PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Brown (ranked 2235 p4p, 2148 weight class) and Hatori Hanzo (ranked 279 p4p, 269 weight class). Brown comes into the arena with I’ll Whip Ya Head Boy blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brown
vs
Hanzo

180 cm
44
166
38 - 46 - 4

177 cm
26
163
9 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 46 - 4, fighting out of Hilo, John Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hatori Hanzo!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brown throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Brown showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanzo.
Brown will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hanzo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hanzo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Brown's head.

It looks like John Brown has been cut.
Hatori Hanzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brown throws a head kick that misses.
Hanzo misses with a body shot.
Brown is looking to counter the offense by Hanzo and move into the clinch.
Hanzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brown moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brown moves out of range of the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Brown misses the target.
Hanzo has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Brown is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Hanzo misses with a looping left.
Brown dodges the punch combination from Hanzo.
Brown fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo looks to land a combination but Brown avoids it well.
A jab from Hanzo misses.
Hanzo misses with a hook
and Brown counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hatori Hanzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Brown.
Hanzo misses the shot to the body.
Brown is looking to counter the offense by Hanzo and move into the clinch.

Brown decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hanzo pushes Brown off looking to stand but Brown dives back in and keeps control.
Brown is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Brown not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Still in half guard, Brown seems content to control.
Brown lands strikes from half guard.
Brown has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Brown.
Brown sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hanzo defending well though.
Brown performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Brown drops an elbow to the side of Hanzo's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brown wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanzo keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brown is taking a breather. Hanzo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Brown missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hanzo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Brown scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hanzo tries to roll over but Brown keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Brown missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Brown looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Brown wants to free his trapped foot but Hanzo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hanzo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brown.
Brown lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Brown passes the guard and advances to mount!
Hanzo is trying desperately to improve position.
We've been hearing that Brown has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Brown lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hanzo is looking to escape.
Brown is landing with some decent strikes but Hanzo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Brown lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Brown postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hanzo looks a forlorn figure.
Brown lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hanzo hang on?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brown unloading with bombs!
Brown lands a couple of good shots and Hanzo has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Brown lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Brown lands a shot to the head.
Brown is punishing Hanzo with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Brown dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Brown's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hanzo misses with a straight left.
Hanzo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
John Brown is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Brown throws a right and a left that Hanzo avoids nicely.
Hanzo scores with a jab.
A big left from Hanzo misses.
Hanzo misses with an uppercut. Brown saw that one coming.
Hanzo throws a big shot that misses.
Hanzo throws an overhand right that lands on Brown's shoulder, as Brown tries to avoid the shot.
Brown closes the distance and clinches up with Hanzo, looking for a takedown. Brown pushes Hanzo against the cage but Hanzo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Hanzo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Brown swats away the attempt to clinch by Hanzo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Hanzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Brown misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown moves out of range as Hanzo strikes.
Brown is looking to counter the offense by Hanzo and move into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Hanzo.
Hanzo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Brown counters with a series of strikes. Hanzo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hanzo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Brown looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Brown takes a swing at Hanzo's ribcage but misses.
Hanzo moves out of range of the body kick.
Brown misses with a wild combination.
Hanzo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Brown momentarily.
Brown throws a head kick but Hanzo moves out of range.
Brown tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hanzo swivels and escapes.
Hanzo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hanzo looks to score with a jab to the body but Brown is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hanzo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Brown counters with a one-two to the body.
Brown ducks under a wild hook from Hanzo.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Brown.
Hanzo throws an off balance right hand
and Brown connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Brown throws a half hearted mid kick.
Brown showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanzo.
A punch combination from Hanzo misses.
Hanzo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brown takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Brown throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hanzo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hanzo throws a hook but Brown avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Brown misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanzo. Brown does a little dance to reset his feet.

Brown shoots in and gets a takedown into Hanzo's guard.
Brown postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Brown looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hanzo looking for a sweep. Not yet Hanzo, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown scoring with some ground and pound.
Brown lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Brown postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Brown throwing strikes but missing.
Brown advances position into side control!
Brown grinds an elbow into Hanzo's temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanzo is letting Brown control him for a moment.
Brown working the body and head with strikes.
Hanzo taking a bit of punishment here - Brown scoring with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Brown will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Brown's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hanzo misses with a body shot.
Brown fails to land with a series of punches.
Brown avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A slow jab from Hanzo misses its intended target.
Brown seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hatori Hanzo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Brown walks into a left hand.
Brown takes a swing at Hanzo's ribcage but misses.
Brown shoots in for a double leg but Hanzo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Brown is defended easily by Hanzo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanzo misses with a looping left.
Hanzo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hanzo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Brown counters with a shoot takedown. Hanzo fights it but they end up in guard.
Brown stands and throws Hanzo's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo can't do much from the bottom here.
Brown wants to control but Hanzo is keeping him busy.
Brown cracks Hanzo with a big elbow.
Hanzo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hanzo defending against the ground and pound.
Brown wants to control but Hanzo is keeping him busy.
Brown scoring with punches and elbows.
Hatori Hanzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brown is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hanzo will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanzo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Brown connects with a decent elbow.
Brown working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hanzo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
John Brown is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Brown lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Brown landing shots from mount.
BOOM! Brown connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Brown controlling from the full mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Brown scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hanzo?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Brown with the ground and pound from mount.
Brown pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Brown lands a big shot there that rocks Hanzo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Brown controlling the position easily from mount.
Brown with shots to the head and body - Hanzo looks very uncomfortable down there.
John Brown overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brown dominating with strikes here.
Brown controlling from mount.
Brown working Hanzo over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hanzo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brown tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Brown pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Brown controlling from the full mount.
Brown lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Brown unloading with bombs!
Hanzo can't escape the position.
Brown sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Brown showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brown, 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Brown!
Hatori Hanzo was interviewed post fight and said 'I got a white belt what'd yall expect'.