PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Hatayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stevie Why (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hatayama comes to the cage accompanied by I AM IMPACT!. Stevie Why acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hatayama
vs
Why

178 cm
26
185 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

180 cm
27
180 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hiroshi Hatayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stevie Why!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Hatayama. No joy for Why on that attempt.
A punch combination from Why misses.
Why misses with a series of wild punches.
A decent looking cross lands there for Why.
Why misses with a wild combination.
Why circles away from the clinch attempt.
Why closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hatayama.
Nice uppercut there from Hatayama.
Hatayama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hatayama misses the jab.
Hatayama lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Hatayama scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hatayama scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Why gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Why wants to sweep here but Hatayama controlling him for the moment.
Hatayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Why is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Why wants to get back to his feet but Hatayama is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Why escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hatayama gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hatayama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Why looking to control.
Hatayama postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hatayama looking to pass the guard.

Why working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hatayama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hatayama manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Why looking for a sweep. Not yet Why, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Why is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hatayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Why is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hatayama lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hatayama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Why manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hatayama has Why in his guard.
Why thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hatayama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Why missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hatayama keeping full guard, as Why tries to pass.
Why trying to control but Hatayama is working from the bottom.

Why got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hatayama has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Why has managed to get both his arms back between Hatayama's legs - danger averted.
Hatayama is breathing heavily.
Why trying to move into half guard but instead Hatayama has managed to sweep!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hatayama is working Why over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Why trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Why working a defensive guard here.
Hatayama preventing the sweep.

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.

Why is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Why tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hatayama has gone for a leg lock! Why slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hatayama's guard.

Hatayama is looking for a triangle here but Why uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Why tries for a kimura but Hatayama is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hatayama tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Why wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stevie Why will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hatayama takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hatayama loads up on a big right hand but Why slips the punch.
Why shoots and misses
and Hatayama cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Why tries to bum rush Hatayama with a series of wild strikes but Hatayama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hatayama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Why misses with a wild combination.
Hatayama on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Why misses with a takedown

and Hatayama counters by clinching up.
Why is trying to drag Hatayama to the mat but Hatayama just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hiroshi Hatayama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stevie Why.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Why lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hatayama is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Why pulls his head out easily.
Hatayama is pressing down on Why's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Why wants to control from the top but Hatayama keeps moving.
Why won't allow Hatayama to sweep him here.

Hatayama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Why gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Why trying to control but Hatayama is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Stevie Why has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Why will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Why takes a swing at Hatayama's ribcage but misses.
Why fails with the takedown
and Hatayama counters with a stiff right hand.
Why fails with the takedown
and Hatayama counters with a good low kick that Why was not able to check.
Why takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hatayama misses with a combination
and Why counters with a three punch combo that has Hatayama backing up. Hatayama nods at Why to acknowledge the strikes.
Why fails to land with a series of punches.
Why throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Hatayama to counter with a crisp jab.
Hatayama digs a good body shot into Why's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Why misses with a leg kick
and Hatayama counters with a slapping leg kick.

Why shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hatayama's guard.

Hatayama looking for a guillotine here but Why defends easily.
Why connects with a couple of short punches.

Why decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Why misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hatayama.
Why misses with a double jab
and Hatayama counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Why steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hatayama.
Why doesn't manage to clinch there - Hatayama circles away.
Why misses with a series of wild punches.
Hatayama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Why.
Why stuffs the takedown.
Why throws a low kick but Hatayama avoids it.
Why throws a series of punches but Hatayama moves out of range.
Why is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hatayama rather than just go for the knockout.
Hatayama connects with a crisp jab.
Why looks to land a left hand but Hatayama moved out of range nicely.
Why gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Hatayama to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Why showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hatayama lands with an overhand left.
Why thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hatayama buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Why misses with an uppercut. Hatayama saw that one coming.
Why avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Why throws a predictable looking body shot

and Hatayama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Why manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hatayama thows a big elbow that misses.
Hatayama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Why working a defensive guard here.

Why is looking for a triangle but Hatayama pushes his legs off easily.
Why trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatayama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Why works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Why had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hatayama defends it easily.
Why is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hatayama dives into side control.

Hatayama is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Why is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hatayama working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Why sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatayama prevents Why from improving his position.
Hatayama trying to control from half guard but Why is working away.
Why preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Hatayama seems to be working for a kimura but Why defends the submission attempt.
Why gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatayama wants to control from the top but Why keeps moving.

Why is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hatayama is aware though and is defending well.
Why is trying to control the position but Hatayama postures up.

Hatayama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Why manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hatayama has Why in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Why works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Why frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hatayama tries to reverse the position but Why maintains control.
Hatayama tries to lock up and control but Why gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hatayama really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Why looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Why looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stevie Why.
I've got Why 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight for Stevie Why!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Stevie Why!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Stevie Why!

Stevie Why wins by unanimous decision!