PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Baki Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Botwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hanma
vs
Botwin

175 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
20
143 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Baki Hanma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenny Botwin!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Hanma or perhaps it was just good defense by Botwin which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Hanma misses.
Hanma lands a head shot.
Hanma throws a shot from downtown. Botwin moves away and avoids it.
Botwin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hanma.
Botwin fails to land the takedown.
Botwin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hanma swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Botwin cracks the inside of Hanma's front leg.

Botwin moves into the clinch.

Botwin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hanma uses from the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Botwin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hanma trying to control but Botwin is working from the bottom.
Hanma controlling from the top position.

Hanma gets to his feet. Botwin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Botwins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Botwin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hanma.
Hanma takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Baki Hanma has been cut.
Hanma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Botwin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hanma misses with a hook. Botwin ducked under it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Botwin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kenny Botwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Botwin ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Hanma will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Botwin tries for a takedown but Hanma sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hanma shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Botwin moves in looking to clinch but Hanma pushes him off.

Botwin rushes Hanma and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Botwin throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botwin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Botwin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A knee to the head by Botwin.
Botwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Botwin pulls guard effortlessly.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hanma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hanma loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hanma looking to sit in guard and control but Botwin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hanma has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Botwin passes Hanma's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hanma is trying to stand up here but Botwin is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botwin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Botwin controlling the pace.
Hanma regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Botwin.
Hanma wants to stand up but Botwin is controlling him.
Botwin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hanma is proving hard to escape from.

That's four 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.
Hanma keeping moving, preventing Botwin from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kenny Botwin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hanma throws a good cross that connects.
Botwin defending well as Hanma loads up on a big left hand.
Botwin throws a body punch but Hanma moves out of range.
Hanma blocks a head kick by Botwin.
A head kick misses from Botwin.
Hanma swats away the attempt to clinch by Botwin.
Botwin is looking to clinch but Hanma is avoiding it.
Botwin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hanma finds it's way round the side to connect with Botwin's head.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Hanma finds it's way through Botwin's defenses.
Botwin with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Hanma counter with a right hand.
Baki Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Botwin.
Hanma looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Botwin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Botwin looks gassed!
Hanma swats away the attempt to clinch by Botwin.
Botwin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Botwin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hanma throws out the jab.
Botwin shoots and misses

so Hanma counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hanma is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Botwin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hanma wants to control from the top but Botwin keeps moving.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Baki Hanma wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Botwin moves forwards but Hanma connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hanma lands a really nice looking cross but Botwin seems unphased.
Hanma lands with a hook. Botwin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Botwin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Botwin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hanma as he avoids it easily.
Hanma connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Botwin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Botwin there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hanma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hanma lands with a right hand.
Botwin tries to clinch but Hanma moves out of range.
Botwin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hanma darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hanma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No joy there for Botwin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hanma connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hanma's jab looks to have found its range, popping Botwin under the eye.
Hanma stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hanma wants it to stay on the feet.
Hanma will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hanma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Botwin fails to land the takedown.
Botwin tries to score with a low kick but Hanma moves his leg out of the way.
Botwin moves in looking to clinch but Hanma pushes him off.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Hanma.
Hanma paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Botwin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Botwin is looking to clinch.
Hanma moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hanma lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Botwin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hanma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Botwin.
Hanma throws a series of punches but Botwin moves out of range.
Hanma is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Botwin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hanma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Botwin leaves Hanma with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hanma misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hanma misses with a double jab.

Botwin has Hanma up against the cage in a clinch.
Hanma wants a takedown but no success here.

Botwin drags the fight down to the ground.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hanma is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Botwin pushes Hanma off and gets back to his feet.
Botwin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hanma throws a series of punches but Botwin moves out of range.

Botwin darts in and clinches Hanma up against the cage.
Botwin slowing the pace effectively.

Botwin breaks the clinch.
Hanma with a nice cross.
Botwin wants to clinch up but Hanma keeps it at a distance.
Botwin dodges the punch combination from Hanma.
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 Baki Hanma will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Baki Hanma's cut.
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!

Botwin shoots for a takedown but Hanma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Botwin moves in looking to clinch but Hanma pushes him off.

Botwin moves into the clinch.
Botwin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hanma.
Hanma jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Botwin walks away with a smile on his face. Hanma gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Botwin slaps away a takedown attempt from Hanma, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hanma keeps the fight on the outside.
Jab, jab by Hanma - just one landing.
Botwin is looking to clinch.
Hanma takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hanma throws a hook but Botwin blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanma jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Botwin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hanma shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Baki Hanma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Botwin wants to clinch.
Botwin slips a straight right by Hanma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botwin walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Baki Hanma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Hanma misses.
Botwin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Botwin wants it to stay on the feet.
Botwin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hanma.
Botwin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hanma but Hanma pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hanma fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Botwin clinches with his opponent.
Botwin scores with a knee to the head.
Hanma wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hanma jumps guard but Botwin stands there with Hanma around his waist. Hanma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hanma takes a knee right on the jaw!

Botwin pulls guard.
Botwin wants to stand but Hanma is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma wants to stand and escape but instead Botwin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Botwin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hanma is working an open guard so Botwin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hanma throws a low kick but it's checked well by Botwin.
Botwin tries to clinch up but Hanma circles away and keeps his distance.
Botwin doesn't manage to clinch there - Hanma circles away.
Botwin is looking to clinch.
Botwin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hanma is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hanma swats away the attempt to clinch by Botwin.
Hanma shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Botwin pinned against the cage. Botwin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botwin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Botwin moves away from the strike by Hanma.
Botwin ducks under a wild hook from Hanma.
Botwin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hanma manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Botwin tries to clinch up but Hanma circles away and keeps his distance.
Botwin wants to clinch up but Hanma keeps it at a distance.
Hanma lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Botwin at a distance.
Botwin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hanma as he jumps to the side.
Hanma fails to land the takedown.
Botwin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hanma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hanma connects with a right hand. Botwin shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hanma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Botwin manages to avoid it.
Botwin throws a head kick that misses.
Botwin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanma.
Nice takedown defense from Hanma. No joy for Botwin on that attempt.
Botwin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Hanma looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Botwin is working an open guard so Hanma takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Botwin tries to move into range but Hanma moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Botwin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hanma swivels and escapes.
Hanma looks to land a combination but Botwin avoids it well.
Hanma with a nice cross.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Botwin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Hanma to counter with a crisp jab.
Hanma looks to land a combination. Botwin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hanma changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Botwin tries to clinch but Hanma moves out of range.
Botwin tries to clinch but Hanma is having none of it.
Hanma dives in and grabs Botwin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Botwin pushes down on Hanma's head and hops out.
Botwin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanma.
Botwin needs to keep his hands up - Hanma had a free shot at his head there.

Botwin has Hanma up against the cage in a clinch.
Botwin looking to throw knees to the head but Hanma is blocking nicely.
Botwin gets underhooks to prevent Hanma's takedown attempt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Botwin.
Botwin lands a good knee to the midsection. Hanma won't want to take too many of those.
Botwin misses with an elbow over the top.
Hanma tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Botwin smiles and moves away.

Botwin drives through and clinches with Hanma against the cage.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hanma has had enough of the clinch but Botwin keeps him there for the moment.
Botwin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hanma's face.

Botwin gets control of Hanma's arms and successfully pulls guard. Botwin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Hanma gets to his feet - Botwin follows without any prompting.
Botwin shoots in and drives through. Hanma sprawls well.
Hanma stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice takedown defense from Hanma. No joy for Botwin on that attempt.
Hanma throws a leg kick that misses.
Hanma scores with a nice right hand.
Hanma loads up on a big right hand but Botwin slips the punch.
Botwin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hanma as he jumps to the side.
Hanma cracks Botwin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hanma lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Botwin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hanma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Botwin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Botwin throws a leg kick but Hanma moved away.
Hanma scores with a nice head shot.
Some wild striking there from Hanma.
Botwin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hanma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Botwin slips under a jab.
Botwin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hanma as he jumps to the side.
Botwin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Botwin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Botwin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

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.
Botwin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hanma swivels and escapes.
Botwin has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hanma misses with a wild combination.
Botwin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Botwin slips a jab and a cross from Hanma.
Botwin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hanma counters with a nice uppercut.
Botwin tries to clinch but Hanma moves out of range.
Botwin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hanma finds it's way round the side to connect with Botwin's head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Botwin is defended easily by Hanma.
Botwin tries to close the distance and clinch but Hanma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Botwin walks into a straight right hand from Hanma.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hanma.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hanma dips to his left and cracks Botwin with an uppercut!
Hanma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Botwin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Botwin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hanma.
Hanma misses with a double jab.
Hanma fails with a takedown attempt.
Botwin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanma.
Botwin shoots in but no luck this time.
Botwin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Botwin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Botwin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hanma goes for a takedown attempt but Botwin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Botwin tries to clinch but Hanma moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kenny Botwin.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Baki Hanma!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!