PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Haka Maka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monkey D Straw Hat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maka's entrance music is Island Music. A fine choice. Haka Maka has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Maka
vs
D Straw Hat

180 cm
24
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
177 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Tri Light Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Haka Maka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Monkey D Straw Hat!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Straw Hat misses with a head kick.
Maka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maka wants it to stay on the feet.
Maka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Straw Hat avoids it really well and circles away.
Straw Hat shoots for a takedown but Maka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maka throws a leg kick but Straw Hat sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Straw Hat fakes the leg kick and cracks Maka in the body.
Maka doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Straw Hat counters by clinching up.

Straw Hat has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Maka uses from the top position.
Straw Hat keeping moving, preventing Maka from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Straw Hat holds on and takes a little breather.
Maka looking to sit in guard and control but Straw Hat gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Straw Hat would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Maka has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Straw Hat is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Maka.
Straw Hat wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maka keeps working.

That's two 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.
Maka is looking to reverse the position.
Straw Hat fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Straw Hat is putting a hurting on Maka here, landing some big shots from side control.
Straw Hat trying to control the action but Maka is working from the bottom.
Straw Hat tries to move into full mount but can't pass Maka's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Straw Hat throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Maka works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Straw Hat controlling the action here.
Maka wants to improve his position but Straw Hat is controlling well.
Maka is staying active underneath Straw Hat, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maka looks like he's trying to stand up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Straw Hat dives in and grabs Maka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maka pushes down on Straw Hat's head and hops out.
Haka Maka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monkey D Straw Hat.
Straw Hat doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maka counters with a nice double leg into side control. Straw Hat won't be happy with that.
Maka lands a decent elbow from side control.
Maka avoids the strikes from the bottom by Straw Hat.

Maka decides to stand up, so the ref orders Straw Hat to his feet.
Straw Hat tries to clinch but Maka is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Monkey D Straw Hat will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Straw Hat misses with a double jab

and Maka counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Maka decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Straw Hat, up you get!
Maka tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Straw Hat decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maka's guard.
Straw Hat throws a strike but Maka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Maka trying to control the position from guard on top but Straw Hat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Straw Hat's guard.
Straw Hat bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maka's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Straw Hat seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Straw Hat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maka is keeping the position for now.
Straw Hat controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Straw Hat throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Straw Hat postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Maka is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Straw Hat, into his guard.

That's two 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.
Maka trying to control but Straw Hat is working from the bottom.
Maka looking to sit in guard and control but Straw Hat gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Straw Hat wants to control from the top but Maka keeps moving.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Straw Hat working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Maka's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Straw Hat trying to control but Maka is working from the bottom.
Maka wants to get back to his feet but Straw Hat is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Straw Hat's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Straw Hat drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maka!

Maka tries for a kimura but Straw Hat is defending well.
Straw Hat manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maka regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maka keeping full guard, as Straw Hat tries to pass.
Maka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Straw Hat looking to sit in guard and control but Maka gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maka scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Haka Maka will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Straw Hat avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Straw Hat lands with a kick to the temple. Maka shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Straw Hat with a poor takedown
and Maka counters with a left and a right that stings Straw Hat.
Straw Hat shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maka pinned against the cage. Maka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Monkey D Straw Hat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Straw Hat misses with a takedown
and Maka counters with a left and a right that stings Straw Hat.
Haka Maka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monkey D Straw Hat.
Maka misses with a double jab

and Straw Hat counters with a takedown into side control.

Straw Hat decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maka throws a body punch but Straw Hat moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Straw Hat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Maka to counter with a crisp jab.
Maka throws a head kick that misses.

Straw Hat shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maka manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Straw Hat wants to control from the top but Maka keeps moving.
Maka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Monkey D Straw Hat has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maka wants to stand up but Straw Hat is controlling him.
Maka keeping full guard, as Straw Hat tries to pass.
Maka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Straw Hat is controlling him.
Straw Hat throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Straw Hat trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Straw Hat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Maka counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Straw Hat's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maka is in close to Straw Hat's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Straw Hat lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maka!
Maka is trying to stand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Straw Hat get's back to his feet.
Maka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Straw Hat throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Straw Hat closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maka to the mat! Maka manages to get full guard.
Straw Hat preventing the sweep.
Straw Hat looking to pass the guard.

Straw Hat stands up from Maka's guard - Straw Hat perhaps looking for a knockout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Straw Hat is defended easily by Maka.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monkey D Straw Hat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Straw Hat has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monkey D Straw Hat!