PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Barry Hamasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Koch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hamasaki
vs
Koch

180 cm
24
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

187 cm
26
197 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Barry Hamasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Koch!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamasaki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hamasaki throws a hook but Koch blocks it.
Michael Koch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hamasaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hamasaki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Koch.

Koch looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hamasaki!
Hamasaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Koch postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hamasaki looks a forlorn figure.
Koch thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Koch looking to control but Hamasaki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Koch working Hamasaki over with strikes here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Koch throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koch looking for a guillotine from mount but Hamasaki is having none of it.
Koch landing strikes from the mount.

Koch goes for an armbar but Hamasaki turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hamasaki.
Koch is trying to control the position but Hamasaki postures up.
Hamasaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Koch on the ground.
Hamasaki throwing strikes from guard but Koch blocks nicely.
Koch has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Koch trying to keep a closed guard but Hamasaki is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hamasaki!
Hamasaki wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Koch.
Koch looking to finish with strikes here!
Hamasaki is bucking up trying to escape but Koch cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Koch wants to control the pace but Hamasaki is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Koch trying to control but Hamasaki is having none of it.
Koch controlling from the full mount.
Koch cracks Hamasaki with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Koch working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hamasaki tries to hold on but Koch postures up.
Koch with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch punching from mount but Hamasaki doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Koch throwing strikes but Hamasaki bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Koch slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Koch is chipping away with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koch moves into full mount!
Koch lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koch controlling the pace for now.
Koch throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Koch dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Koch steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Hamasaki. That one must have hurt.
Koch throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hamasaki counters with a nice leg kick.
Barry Hamasaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hamasaki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hamasaki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Koch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Koch misses with a double jab
and Koch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hamasaki swings for the body but Koch moves out of range.
Koch has his takedown stuffed
and Hamasaki makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hamasaki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hamasaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Koch counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Koch throws a body punch but Hamasaki moves out of range.
Koch ducks under a wild hook from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koch digs a good body shot into Hamasaki's ribs.
Koch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hamasaki counters with a nice leg kick.
Hamasaki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koch.
Koch slips a jab and a cross from Hamasaki.
Koch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hamasaki fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch misses with a few strikes there.
Koch swings for the body but Hamasaki moves out of range.
Koch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Koch avoids the head kick by Hamasaki.
Koch looks to throw the jab but Hamasaki is out of range.
Hamasaki defending well as Koch loads up on a big left hand.
Hamasaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barry Hamasaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hamasaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hamasaki misses with a two punch combination.
Koch catches Hamasaki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hamasaki misses with an uppercut.
Koch walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hamasaki.
Koch misses with a body shot
and Hamasaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hamasaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Koch looks to throw the jab but Hamasaki is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki throws a jab but it's blocked by Koch.
Koch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hamasaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Koch.
Horrible takedown by Koch or perhaps it was just good defense by Hamasaki which made him look bad.
Koch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hamasaki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Koch takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Koch is breathing heavily.
Koch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hamasaki's waist but Hamasaki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Koch off to one side.
Barry Hamasaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Koch.
Koch misses with a hook to the body
and Koch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hamasaki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hamasaki stuns Koch with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hamasaki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koch circles away quickly and effectively.
Hamasaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Hamasaki misses with a looping left.
Hamasaki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hamasaki uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hamasaki bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Koch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hamasaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Koch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koch.
Hamasaki connects with a high kick.
Koch is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hamasaki rather than just go for the knockout.
Hamasaki fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hamasaki missing with a left hand there. Koch was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Koch misses with an uppercut. Hamasaki saw that one coming.
Koch throws out a powerful jab.
Hamasaki throws a combination. Koch tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hamasaki lands with a kick to the temple. Koch shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A shot to the liver by Hamasaki. Beautiful body shot.
Koch avoids the head kick by Hamasaki.
Hamasaki throws a good cross that connects.
A lazy left from Hamasaki finds it's target.
Koch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki misses with a two punch combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Koch. Hamasaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hamasaki lands a jab to the nose.
Koch throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hamasaki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hamasaki connects with a nice looking jab.
Hamasaki tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hamasaki jabs Koch to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Crunch! Hamasaki slams his shin into Koch's torso.
Hamasaki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Koch.
Koch takes one on the button.
Barry Hamasaki is winning the standup battle so far.
Koch throws a lazy right hand but Hamasaki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hamasaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Koch's sensitive parts.
Koch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hamasaki.
Hamasaki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Koch takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hamasaki scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hamasaki stuns Koch with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hamasaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koch was well out of range. Poor timing from Hamasaki.
Koch walks into a stiff left hand from Hamasaki.
Koch takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hamasaki works over Koch's head and body with a nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Hamasaki dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hamasaki.
Hamasaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koch takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hamasaki lands a body shot.
Hamasaki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hamasaki, right into the meat.
Hamasaki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hamasaki scores with a jab. Koch acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hamasaki jabs Koch right on the nose. Koch blinks but takes it well.
Nice body kick there by Hamasaki.
Koch with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hamasaki to score with a decent uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koch takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hamasaki lands a nice looking body shot.
A jab from Hamasaki finds it's way through Koch's defenses.
Hamasaki scoring well with a low kick there.
Koch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hamasaki scores with a crisp jab that stopped Koch in his tracks.
Hamasaki slaps away a takedown attempt from Koch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hamasaki with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamasaki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hamasaki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hamasaki throws a series of punches but Koch avoids them all with ease.
Koch misses with a body shot
and Hamasaki counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Hamasaki misses.
Hamasaki throws a series of punches but Koch avoids them all with ease.
Hamasaki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hamasaki throws a one two combo.
Hamasaki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Koch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Koch fails with a takedown attempt.
Barry Hamasaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Koch.
Hamasaki scores with a nice head shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Hamasaki scores with a four punch combination!
Koch takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Koch takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Koch has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Koch's calf.
Koch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hamasaki makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hamasaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Koch has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hamasaki lands with a nice combination. Koch backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hamasaki lands a glancing blow to the side of Koch's head.
Danga de danga de dang - Hamasaki scores with a four punch combination!
Koch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hamasaki.
Hamasaki throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hamasaki works over Koch's head and body with a nice combination.
Donk. Hamasaki catches Koch right on the button with a cross.
Hamasaki throws a body punch but Koch moves out of range.
Koch's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hamasaki scores with a leg kick.
Hamasaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koch misses with a shot to the body
and Hamasaki counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hamasaki misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Koch takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hamasaki lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Koch closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hamasaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hamasaki misses with a wild body shot.
Hamasaki catches Koch with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A big right from Hamasaki misses.
Koch stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki lands a jab-cross combination.
Hamasaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hamasaki misses with a two punch combination.
Hamasaki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hamasaki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hamasaki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Koch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki scores with a hook to the body. Koch takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hamasaki throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hamasaki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hamasaki lands with a straight right. Koch didn't see that one coming.
Koch throws a looping overhand right but Hamasaki ducks down to avoid it.
Koch thows a leg kick but Hamasaki checks it
and Hamasaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koch swings for the body but Hamasaki moves out of range.
Hamasaki swings for the body but Koch moves out of range.
Koch throws a big shot that misses.
Koch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hamasaki misses with a few strikes there.
Hamasaki lands a nice shot that snaps Koch's head back.
Koch scores with a decent looking hook.
Hamasaki misses with a combination
and Koch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hamasaki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Koch throws a hook but Hamasaki avoids it easily.
Koch throws out a loose jab but Hamasaki uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Hamasaki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hamasaki 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Hamasaki!