PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Saladin Hussain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Macari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hussain
vs
Macari

168 cm
29
173 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

160 cm
28
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Voodoo Nutrition

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saladin Hussain !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Macari!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hussain throws a right hand that Macari ducks under and follows up with a left that Macari also avoids with ease.
Macari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hussain misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hussain misses with a double jab.
Hussain misses with a two punch combination.
Hussain feints a jab promting Macari to slip. Hussain then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Macari slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hussain misses with a series of wild punches.
Hussain throws a right hand that Macari ducks under and follows up with a left that Macari also avoids with ease.
A combination from Hussain does no damage.
Hussain moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hussain looks to land a combination but Macari avoids it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Macari looks to land a left hand but Hussain moved out of range nicely.
Hussain throws a nice looking combination but Macari bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hussain lands with a nice combination. Macari backs away looking to recover.
Macari misses with the combination.
Hussain tries to bum rush Macari with a series of wild strikes but Macari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Macari wants to counter the offense by Hussain and move into the clinch position.
Hussain misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Macari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hussain .
Saladin Hussain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hussain throws a right hand that Macari ducks under and follows up with a left that Macari also avoids with ease.
Hussain has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The House of Savage in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Hussain , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hussain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hussain sets himself, and Macari steps forward looking for the clinch! Hussain avoids it this time.
Macari throws a sloppy head kick and Hussain moves out of range easily.
Hussain slips a jab from Macari.
Hussain rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Macari moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Macari throws a nice looking combination but Hussain bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hussain throws a right and a left that both miss.
Macari is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Macari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hussain .
Hussain lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Hussain swats away the attempt to clinch by Macari.
Macari throws a head kick but Hussain moves out of range.
A combination from Hussain does no damage.
Hussain misses with a two punch combination.

Hussain closes the distance and pushes Macari back into the cage.
Hussain misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Macari is looking to control Hussain 's arms but Hussain gets an underhook and turns him. Now Macari has his back to the cage.
Hussain lands with a light punch inside.

Macari breaks the clinch.
Hussain moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Hussain does no damage.
Hussain keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Macari.
Hussain seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hussain blocks a head kick by Macari.
Hussain throws a one two combo.
Macari looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hussain misses with a two punch combination.
Macari wants to counter with a clinch but Hussain pushes him away.
Hussain displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hussain throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hussain misses with a two punch combination.
Macari misses with a low kick as Hussain jumps back.
Macari tries to close the distance and clinch but Hussain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Hussain . Those never looked like landing.
Hussain throws a nice looking combination but Macari bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Macari throws a sloppy head kick and Hussain moves out of range easily.
Hussain misses with a two punch combination.
Hussain takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Hussain rushes Macari and presses him up against the cage.
Macari looking to slow down the pace here.
Hussain tries to land a knee to the head but Macari blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Macari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hussain swinging wildly here.

Hussain darts in and clinches Macari up against the cage.
Hussain misses with a knee to the head.
Hussain fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Macari breaks from the clinch.
Hussain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hussain keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Macari tries a head kick but it misses.
Macari dodges the punch combination from Hussain .
Macari is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Hussain slips a jab and a cross from Macari.
Sloppy strikes from Hussain . Those never looked like landing.
Macari tries to clinch up.
Macari misses with a wild body shot.
Nice defenses there by Hussain .
It looked like Hussain was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Macari eats them both and turns towards Hussain to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hussain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Macari.
Macari tries to land a leg kick but Hussain saw it coming and moves away.
Hussain misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hussain tries to bum rush Macari with a series of wild strikes but Macari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Macari swinging wildly here.
Hussain misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Macari tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hussain swinging wildly here.
Macari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hussain swinging wildly here.
Some wild striking there from Hussain .
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right-left combo lands from Hussain .
Macari throws a sloppy head kick and Hussain moves out of range easily.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Macari throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
It looked like Hussain was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hussain lands a jab-cross combination.
Hussain misses with a double jab.
Macari throws a sloppy head kick and Hussain moves out of range easily.
Macari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hussain throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Macari counters by moving into the clinch.
Macari avoids a wild elbow strike from Hussain .
Macari tries to throw a body punch but Hussain avoids it by throwing Macari back against the cage.
Macari stalling.
Hussain goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Macari is trying to pull guard but Hussain has him pressed against the cage.
Hussain tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Macari avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Macari has a couple of punches blocked by Hussain .
Hussain is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Macari is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hussain .
Macari trying to stall but Hussain improves his position.
Macari dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hussain with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain missing with knees to the body.

Macari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Macari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Hussain , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A nice combination there by Hussain .
Saladin Hussain is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice combination there by Hussain .
Hussain misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Hussain .
Hussain looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hussain sets himself, and Macari steps forward looking for the clinch! Hussain avoids it this time.
Some wild striking there from Hussain .
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hussain swinging wildly here.
Macari throws out a loose jab but Hussain uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hussain misses with a jab, cross combination.
Macari dodges the punch combination from Hussain .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macari throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Macari tries to clinch there but Hussain circles away.
Macari tries to clinch but Hussain moves out of range.
Hussain lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Macari circles away quickly and effectively.
Sloppy strikes from Hussain . Those never looked like landing.
Macari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hussain swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Macari is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Some wild striking there from Hussain .
Hussain misses with a wild combination.
Macari tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hussain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hussain throws a right and a left that both miss.
A combination from Hussain does no damage.
Macari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Macari misses with a few strikes there.
Macari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hussain moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hussain throws a right and a left that Macari avoids nicely.
Macari steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hussain .
Hussain tries to bum rush Macari with a series of wild strikes but Macari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain misses with a jab, cross combination.
Macari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hussain swinging wildly here.
Hussain is working the combinations to good effect here.

Macari closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hussain misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Hussain .

Macari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Macari avoids a punch combination nicely.

Macari drives through and clinches with Hussain against the cage.
Hussain missing with knees to the body.
Macari blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hussain looking to throw knees to the head but Macari is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain can't find room to land a body shot as Macari controls the action.
Macari is looking for a takedown.

Macari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Macari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hussain was well out of range. Poor timing from Macari.
Macari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Macari slips a jab and a cross from Hussain .
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Macari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hussain .
Macari wants to clinch up but Hussain keeps it at a distance.
Macari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hussain .
Hussain throws a right hand that Macari ducks under and follows up with a left that Macari also avoids with ease.
Macari misses the shot to the body.
Macari moves in looking to clinch but Hussain pushes him off.
Macari avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hussain tries to bum rush Macari with a series of wild strikes but Macari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hussain misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saladin Hussain dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hussain throws a right hand that Macari ducks under and follows up with a left that Macari also avoids with ease.
Macari wants to clinch up but Hussain keeps it at a distance.
Hussain is looking for a counter combo.
Macari takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Macari tries to clinch but Hussain is having none of it.

Macari darts in and clinches Hussain up against the cage.
Macari content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Macari blocks the elbow strike.
Saladin Hussain has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Macari tries to land knees in the clinch but Hussain avoids the damage to the body.
Macari is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hussain misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hussain creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Macari avoids a wild elbow strike from Hussain .
Hussain with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hussain pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hussain goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Macari taking a breather.
Hussain lands a hook to the side of the head.
Macari tries for a takedown but Hussain manages to get underhooks.
Hussain throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Macari is defending well for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Macari is working for takedown but Hussain is calmly controlling the position for now.
Saladin Hussain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Macari.
Hussain scores with a shoulder strike.
Hussain throws a knee to the head but misses.
Macari is looking to control Hussain 's arms but Hussain gets an underhook and turns him. Now Macari has his back to the cage.
Hussain tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Macari misses with the head strike.
Hussain lands with a light punch inside.
Hussain goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Macari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hussain is keeping busy.
Hussain is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Macari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hussain is keeping busy.
Hussain tries a body shot but Macari blocks it.
Hussain tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Macari's elbow.
Hussain tries to throw a body punch but Macari avoids it by throwing Hussain back against the cage.
Hussain tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Macari's elbow.
Hussain struggles to land a body shot inside as Macari controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macari effectively controlling the action here.

Macari manages to break the clinch.
Macari dodges the punch combination from Hussain .
Hussain is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Macari can do to turn this around?
Hussain misses with the combination.
Macari misses with a low kick.
Hussain avoids the head kick by Macari.

Hussain gets a clinch.
Hussain digs a right hand underneath Macari's ribcage. Macari let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Macari blocking some punches.
Macari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Macari tries for a takedown but Hussain manages to get underhooks.
Hussain gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Macari.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hussain tries a body shot but Macari blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain misses with the head strike.
Hussain struggles to land a body shot inside as Macari controls his hands.
Macari tries to stall but Hussain uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Macari looking to stall.
Macari seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hussain fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Saladin Hussain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Knees to the body from Macari.
Hussain looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Macari pulls guard.
Hussain in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hussain has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hussain is stalling in the full guard.
Hussain looking to sit in guard and control but Macari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macari trying to control the position from guard on top but Hussain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hussain not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hussain bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Macari's guard.

Hussain not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hussain stopping the sweep attempt from Macari.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saladin Hussain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hussain , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saladin Hussain !
A victorious Saladin Hussain thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.