PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Waru Kuzuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baki Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kuzuri
vs
Hanma

163 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Waru Kuzuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Baki Hanma!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kuzuri throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hanma counters with a right hand to the body.
Hanma gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kuzuri.
Hanma fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuzuri takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kuzuri connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hanma. Hanma circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kuzuri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hanma fails to land with a series of punches.
Hanma defending well as Kuzuri loads up on a big left hand.
Kuzuri wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hanma connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kuzuri momentarily.
Kuzuri scores with a jab.
Waru Kuzuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuzuri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Kuzuri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kuzuri throws a hook but Hanma blocks it.
Hanma fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzuri misses with a series of wild punches.
Kuzuri walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kuzuri lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kuzuri slaps away a takedown attempt from Hanma, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kuzuri misses the jab.
Kuzuri slips a straight right by Hanma.
Kuzuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hanma misses the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanma. Kuzuri does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuzuri scores with a jab to the body.
Hanma looks to land a right hand but Kuzuri moved out of range.
Hanma looks to land a left hand but Kuzuri moved out of range nicely.
Kuzuri throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hanma counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kuzuri connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hanma. Hanma circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri fails to land with a series of punches.

Hanma drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hanma is staying tight to Kuzuri's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hanma in side control, throwing shots but Kuzuri defends.
Hanma is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Baki Hanma was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Decent striking displayed by Kuzuri there.
Kuzuri stuns Hanma with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hanma has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kuzuri slips a straight right by Hanma.
Kuzuri misses with an uppercut.
Hanma moves away from the strike by Kuzuri.

Hanma shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Poor strikes thrown by Hanma there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri wants to get back to his feet.
Kuzuri wants to control but Hanma is having none of it.
Hanma controlling from mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanma controlling from mount.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's eight 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.

Baki Hanma has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hanma misses with the combination.
Kuzuri throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hanma counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kuzuri throws a shot from downtown. Hanma moves away and avoids it.
Kuzuri throws a jab but it's blocked by Hanma.
Kuzuri walks into a jab.
Kuzuri leaves Hanma with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Waru Kuzuri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baki Hanma.
Hanma moves out of range as Kuzuri strikes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hanma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuzuri ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Kuzuri misses with a double jab
and Hanma counters with a stiff right hand.
Hanma tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kuzuri sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hanma somewhat.
Jab, jab by Hanma - just one landing.
Hanma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuzuri throws out the jab.
Kuzuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hanma ducks under a wild hook from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice uppercut there from Hanma.
Hanma ducks under a wild hook from Kuzuri.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hanma misses the shot to the body.
Kuzuri cracks Hanma with a good jab.
Hanma misses with a double jab
and Kuzuri counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kuzuri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kuzuri throws a sloppy body shot
and Hanma counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kuzuri misses the body punch
and Hanma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kuzuri misses with a jab to the body

and Hanma counters with a takedown into side control.
Kuzuri seems a little lost for a moment, as Hanma dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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.
Hanma tries to move to mount but Kuzuri blocks the move with his legs.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Baki Hanma wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kuzuri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hanma.
A swing and a miss from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri throws a combination that misses
and Kuzuri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kuzuri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A big right from Hanma misses.
Hanma tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kuzuri swivels and escapes.
A swing and a miss from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hanma sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kuzuri lands a nice looking body shot.
Kuzuri throws the left hand but Hanma avoids the punch easily.
Kuzuri connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Kuzuri does no damage.
Nice shot lands for Kuzuri.
Kuzuri throws a jab when Hanma was well out of range.
Hanma moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Waru Kuzuri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuzuri walks into a left hand.
Hanma gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kuzuri misses the jab.
Hanma defending well as Kuzuri loads up on a big left hand.
Kuzuri misses with a straight right.
Kuzuri scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hanma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuzuri.
Hanma shoots in for a takedown but Kuzuri shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Waru Kuzuri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baki Hanma.
Kuzuri lands with a nice body punch.
Kuzuri misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kuzuri misses its intended target.
Nice uppercut lands for Kuzuri. That snapped Hanma's head back.
Hanma misses with a double jab
and Kuzuri cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuzuri misses with a hook. Hanma ducked under it nicely.
Hanma moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kuzuri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hanma moves away.
Kuzuri scores with a shot to the body.
Hanma scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hanma uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuzuri.
Hanma fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kuzuri misses with a body shot.
Hanma slips under a jab.
Kuzuri looks to land a left hand but Hanma moved out of range nicely.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Hanma lands a jab to Kuzuri's midsection.
Kuzuri with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kuzuri misses with a straight right.
Kuzuri just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuzuri ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Kuzuri scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kuzuri misses with a straight right.
Kuzuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hanma looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kuzuri swinging wildly here.
Kuzuri stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kuzuri wants it to stay on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Kuzuri scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Baki Hanma has been cut.
Kuzuri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hanma moves away.
Hanma staying out of range there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri moves out of range of the strikes.
Kuzuri waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hanma.
Kuzuri connects with the punch.
Hanma ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Donk. Kuzuri catches Hanma right on the button with a cross.
Kuzuri swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kuzuri throws a jab when Hanma was well out of range.
Kuzuri misses with a hook. Hanma ducked under it nicely.
Hanma shoots in but no luck this time.
Hanma throws a shot from downtown. Kuzuri moves away and avoids it.
Hanma shoots in for a takedown but Kuzuri shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hanma is breathing heavily.
Hanma on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hanma misses with a straight right.
Hanma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri throws the left hand but Hanma avoids the punch easily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hanma walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hanma misses with a looping left.
Hanma avoids the body shot from Kuzuri.
Jab by Kuzuri.
Kuzuri rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hanma moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuzuri throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hanma throws out a loose jab but Kuzuri uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuzuri throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hanma counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kuzuri lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hanma fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hanma ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hanma moves away from the strike by Kuzuri.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hanma counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kuzuri throws a big shot that misses.
Hanma shoots in for a takedown but Kuzuri shows good takedown defense.
Kuzuri misses the body punch
enabling Hanma to counter with a crisp jab.
Kuzuri fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuzuri misses with a straight right.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kuzuri.
Hanma slips under a jab from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri looks to land a left hand but Hanma moved out of range nicely.
No luck for Hanma with that takedown attempt.
Hanma throws an overhand right that lands on Kuzuri's shoulder, as Kuzuri tries to avoid the shot.
Kuzuri misses the shot to the body.
Waru Kuzuri is winning the standup battle so far.
Hanma waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuzuri.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hanma shoots in for a double leg but Kuzuri sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kuzuri swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kuzuri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A lazy left from Kuzuri finds it's target.
Hanma keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuzuri.
Hanma has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kuzuri connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kuzuri throws a jab when Hanma was well out of range.
Hanma might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hanma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuzuri throws out the jab.
Hanma throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kuzuri's waist but Kuzuri gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hanma off to one side.
Kuzuri just misses with a punch to the body.
Hanma slips under a jab.
Kuzuri loads up on a big right hand but Hanma slips the punch.
Kuzuri takes a swing at Hanma's ribcage but misses.
Kuzuri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanma throws a body punch but Kuzuri moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waru Kuzuri showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuzuri has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Waru Kuzuri!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Waru Kuzuri!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Waru Kuzuri!

Waru Kuzuri wins by unanimous decision!