PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Stephenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keiji Hashimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Stephenson
vs
Hashimoto

195 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Berserker Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aaron Stephenson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keiji Hashimoto!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hashimoto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stephenson is pulling down on Hashimoto's head to control his posture.
Hashimoto postures up.
Stephenson is really struggling to control Hashimoto but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hashimoto pushing down on Stephenson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hashimoto is pressing down on Stephenson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stephenson is holding on for now.
Stephenson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stephenson is trying to stand up here but Hashimoto is controlling him well.
Stephenson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hashimoto on the ground.
Hashimoto stalling away here and it's allowed Stephenson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson keeping full guard, as Hashimoto tries to pass.
Hashimoto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hashimoto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stephenson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hashimoto wants to pass the guard but Stephenson is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stephenson fails with the takedown

and Hashimoto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hashimoto.
Hashimoto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hashimoto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stephenson's head.
Hashimoto trying to control but Stephenson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto postures up.
Stephenson keeping moving, preventing Hashimoto from controlling successfully.
Hashimoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hashimoto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hashimoto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stephenson trying to keep a closed guard but Hashimoto is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hashimoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stephenson is looking to stand back up but Hashimoto counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Stephenson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Hashimoto seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Stephenson is breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hashimoto slips a straight right by Stephenson.
Hashimoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stephenson is fending him off so far but Hashimoto persists. Nope, Stephenson circles away and we're back to standing.

Hashimoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hashimoto slips nicely into half guard.
Hashimoto wants to pass the guard but Stephenson is defending well.
Hashimoto is tying to control. Stephenson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hashimoto wants to free his trapped foot but Stephenson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hashimoto is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Stephenson has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stephenson's head.
Stephenson is not content to let Hashimoto control the position.
Stephenson is looking to improve his position.

Hashimoto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stephenson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keiji Hashimoto dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stephenson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hashimoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Hashimoto drives through and clinches with Stephenson against the cage.
Stephenson lands a nice uppercut.
Hashimoto can't get the takedown.
Stephenson is looking to control Hashimoto's arms but Hashimoto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stephenson has his back to the cage.
Stephenson tries for a takedown but Hashimoto manages to get underhooks.
Stephenson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hashimoto has double underhooks.
Stephenson wants to break free but Hashimoto has control.

Hashimoto has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stephenson uses from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hashimoto is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hashimoto drops back looking for a leg! Stephenson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stephenson manages to kick Hashimoto off! Hashimoto jumps back into Stephenson's guard.
Hashimoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hashimoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hashimoto pushing down on Stephenson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Stephenson is trying to maintain the position but Hashimoto is very close to passing his half guard.
Hashimoto is taking a breather. Stephenson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hashimoto scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Hashimoto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stephenson!

Hashimoto has hold of Stephenson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Stephenson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Hashimoto jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Stephenson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Stephenson and Hashimoto has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Hashimoto tries to advance to mount but can't.

Hashimoto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stephenson, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Stephenson is not content to let Hashimoto control the position.
Hashimoto passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Stephenson!

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.
Hashimoto controlling the position easily from mount.

Hashimoto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Stephenson tries to lock up and control but Hashimoto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Hashimoto is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Stephenson is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Stephenson flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Hashimoto anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Stephenson and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Hashimoto slips an arm under Stephenson chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Hashimoto has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Hashimoto is squeezing on Stephenson like an anaconda would it's prey. Stephenson fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Keiji Hashimoto!
Keiji Hashimoto is the new featherweight champion!