PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nagashima Hiroshima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Hester (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.

Hiroshima
vs
Hester

225 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
248 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nagashima Hiroshima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gary Hester!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hester tries to clinch up but Hiroshima circles away and keeps his distance.
Hiroshima tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hester counters by clinching up.

Hiroshima pulls Hester into guard.

Hiroshima had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hester is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hiroshima Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hester's back instead.
Hiroshima really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Hester is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hester misses with a body punch.

Hester breaks the clinch.
Hiroshima shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hester counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hester.
Hester is pressed up against the cage. Hiroshima has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hester down to the mat. Hester avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hiroshima clinches but Hester breaks the clinch

and Hester counters by moving into the clinch.
Hester misses with some punches.
Hester scores with a shot to the side of Hiroshima's head.
Hester working aggressively here.
Hester keeps control of Hiroshima as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Hiroshima turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hiroshima manages to end up in side control.
Hiroshima prevents Hester from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hester looking for a sweep but Hiroshima has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Hiroshima trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hester is looking to improve his position but Hiroshima isn't that keen on the idea.

Hiroshima looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hester wants to control but Hiroshima is having none of it.
Hester is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hester is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hester tries to control the position but Hiroshima now has his back.

Hiroshima is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hester is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Hester prevents Hiroshima from getting a body triangle.
Hester just trying to survive but Hiroshima is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Hester trying to get back to his feet but Hiroshima is in full control for now.

Hiroshima has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Hester tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hester looks gassed!
Hiroshima trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hiroshima moves to back control.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Hiroshima's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Hester manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hiroshima's guard. Nice work there by Hester.
Hiroshima trying to keep a closed guard but Hester is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hester passes into half guard.
Hiroshima manages to get to full guard.

Hester drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hiroshima manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hester has Hiroshima in his guard.
Hester keeping moving, preventing Hiroshima from controlling successfully.
Hiroshima showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hiroshima looking to pass the guard.
Hester wants to get back to his feet but Hiroshima is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiroshima wants to control from the top but Hester keeps moving.

Hester scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hiroshima fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hiroshima with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hester counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nagashima Hiroshima. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hiroshima is trying to control the position but Hester postures up.
Hester stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hiroshima swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hester trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hiroshima's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hester tries to free his leg and advance position but Hiroshima is retaining full guard.
Hester with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hester slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Hester dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hester clinches up against the cage.
Hester misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hester stalling in the clinch.
Hiroshima struggles to land a body shot inside as Hester controls his hands.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Hester. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Hester has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hiroshima regains guard immediately.

Hester gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hiroshima tries to clinch up

and Hester counters by moving into the clinch.
Hester misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hiroshima jumps into guard, dragging Hester to the mat.

Hester stands up and waves to Hiroshima to follow him.
Hester dodges the punch combination from Hiroshima.

Hester forces Hiroshima back against the cage and clinches.
Hiroshima can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hester escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hiroshima with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hester counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hester gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hester forces Hiroshima back against the cage and clinches.
Hester lands a nice uppercut.

Hester jumps into guard, dragging Hiroshima to the mat.

Hester scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hester cracks the inside of Hiroshima's front leg.
Hester blocks a head kick by Hiroshima.
Hiroshima misses with a takedown attempt

and Hester counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nagashima Hiroshima. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Hester gets to his feet. Hiroshima looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hiroshima with a poor takedown

and Hester moves into the clinch.
Hester goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hiroshima is working for takedown but Hester is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hester throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hiroshima.

Hester has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hiroshima regains guard immediately.

Hester stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiroshima shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hester as he jumps to the side.
Hiroshima will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hester tries to clinch but Hiroshima is having none of it.
Hiroshima cracks Hester with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hiroshima lands a left and a right that sends Hester crashing to the canvas! Hiroshima dives into mount looking to finish!

Hester is rocked!
Hester prevents Hiroshima from taking his back.
Hester is still in real trouble! Can Hiroshima finish him?
Hester is in all sorts of trouble here.
You get the feeling that Hester really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Hiroshima with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hester seems to have recovered his senses.
Gary Hester has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hester tries to reverse the position but Hiroshima maintains control.
Hiroshima unloads with some shots from mount but Hester bucks and avoids them well.
Hester is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiroshima throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hester regains half guard.
Hiroshima seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hester does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hiroshima is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hiroshima is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Hester makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A combination from Hiroshima does no damage.
Nice sprawl there from Hester as Hiroshima shoots in.

Hester rushes Hiroshima and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hiroshima gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hiroshima decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Hiroshima shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hester as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiroshima looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hiroshima with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hester counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hester.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hester preventing the sweep.
Hester working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hiroshima's head.

Hester stands and steps away. Hiroshima gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Hester takes the fight into the clinch.
Hiroshima blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hester.
Hiroshima tries to score a body lock takedown but Hester shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hiroshima blocks an uppercut.

Hiroshima pulls Hester into guard.

Hester gets to his feet - Hiroshima follows without any prompting.
Hiroshima avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hiroshima tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hester counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hester.

Hiroshima manages to pull guard.
Hester must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hiroshima manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hester manages to get himself to full guard.
Hiroshima will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Hester is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Hester showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hiroshima doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hester decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hiroshima's guard.

Hiroshima throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hester advances position into side control!

Hester working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hiroshima gets back to half guard.

Hester stands up and beckons Hiroshima to join him on the feet.
Hester tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hiroshima counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hester won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hiroshima prevents Hester from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hester sneaks back into half guard.
Hester moves into full guard.

Hester scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Hester has managed to clinch.

Hester tightens his grip and picks Hiroshima up, before dumping him to the ground. Hiroshima manages to land in guard.
Hiroshima keeping moving, preventing Hester from controlling successfully.

Hester stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Hester feints and as Hiroshima raises his hands in defense, Hester changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hester preventing the sweep.
Hiroshima manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hester manages to get himself to full guard.
Hester looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hiroshima wants to control from the top but Hester keeps moving.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Hester throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hiroshima uses it to pass to side control.
Hiroshima working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hester is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hiroshima is controlling him well.

Hiroshima thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hester wants to control but Hiroshima postures up.
Hester gets back to half guard.
Hiroshima prevents Hester from improving his position.
Hiroshima thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hester's head.
Hiroshima wants to pass to mount but Hester is defending the position.
Hester pushes Hiroshima off looking to stand but Hiroshima dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiroshima thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hester works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hester wants to sweep here but Hiroshima controlling him for the moment.
Hester can't keep his opponent in guard - Hiroshima advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hiroshima throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hester looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hester makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hester.
Hiroshima stopping the sweep attempt from Hester.

Hiroshima avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hester wants to sweep here but Hiroshima controlling him for the moment.
Hester keeping moving, preventing Hiroshima from controlling successfully.

Hester has his feet on Hiroshima's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Hester drives through and clinches with Hiroshima against the cage.
Hester lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hiroshima backwards.

Hester gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hiroshima regains guard.
Nagashima Hiroshima has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hester stands and throws Hiroshima's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hester scoring with punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hiroshima gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hester looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hester lands with a punch from half guard.

Hester decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Hester comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hester 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Hester!