PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiroyuki Hanzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir McCracken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir McCracken told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hanzo
vs
McCracken

185 cm
24
198 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
201 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hiroyuki Hanzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vladimir McCracken!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanzo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hanzo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McCracken lands a slapping body shot.
McCracken swats away the attempt to clinch by Hanzo.

Hanzo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hanzo.
McCracken on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hanzo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hanzo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCracken avoids it.
A frustrated look appears on McCracken's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
McCracken is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
McCracken avoiding damage as Hanzo throws knees to the body.
McCracken tries to break the clinch but Hanzo is controlling the position.
Hanzo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
Hanzo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
Hanzo missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hanzo.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
McCracken is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCracken takes an elbow to the temple.
McCracken avoiding damage as Hanzo throws knees to the body.
McCracken avoiding damage as Hanzo throws knees to the body.
McCracken wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hanzo lands an elbow just above McCracken 's eye.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
McCracken wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCracken avoiding damage as Hanzo throws knees to the body.
Hanzo misses with an elbow strike.
Hanzo keeps control of McCracken as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nice elbow from Hanzo.
Hanzo lands an elbow just above McCracken 's eye.
McCracken is trying to force a seperation but Hanzo has the dominant position.
Hanzo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCracken avoids it.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Hanzo.
Hanzo lands an elbow just above McCracken 's eye.
Hanzo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McCracken has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.
Hanzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
McCracken wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hanzo is pushing McCracken up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hanzo.
A bit of stalling here from Hanzo.
Hanzo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McCracken looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo lands a good knee to the midsection. McCracken won't want to take too many of those.
Hanzo lands a nice knee to the body.
McCracken takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hanzo stalling in the clinch.
Hanzo scores a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hanzo obliges.
Hanzo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hanzo slows down the pace here.
Hanzo seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Hanzo scores a nice knee to the body.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hanzo lands an elbow just above McCracken 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken is trying to break the clinch but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hanzo lands an elbow that stopped McCracken in his tracks for a moment.
Hanzo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McCracken is defending well for now.
Hanzo taking a breather.
Hanzo lands a damaging elbow.
Hanzo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hanzo scores a nice knee to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanzo lands an elbow inside that McCracken shrugs off.
Hanzo is struggling to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCracken is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hanzo controlling the action here for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Hiroyuki Hanzo.
Hanzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCracken swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroyuki Hanzo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hanzo circles away from the clinch attempt.
McCracken chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice defenses there by Hanzo.
Hanzo lands with a kick to the temple. McCracken shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hanzo wants to clinch up but McCracken keeps it at a distance.

Hanzo has McCracken up against the cage in a clinch.
McCracken can't get the takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hanzo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hanzo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCracken avoids it.
McCracken letting Hanzo take a breather here.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.

McCracken manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from McCracken misses the target.
McCracken throws a sloppy head kick

and Hanzo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCracken is breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hanzo.
Hiroyuki Hanzo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hanzo is struggling to control the position.
Hanzo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McCracken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hanzo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hanzo lands a nice elbow.
Hanzo is pressed up against the cage. McCracken has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hanzo down to the mat. Hanzo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hanzo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hanzo tries to clinch
and McCracken counters with a leg kick.
McCracken keeps the fight on the outside.
A nice leg kick lands there from McCracken.
Hanzo tries to clinch up.
Hanzo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo tries to clinch up.
McCracken fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McCracken misses with a few strikes there.
McCracken is looking to clinch.
Hanzo tries a head kick but it misses.
Hanzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCracken throws a jab but it's blocked by Hanzo.
Hanzo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McCracken paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McCracken misses with a double jab
and Hanzo counters with a nice body kick.
Nice takedown defense from McCracken. No joy for Hanzo on that attempt.
Vladimir McCracken is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCracken does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McCracken fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McCracken tries to work over Hanzo's front leg with a kick but Hanzo checks it.
McCracken is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

McCracken gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanzo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
McCracken keeps the fight on the outside.
Hanzo lands a jab to McCracken's midsection.
McCracken stalks Hanzo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hanzo's face. Hanzo staggers backwards, shaken.
Hanzo throws a sloppy head kick and McCracken moves out of range easily.
McCracken jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hanzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hanzo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McCracken, pushing him back against the cage.
McCracken is looking to break free of the clinch but Hanzo has double underhooks.
Hanzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McCracken wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hanzo lands a nice elbow.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo unloads a knee to the mid-section. McCracken lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
McCracken tries to break free but Hanzo pushes him back against the cage.
Hanzo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McCracken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hanzo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroyuki Hanzo dominated that second round.
That's time! Hanzo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McCracken jabs at Hanzo's body.
Hanzo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McCracken slaps away a takedown attempt from Hanzo, before circling back to the center of the mat.

McCracken clinches up with Hanzo and pushes him back against the cage.
Hanzo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCracken's efforts to push away.
McCracken wants to break free but Hanzo has control.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hanzo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McCracken tries to break the clinch but Hanzo is controlling the position.
McCracken is trying to break free.
Hanzo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McCracken wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanzo won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCracken on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
McCracken wants to break free but Hanzo has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McCracken wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hanzo has him pressed against the cage.
Hanzo prevents McCracken from breaking the clinch.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo has McCracken pushed against the cage.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
Hanzo missing with knees to the body.
McCracken has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McCracken takes an elbow to the temple.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McCracken takes an elbow to the temple.
McCracken on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McCracken misses with a knee strike.
McCracken wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two 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.
Hanzo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McCracken is defending well for now.
Hanzo unloads a knee to the mid-section. McCracken lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
Hanzo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McCracken's defenses.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo lands an elbow just above McCracken 's eye.
Hanzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
McCracken tries to break free but Hanzo pushes him back against the cage.
McCracken managing to block the knees to the body from Hanzo.
Hanzo lands an elbow that stopped McCracken in his tracks for a moment.
Hanzo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McCracken as Hanzo tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McCracken's defenses.
McCracken is looking to break free of the clinch but Hanzo has double underhooks.
McCracken has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.
Hanzo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCracken avoids it.
Hanzo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Knees to the body from Hanzo.
McCracken misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hanzo effectively controlling the action here.
McCracken takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hanzo working McCracken over with knees to the body.
McCracken is looking to break free of the clinch but Hanzo has double underhooks.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo effectively controlling the action here.
McCracken is trying to force a seperation but Hanzo has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo stalling the fight.
McCracken wants to break free but Hanzo has control.
Hanzo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hanzo has McCracken pressed against the cage, preventing McCracken from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hanzo lands an elbow just above McCracken 's eye.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
Hanzo scores a nice knee to the body.
McCracken on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hanzo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCracken.
McCracken has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

McCracken's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick from Hanzo lands but McCracken takes it in his stride.
McCracken ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hanzo moves away.
Hanzo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A head kick by Hanzo misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroyuki Hanzo clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

McCracken on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Hanzo is looking to clinch but McCracken is avoiding it.
A solid leg kick lands there for McCracken.
McCracken pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hanzo is looking to clinch.
McCracken blocks a head kick by Hanzo.
Hanzo throws a sloppy head kick and McCracken moves out of range easily.
Hanzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
McCracken cracks Hanzo with an open hand slap.
McCracken keeps the fight on the outside.
McCracken misses the body punch

and Hanzo counters by clinching up.
McCracken tries for a takedown. No joy.
McCracken on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
McCracken is looking to break free of the clinch but Hanzo has double underhooks.
Hanzo lands an elbow inside that McCracken shrugs off.
Hanzo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McCracken's defenses.
McCracken is trying to force a seperation but Hanzo has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

McCracken breaks from the clinch.
Hanzo avoids the body shot from McCracken.

Hanzo has closed the distance and engaged McCracken in a clinch.
McCracken lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hanzo backwards.
Hanzo stalling the fight.
Hanzo working McCracken over with knees to the body.
McCracken being controlled against the cage.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo has McCracken pressed against the cage, preventing McCracken from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
Hanzo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McCracken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCracken has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.
McCracken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hanzo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hanzo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Come on Hanzo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
McCracken tries to break the clinch but Hanzo is controlling the position.
Hanzo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McCracken is defending well for now.
Hanzo stalling in the clinch.
Hanzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hanzo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCracken's efforts to push away.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hanzo lands a damaging elbow.

McCracken pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hanzo wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo tries a head kick but it misses.
Hanzo takes one on the button.
Hanzo clinches but McCracken breaks the clinch
and McCracken counters with an inside leg kick.
Hanzo moves out of range of the strikes.
McCracken throws a leg kick that misses.
McCracken throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McCracken will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hanzo tries a head kick but it misses.
McCracken leaves Hanzo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hanzo ducks under a wild hook from McCracken.
McCracken lunges at Hanzo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hanzo's hand.
Hanzo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCracken.

Hanzo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hanzo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo prevents McCracken from getting the reversal.
McCracken wants to control but Hanzo is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroyuki Hanzo had his way with Vladimir McCracken in that round.
That's time! Hanzo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hanzo throws a sloppy head kick
and McCracken counters with a body kick that stops Hanzo in his tracks momentarily.
McCracken does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McCracken misses with a double jab.
McCracken blocks a head kick by Hanzo.
Hanzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hanzo instigates a clinch.
Hanzo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCracken avoids it.
McCracken wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCracken tries to score a body lock takedown but Hanzo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hanzo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Hanzo for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Hanzo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McCracken.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo lands a nice elbow.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hanzo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
McCracken manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
McCracken wants to break free but Hanzo has control.
Hanzo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McCracken's defenses.
McCracken has had enough of the clinch but Hanzo keeps him there for the moment.
McCracken is trying to force a seperation but Hanzo has the dominant position.
McCracken takes a knee to the side of the body.
McCracken avoiding damage as Hanzo throws knees to the body.
Hanzo lands a knee to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hanzo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
Hanzo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hanzo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCracken.
Hanzo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
McCracken is trying to force a seperation but Hanzo has the dominant position.
McCracken avoiding damage as Hanzo throws knees to the body.
Hanzo prevents McCracken from breaking the clinch.
McCracken wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hanzo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning McCracken up against the cage.
McCracken has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hanzo slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo crunches a lovely knee into McCracken's ribcage.
Hanzo lands an elbow that stopped McCracken in his tracks for a moment.
Hanzo lands a nice elbow.
Hanzo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCracken.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hanzo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McCracken looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hanzo trying to land knees to the body.
Hanzo tries to land knees in the clinch but McCracken avoids the damage to the body.
McCracken blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A frustrated look appears on McCracken's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McCracken letting Hanzo take a breather here.
McCracken misses with the head strike.
Hanzo crunches a lovely knee into McCracken's ribcage.
Vladimir McCracken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hanzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

McCracken breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCracken swats away the attempt to clinch by Hanzo.
Hanzo throws a head kick that half lands.
Hanzo moves out of range of the leg kick from McCracken.
Hanzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCracken swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vladimir McCracken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A chopping leg kick lands by McCracken.
McCracken throws a low kick but Hanzo avoids it.
McCracken tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hanzo closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McCracken.
McCracken tries to break the clinch but Hanzo is controlling the position.
McCracken throws a punch but it's blocked by Hanzo.
McCracken misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hanzo lands an elbow that stopped McCracken in his tracks for a moment.
Hanzo stalls.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroyuki Hanzo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hanzo, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 50:45
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 50:45
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroyuki Hanzo!