PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kakashi Hataki (ranked 4598 p4p, 3651 weight class) and Nate Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Hataki
vs
Ferguson

173 cm
25
157
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
145
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kakashi Hataki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nate Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hataki 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.
Ferguson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hataki connects with a couple of short punches.
Ferguson keeping moving, preventing Hataki from controlling successfully.

Ferguson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hataki throws a big right hand that misses.
Hataki with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hataki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ferguson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hataki wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hataki scoring with some ground and pound.
Hataki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ferguson's head.
Hataki throwing strikes but missing.
Ferguson 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hataki stands up over Ferguson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hataki scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hataki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hataki postures up and lands a big shot to Ferguson's brow.
Hataki connects with a couple of short punches.
Hataki scoring with some ground and pound.
Hataki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ferguson trying to keep a closed guard but Hataki is proving a slippery customer.
Hataki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hataki landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hataki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ferguson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ferguson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hataki works over Ferguson with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hataki wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
Hataki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ferguson's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hataki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hataki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ferguson's head.

Ferguson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hataki postures up and lands a big shot to Ferguson's brow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ferguson has momentary wrist control but Hataki slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Hataki wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
Hataki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hataki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Hataki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hataki 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.
Hataki lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hataki lands a couple of elbows.
Hataki landing some decent shots from guard.

Ferguson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hataki passes into side control.
Ferguson looks winded!
Ferguson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hataki connects with a decent elbow.

Hataki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ferguson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ferguson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Ferguson taking a bit of punishment here - Hataki scoring with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hataki scores with punches from side control.
Hataki landing a few strikes.
Hataki working the ground and pound from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ferguson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Hataki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hataki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Hataki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hataki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hataki works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hataki scoring with punches and elbows.
Hataki scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ferguson to see if he's OK.
Ferguson manages to get back to half guard.

Hataki is looking for a kimura here.
Hataki wants to free his trapped foot but Ferguson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ferguson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hataki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kakashi Hataki dominated that round.
That's time! Hataki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hataki looks for a takedown but Ferguson sprawls well.
Ferguson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hataki throws a looping overhand right but Ferguson ducks down to avoid it.
Kakashi Hataki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hataki has Ferguson up against the cage in a clinch.
Hataki stalling in the clinch.
Hataki wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hataki is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hataki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hataki is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kakashi Hataki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson is pressed up against the cage. Hataki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ferguson down to the mat. Ferguson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hataki darts in and clinches Ferguson up against the cage.

Ferguson manages to pull guard.
Hataki wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.

Ferguson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ferguson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hataki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kakashi Hataki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hataki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hataki distracts Ferguson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hataki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hataki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ferguson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hataki defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hataki connects with a couple of short punches.
Hataki cracks Ferguson with a solid left hand.
Hataki looking to pass the guard.
Hataki is working Ferguson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hataki is working Ferguson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Ferguson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hataki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hataki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hataki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hataki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ferguson keeping moving, preventing Hataki from controlling successfully.

Ferguson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hataki defends it easily.
Ferguson is breathing heavily.

Ferguson working for a triangle but Hataki defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hataki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hataki working some strikes from top position.

Ferguson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hataki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hataki distracts Ferguson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Hataki drops back looking for a leg! Ferguson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ferguson manages to kick Hataki off! Hataki jumps back into Ferguson's guard.
Hataki chips away with some ground and pound.
Hataki stands up over Ferguson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Ferguson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hataki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ferguson is trying to keep Hataki in close.
Hataki connects with a couple of short punches.
Hataki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hataki landing with the ground and pound.

Ferguson working for a triangle but Hataki defends it easily.
Hataki chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hataki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ferguson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kakashi Hataki dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hataki misses with a takedown attempt - Ferguson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Hataki with that takedown attempt.
Hataki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kakashi Hataki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ferguson is defended easily by Hataki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hataki misses with a takedown attempt - Ferguson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson moves out of range of the strikes.
Hataki shoots in looking for a takedown. Ferguson tries to sprawl out of it but Hataki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ferguson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hataki tries for a takedown but Ferguson circles away easily

and Ferguson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hataki wants to control but Ferguson postures up.
Hataki is looking to regain half guard here but Ferguson keeps moving and retains side control.

Ferguson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ferguson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hataki is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Ferguson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hataki sees it coming and defends easily.
Ferguson wants to stand up but Hataki is controlling the position.
Ferguson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hataki gets full guard.

Hataki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ferguson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hataki looking for a guillotine here but Ferguson defends easily.

Hataki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hataki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ferguson has managed to get both his arms back between Hataki's legs - danger averted.
Hataki is trying to control the position but Ferguson postures up.

Ferguson drops back looking for a leg! Hataki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hataki manages to kick Ferguson off! Ferguson jumps back into Hataki's guard.

Hataki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ferguson defends it easily.

Hataki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ferguson is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hataki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ferguson defends well.
Ferguson trying to control but Hataki is working from the bottom.

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

Hataki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ferguson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ferguson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ferguson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ferguson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hataki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ferguson defends well.
Nate Ferguson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kakashi Hataki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hataki wants to sweep here but Ferguson controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kakashi Hataki.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hataki, 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kakashi Hataki!