PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Baki Hanma (ranked 4096 p4p, 4349 weight class) and Luc Taala (ranked 259 p4p, 274 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.

Hanma
vs
Taala

167 cm
18
156
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 Tokyo, Baki Hanma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luc Taala!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taala takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Taala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Taala throws a head kick that Hanma semi-blocks.
Hanma misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taala tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hanma sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taala somewhat.
Hanma loads up on a big right hand but Taala slips the punch.
Hanma just misses with a punch to the body.
Baki Hanma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Taala is defended easily by Hanma.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanma misses with a double jab.
Taala shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hanma as he jumps to the side.
Baki Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luc Taala.
Hanma defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taala tries to clinch up.
Hanma throws a big counter combination but Taala scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hanma misses with a right hand
letting Taala counter with a right hand.

Taala clinches up with Hanma and pushes him back against the cage.

Hanma breaks from the clinch.
Hanma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hanma with a hook.
Hanma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hanma misses with an uppercut. Taala saw that one coming.
Taala changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Taala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hanma swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Taala closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hanma counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Taala shoots in looking for a takedown but Hanma manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taala's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A counter left hand to the body from Hanma misses its target.
Hanma defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma connects with a jab.
Hanma swings for the body but Taala moves out of range.
Hanma takes a swing at Taala's ribcage but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taala tries to clinch but Hanma moves away
and Hanma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hanma throws a head kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Hanma throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hanma misses with a right hand
and Taala counters with a body kick that stops Hanma in his tracks momentarily.
Taala has his takedown stuffed
and Taala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Taala looks winded!
Hanma misses with a wild body shot.
Taala avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taala throws a lazy right hand but Hanma sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Hanma wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hanma loads up on a big right hand but Taala slips the punch.
Hanma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taala manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taala goes for a double leg but Hanma avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hanma continues to drive forward.
Hanma cracks a nice hook into Taala's ribs.
Hanma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taala blocks a jab.
Hanma swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Taala.
Taala moves out of range of the strikes.
Taala shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Luc Taala has been cut.
Taala throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hanma's waist but Hanma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taala off to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Hanma misses the target.
Taala moves out of range as Hanma strikes.
A combination from Hanma does no damage.
No luck for Taala with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Hanma.
Hanma scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taala tries to clinch but Hanma is having none of it.
Hanma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taala was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanma.
Hanma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hanma misses with a body shot.
Hanma lands a jab.
Hanma scores with a crisp jab that stopped Taala in his tracks.
Hanma cracks a nice hook into Taala's ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Baki Hanma dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luc Taala's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Taala fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hanma avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Taala.
Hanma throws a one two combo.
Hanma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taala.
Baki Hanma is winning the standup battle so far.
Hanma throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taala sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hanma has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Hanma throws a leg kick that is checked
and Taala counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hanma fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taala gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hanma wants to get back to striking at distance but Taala won't allow it.
Taala drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hanma pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hanma loads up on a big right hand but Taala slips the punch.
Taala lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Luc Taala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hanma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Taala shoots in for a takedown but Hanma shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Baki Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luc Taala.
Taala is breathing heavily.
Hanma misses with a body shot.
Taala shoots in for a takedown but Hanma shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Hanma misses the target.
Taala shoots in and drives through. Hanma sprawls well.
Hanma is looking to counter punch.
Hanma is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taala can do to turn this around?
Hanma lands with a shot to the body.
Hanma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Taala moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hanma throws a right and a left that Taala avoids nicely.
Taala takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hanma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hanma - that will leave a mark!
Hanma throws a body punch but Taala moves out of range.
Hanma thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Taala if he has to take too many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Hanma misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hanma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab, jab by Hanma - just one landing.
Taala shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hanma as he avoids it easily.
Hanma throws the kick towards the body but Taala avoids it.
Taala takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hanma throws a lazy right hand but Taala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab lands there for Hanma.
Hanma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hanma throws a shot from downtown. Taala moves away and avoids it.
Hanma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma misses with a shot to the body
and Taala counters with a leg kick.
Hanma misses with an uppercut. Taala saw that one coming.
Hanma misses with a body kick.
Hanma looks to score with a jab to the body but Taala is just out of range.
Taala misses with a takedown attempt
and Hanma counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hanma throws a body punch but Taala moves out of range.
Taala unleashes a big counter combination but Hanma bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hanma cracks Taala with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hanma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hanma with the inside leg kick.
Taala doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hanma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hanma throws a shot from downtown. Taala moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taala shoots in for a double leg but Hanma sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hanma scores with a leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hanma.
Hanma connects with a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Taala.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hanma connects with a body shot that sends Taala's belly button to the back.
Taala is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hanma sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hanma throws a hook but Taala avoids it easily.
Hanma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taala manages to avoid it.
Taala takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Taala avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taala is looking for the big counter here.
Taala shoots in and drives through. Hanma sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Baki Hanma dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luc Taala's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hanma throws a hook but Taala blocks it.
Taala staying out of range there.
Taala ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Hanma throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Taala moves in looking to clinch but Hanma pushes him off.
Taala closes the distance but Hanma moves to the side
and Hanma cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Taala slips a straight right by Hanma.
Taala throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanma throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Taala finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Taala fails with the takedown.
Hanma misses with an uppercut. Taala saw that one coming.
Taala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taala or perhaps it was just good defense by Hanma, which made it look bad.
Taala staying out of range there.
Taala keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hanma.
Nice takedown defense from Hanma. No joy for Taala on that attempt.
Baki Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luc Taala.
Taala slips under a jab from Hanma.
Hanma lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Taala uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanma.
Hanma stalks Taala and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taala's face. Taala staggers backwards, shaken.
Hanma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hanma throws a head kick but Taala moves out of range.
Taala now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Taala ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taala tries to counter by closing the distance.
Baki Hanma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma throws a right hand that Taala ducks under and follows up with a left that Taala also avoids with ease.
Hanma keeps Taala at a distance using the push kick.
Taala avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taala throws out a counter right but Hanma avoids it with no problem.
Taala is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Good leg kick by Hanma.
Hanma misses with a looping left.
Hanma lands a leg kick that knocks Taala off balance momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taala blocks a head kick by Hanma.
Taala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hanma.
Hanma swats away the attempt to clinch by Taala.
Taala blocks a jab.
Hanma misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taala or perhaps it was just good defense by Hanma, which made it look bad.
Taala is looking to clinch.
Taala fails with the takedown.
Hanma bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Taala's head backwards.
Hanma lands a nice hook to Taala's body. Taala takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hanma connects with a right hand. Taala shakes it off.
Taala slips a jab from Hanma.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hanma. That's going to slow Taala down.
Taala is trying desperately to land a takedown but Hanma is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Taala.
Taala dives in and grabs Hanma's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hanma pushes down on Taala's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Hanma misses.
Hanma looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hanma lands with a straight right. Taala didn't see that one coming.
A big right from Hanma misses.
Hanma lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Taala at a distance.
Hanma throws a body kick that misses

and Taala moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taala misses with some punches.

Taala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hanma throws a head kick but Taala moves out of range.
Hanma looks to throw the jab but Taala is out of range.
Luc Taala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taala uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hanma.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baki Hanma showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hanma, 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baki Hanma!