PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ico Hakuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adrian Patricio (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.

Hakuza
vs
Patricio

170 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

163 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ico Hakuza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Adrian Patricio!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Patricio fails with a takedown attempt.
Hakuza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hakuza scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Patricio has Hakuza up against the cage in a clinch.
Patricio is working for takedown but Hakuza is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hakuza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Patricio prevents it.

Hakuza jumps into guard, dragging Patricio to the mat.
Hakuza wants to get back to his feet but Patricio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hakuza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Patricio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hakuza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hakuza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patricio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hakuza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Patricio is controlling him.
Hakuza is trying to keep Patricio in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Patricio rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hakuza moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Patricio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ico Hakuza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adrian Patricio.
Hakuza lands a front kick.
Patricio shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hakuza sprawls well. Hakuza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Patricio gets slowly back to his feet.
Patricio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hakuza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Patricio with a poor takedown
and Hakuza counters with an inside leg kick.
Patricio keeps the fight on the outside.
Patricio fails with a takedown attempt.
Hakuza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Patricio.
Patricio looks gassed!
Hakuza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Patricio changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hakuza tries to avoid it but Patricio manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hakuza to the ground. Hakuza escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Hakuza scores with a takedown into Patricio's guard.
Hakuza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hakuza wants to get up but he can't break Patricio's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakuza trying to control but Patricio is working from the bottom.
Patricio has his hands on Hakuza's head, controlling the position.
Patricio is looking to stand up but Hakuza isn't so interested in that idea.
Patricio keeping moving, preventing Hakuza from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hakuza throws a big right hand that misses.
Patricio is looking to stand up but Hakuza isn't so interested in that idea.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Patricio throws a series of punches but Hakuza moves out of range.
Hakuza wants to clinch up but Patricio keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Patricio fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Patricio does no damage.
Patricio circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Patricio shoots in but Hakuza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hakuza fails to land the takedown.
Patricio tries to clinch up but Hakuza circles away and keeps his distance.
Hakuza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Patricio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Patricio fails with the takedown.
Patricio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hakuza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Patricio tries to close the distance and clinch but Hakuza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Patricio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hakuza counters with a leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hakuza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Patricio circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ico Hakuza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patricio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hakuza.
Ico Hakuza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Patricio throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hakuza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Patricio's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hakuza looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Patricio can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hakuza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hakuza wants to control from the top but Patricio keeps moving.
Patricio wants to stand and escape but Hakuza is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patricio wants to sweep here but Hakuza controlling him for the moment.
Hakuza trying to control the position from guard on top but Patricio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hakuza with a flurry of punches that miss.

Hakuza is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patricio wants to break free but Hakuza has control.
Patricio wants a takedown but no success here.
Hakuza tries to pull guard but Patricio holds him up against the cage and eventually Hakuza drops back down to his feet.
Hakuza prevents Patricio from breaking the clinch.
Patricio can't break the clinch.
Hakuza has Patricio pressed against the cage, preventing Patricio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Patricio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Patricio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Patricio tries for a takedown but Hakuza manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hakuza wants a takedown.
Hakuza tries to score a body lock takedown but Patricio shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Patricio is trying to force a seperation but Hakuza has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Hakuza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Patricio is trying to break the clinch but Hakuza is controlling him.
A short right from Patricio on the inside.
Patricio wants to break the clinch but can't.
Patricio tries to break the clinch but Hakuza is controlling the position.
Hakuza wants a takedown.
Patricio working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hakuza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Patricio has had enough of the clinch but Hakuza keeps him there for the moment.
Patricio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Patricio's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ico Hakuza dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Patricio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Adrian Patricio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Patricio clinches but Hakuza breaks the clinch
and Hakuza counters with an outside leg kick.
Hakuza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Patricio as he jumps to the side.
Patricio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Patricio leaves Hakuza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Patricio tries to close the distance and clinch but Hakuza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hakuza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Patricio looks to score with a jab to the body but Hakuza is just out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hakuza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Patricio smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ico Hakuza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patricio looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hakuza is fending him off so far but Patricio persists. Nope, Hakuza circles away and we're back to standing.
Patricio misses with a body shot
and Hakuza counters with a two punch combo.
Hakuza dodges the punch combination from Patricio.
Patricio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hakuza defends it nicely.
Patricio dodges the punch combination from Hakuza.
A left and a right from Patricio both land. Nice combination.
Adrian Patricio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hakuza closes the distance but Patricio moves to the side
and Patricio counters with a one-two to the body.
Hakuza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Patricio but Patricio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hakuza takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Patricio tries to clinch but Hakuza is having none of it.
Patricio tries to close the distance and clinch but Hakuza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hakuza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Patricio but Patricio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Patricio shoots for a takedown but Hakuza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Patricio looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Patricio throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hakuza counters with a solid body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patricio with a poor takedown

and Hakuza counters by moving into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hakuza is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Patricio tries a body shot but Hakuza blocks it.
A body shot lands from Patricio.
Hakuza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Patricio prevents it.
Hakuza keeps control of Patricio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good body shot from Patricio.
Patricio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hakuza pulls his leg out and moves away.
Patricio throws a nice looking combination but Hakuza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Patricio misses with a two punch combination.
Hakuza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Patricio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hakuza.

Patricio scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hakuza is trying to improve his position.
Ico Hakuza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hakuza is working hard here to advance position.

Patricio tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Patricio has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Patricio working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adrian Patricio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hakuza has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ico Hakuza!