PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Saladin Hussain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Joe Saunders (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.

Hussain
vs
Joe Saunders

168 cm
25
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Saladin Hussain !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Billy Joe Saunders!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saunders swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saunders throws a right and a left that Hussain avoids nicely.
Hussain tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saunders defends well and Hussain ends up having to push Saunders into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saunders prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hussain has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Saunders avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saladin Hussain . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Saunders successfully pulls guard.
Hussain passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hussain wants to control but Saunders is keeping him busy.
Saunders is trying to get back to his feet.

Hussain tries for a kimura but Saunders is defending well.

Hussain working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Saunders!
Hussain wants to control the pace but Saunders is squirming around nicely.
Saunders's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Hussain is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Saunders is surviving well by controlling Hussain 's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saunders holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hussain tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Saunders wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Hussain looking to secure an arm triangle but Saunders defends it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hussain trying to control but Saunders is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saunders can do anything to dispel that myth.

Hussain working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Saunders really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hussain . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saunders tries to buck Hussain off but he can't manage it.
Hussain sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hussain wants to control the pace but Saunders is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hussain get's back to his feet.
Hussain dives in for a single leg takedown but Saunders sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hussain is looking to take this one to the mat.

Saunders gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saunders tries to stand and escape but Hussain is controlling the position.

Hussain actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saunders seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saladin Hussain dominated that round.
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.

Saunders with a hook.
Saunders fails to land with a series of punches.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Saunders.
Hussain is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Hussain 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hussain manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
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.
Hussain moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Saunders is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Hussain has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Saunders is looking to defend but Hussain has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Saunders! Hussain pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Saunders taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Saladin Hussain !