein's forehead.
Speed wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hossein keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hossein trying to hold on to Speed's head to control him but Speed postures up.
Hossein is refusing to be controlled, as Speed sits in half guard.
Hossein is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Speed's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Speed's back!
Speed is keeping busy.
Hossein keeps control of the position as Speed tries to break free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hossein trying to control.

Hossein is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Speed knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Speed for a finish.
Hossein tries to get the hooks in deep but Speed pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hossein has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hossein keeps control of the position as Speed tries to break free.
Speed controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.

Hossein has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Speed has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Hossein is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Speed defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Hossein working for a choke but Speed is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hossein gets his hands free as Speed looks to control.
Speed rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Speed wants to improve his position but Hossein is controlling well.
Speed has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Hossein wants to take a breather but Speed is having none of it.
Hossein passes to side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Speed can't do much from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hossein wants to lay and pray for a moment but Speed keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sadiq Hossein will probably get the nod.
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.

A right-left combo lands from Hossein.
Speed cracks Hossein with an open hand slap.
Speed throws a leg kick but Hossein moved away.
Speed scores with a head kick. Hossein tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Speed pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Speed pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Speed cracks Hossein with a good jab.
Speed tried to score with a low kick but Hossein checks it.
Hossein takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hossein pushes Speed away with a front kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hossein works Speed's body with a nice hook.
Hossein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Speed swings for the body but Hossein moves out of range.
Rufus Speed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hossein lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Speed lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed avoids the body shot from Hossein.
Speed lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hossein's sensitive parts.
Hossein throws a body shot but no joy.
Speed has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hossein.
Hossein fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hossein throws a lazy right hand but Speed sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Speed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Speed tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hossein was well out of range. Poor timing from Speed.
Speed misses with a low kick as Hossein jumps back.
Hossein misses with a jab, cross combination.
Speed takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hossein has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Speed.
Hossein misses with the combination.
Hossein takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hossein sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sadiq Hossein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hossein jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick from Hossein misses

and Speed decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hossein's guard.
Speed wants to control from the top but Hossein keeps moving.
Hossein utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Speed working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hossein wants to sweep but no luck.
Speed trying to control the position from guard on top but Hossein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed throws a big elbow that misses.
Speed postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Speed forces his way into half guard.
Hossein regains full guard. Nicely done.
Speed throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Speed pushing down on Hossein's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Speed is just content to waste time from the top position. Hossein takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Speed throws a strike but Hossein rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hossein wants to pass the guard but Speed is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Speed looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Hossein decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Speed has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hossein will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Speed swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hossein is looking to score with low kicks.
Hossein scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Speed showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hossein misses with a double jab.
Rufus Speed seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Speed swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A cross from Speed lands.
Hossein cracks Speed with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Speed takes the fight into the clinch.
Hossein tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speed's elbow.
Speed tries to throw a body punch but Hossein avoids it by throwing Speed back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Speed pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hossein throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Speed sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hossein takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Speed thumps Hossein with a low kick.
Speed takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Speed shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hossein as he avoids it easily.
Speed uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hossein.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hossein lands a jab to the nose.
Hossein lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Speed bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A good leg kick by Hossein.
Speed throws a lazy right hand but Hossein sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Speed uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hossein.
Hossein works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Speed moves away from the strike by Hossein.
Hossein throws a head kick that misses.
Hossein throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hossein looks to throw the jab but Speed is out of range.
Speed lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hossein looks to land a combination but Speed avoids it well.
Speed lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Speed. That's going to slow Hossein down.

Speed looking to score a takedown here. Hossein is defending well but Speed drives through and ends up in Hossein's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Speed trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Speed stands up over Hossein, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Speed is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hossein working a defensive guard here.
Hossein is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Speed throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Speed accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hossein manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Speed wants to control but Hossein is having none of it.
Speed is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hossein trying to control but Speed is having none of it.
Speed is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hossein working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Speed turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Hossein off and cradles Speed's limp body as Hossein celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Sadiq Hossein!
Sadiq Hossein thanked the fans post fight for their support.