PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brian Carver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keiji Hashimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hashimoto's choice of entrance music: Chopin's Funeral March in B flat minor. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Carver
vs
Hashimoto

178 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
151 lbs
13 - 6 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian Carver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keiji Hashimoto!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hashimoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carver was well out of range. Poor timing from Hashimoto.
Carver cracks Hashimoto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Carver throws a shot to the body.
Carver throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hashimoto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hashimoto with a jab.
Hashimoto tries to clinch up.
Brian Carver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carver misses with a looping right.
Hashimoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carver swats away the attempt to clinch by Hashimoto.
Hashimoto lands a jab-cross combination.
Hashimoto misses with a wild body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hashimoto.
Carver can't do much from the bottom here.

Hashimoto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Carver has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hashimoto trying to control the action but Carver is working from the bottom.
Hashimoto tries to advance to mount 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.

Hashimoto is trying to get an arm triangle but Carver is defending well.
Carver is trying to control Hashimoto's posture but Hashimoto avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hashimoto is trying to get an arm triangle but Carver is defending well.
Carver is looking to regain half guard here but Hashimoto keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hashimoto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hashimoto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Carver stops Hashimoto from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keiji Hashimoto dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hashimoto throws a jab when Carver was well out of range.
Carver lands a jab to Hashimoto's midsection.
Carver looks to land a right hand but Hashimoto moved out of range.
Hashimoto misses with a body shot.
Carver scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Carver misses with a straight left.
Carver lands with an uppercut that bounces Hashimoto off the cage and back into rage.
Good shot there by Carver.
Carver misses the shot to the body.
Hashimoto lands a jab to Carver's midsection.
Carver misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carver uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Carver rather than just go for the knockout.
A jab from Carver misses.
Carver keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hashimoto throws a looping overhand right but Carver ducks down to avoid it.
Hashimoto throws the left hand but Carver avoids the punch easily.

Hashimoto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hashimoto trying to advance position but Carver counters by regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hashimoto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Carver dives on top into guard.
Carver has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Carver stopping the sweep attempt from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Carver puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hashimoto tries to get to full guard but Carver has control of the leg.
Hashimoto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hashimoto.
Hashimoto looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Carver puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Carver sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hashimoto gets back to full guard.
Hashimoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carver is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No joy there for Carver, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hashimoto misses the jab.
Hashimoto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hashimoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hashimoto landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hashimoto wants to pass the guard but Carver is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Keiji Hashimoto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Carver throws a big shot that misses.
Hashimoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carver sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Hashimoto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short right from Hashimoto.
Hashimoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hashimoto scores with a hook to the body.

Hashimoto ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hashimoto no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Carver stopping the sweep attempt from Hashimoto.
Carver stays in close to Hashimoto's body and controls the position.
Hashimoto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hashimoto working for a triangle but Carver defends it easily.

Hashimoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Carver defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carver preventing the sweep.

Hashimoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carver doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carver manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hashimoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carver tries to stand but Hashimoto is controlling from the bottom.

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.
Hashimoto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Carver manages to get himself to full guard.
Hashimoto thows a big elbow that misses.
Hashimoto wants to pass the guard but Carver is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hashimoto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Carver manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hashimoto has Carver in his guard.
Keiji Hashimoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carver won't allow Hashimoto to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hashimoto seems keen to control Carver's posture.
Hashimoto is trying to keep Carver in close.
Carver tries to free his leg and advance position but Hashimoto is retaining full guard.
Brian Carver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hashimoto controlling the position.
Hashimoto working a defensive guard here.

Hashimoto has an active guard here but Carver has managed to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keiji Hashimoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hashimoto winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keiji Hashimoto!