PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Bilkington (ranked 23640 p4p, 23593 weight class) and Asaki Hanaki (ranked 564 p4p, 607 weight class). Hanaki has chosen The HU - Wolf Totem as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bilkington
vs
Hanaki

186 cm
25
163
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
31
155
3 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Bilkington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Asaki Hanaki!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hanaki throws a push kick but Bilkington slaps the foot to one side.

Bilkington drives through and clinches with Hanaki against the cage.
Bilkington prevents a takedown attempt there.

Hanaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hanaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bilkington tries to clinch there but Hanaki circles away.
Bilkington closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hanaki circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hanaki lands a leg kick that knocks Bilkington off balance momentarily.
Hanaki misses with a combination

and Bilkington counters by clinching up.

Bilkington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkington is looking to clinch but Hanaki is avoiding it.
Hanaki misses with an uppercut.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hanaki enables Bilkington to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hanaki manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bilkington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bilkington postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanaki keeping full guard, as Bilkington tries to pass.
Bilkington's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hanaki is pulling down on Bilkington's head. It's preventing any offense from Bilkington, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hanaki looks to score with a jab to the body but Bilkington is just out of range.
Bilkington throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bilkington is looking to clinch but Hanaki is avoiding it.
Hanaki is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bilkington shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hanaki sprawls well. Hanaki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bilkington gets slowly back to his feet.
Hanaki throws a head kick that misses.
Bilkington shoots for a double leg takedown but Hanaki sprawls well. He's pushed Bilkington's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanaki stuffs the takedown attempt from Bilkington. Bilkington gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Hanaki as Bilkington shoots in.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bilkington or perhaps it was just good defense by Hanaki, which made it look bad.
Hanaki connects with a leg kick.
Hanaki fails to land with a series of punches.

Hanaki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hanaki wanted to stand there but Bilkington had control of the position.
Bilkington is looking to stand up but Hanaki isn't so interested in that idea.
Bilkington has control of Hanaki's left arm, preventing Hanaki from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington has a closed guard, preventing Hanaki from standing up.
Hanaki is stalling in the full guard.
Hanaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bilkington can't keep his opponent in guard - Hanaki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bilkington wants to control but Hanaki is keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Asaki Hanaki dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bilkington showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanaki.
Hanaki misses with the combination.
Hanaki throws a leg kick but Bilkington sees it coming and moves out of range.

Hanaki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hanaki working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Bilkington is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bilkington has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hanaki is on him like a limpet, forcing Bilkington back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bilkington lands a shoulder strike.
Hanaki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bilkington.
Bilkington jumps guard but Hanaki stands there with Bilkington around his waist. Bilkington gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hanaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bilkington pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bilkington looks for a takedown but Hanaki sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bilkington tries for a takedown but Hanaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hanaki throws a low kick, looking for Bilkington's leg but Bilkington calmly moves out of range.
Hanaki lands a nice hook to Bilkington's body. Bilkington takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bilkington throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hanaki's waist but Hanaki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bilkington off to one side.
Asaki Hanaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Hanaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hanaki prevents the takedown attempt.
Bilkington wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanaki won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington looking to slow down the pace here.

Hanaki has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bilkington uses from the top position.
Bilkington will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hanaki working a defensive guard here.
Hanaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hanaki keeping moving, preventing Bilkington from controlling successfully.

Hanaki has his foot on Bilkington's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bilkington works his way back into a safe position though.
Bilkington is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington trying to control but Hanaki is working from the bottom.

Hanaki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bilkington has picked Hanaki up and slammed him! Hanaki can't keep hold of the triangle and Bilkington manages to pass to side control!
Bilkington trying to control the action but Hanaki is working from the bottom.

Bilkington decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hanaki to his feet.
Hanaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bilkington as he jumps to the side.

Bilkington shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hanaki manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanaki trying to control the position.

Hanaki looking for a guillotine here but Bilkington defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hanaki wants to sweep here but Bilkington controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Asaki Hanaki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bilkington lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Asaki Hanaki has been cut.
Bilkington wants to clinch
and Hanaki counters with a one-two to the body.
Hanaki fails to land with a series of punches.

Bilkington has closed the distance and engaged Hanaki in a clinch.
Bilkington tries to score a body lock takedown but Hanaki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hanaki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bilkington is defending well for now.
Bilkington has Hanaki pressed against the cage, preventing Hanaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hanaki works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bilkington keeping full guard, as Hanaki tries to pass.
Hanaki wants to get up but he can't break Bilkington's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkington seems keen to control Hanaki's posture.
Hanaki wants to pass the guard but Bilkington is keeping the position.

Hanaki decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hanaki scores with a one two! Bilkington had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bilkington shoots for a double leg takedown but Hanaki sprawls well. He's pushed Bilkington's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hanaki throws a head kick but Bilkington moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bilkington.

Hanaki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bilkington to the mat! Bilkington manages to get full guard.
Hanaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bilkington controls Hanaki momentarily but Hanaki frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanaki engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Bilkington is pulling down on Hanaki's head. It's preventing any offense from Hanaki, at least for the moment.
Hanaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bilkington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hanaki is one step ahead there.
Bilkington controls Hanaki momentarily but Hanaki frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hanaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bilkington blocks the strikes from Hanaki.
Hanaki keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Hanaki is refusing to be controlled, as Bilkington sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hanaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bilkington lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hanaki trying to control but Bilkington postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asaki Hanaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hanaki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asaki Hanaki!
During a confident post fight interview, Asaki Hanaki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.