PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ico Hakuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshiro Tamigawa (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?

Hakuza
vs
Tamigawa

170 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

174 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ico Hakuza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiro Tamigawa!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hakuza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tamigawa can't do much from the bottom here.
Hakuza controls the position.
Tamigawa struggling a bit here.
Tamigawa tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakuza sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tamigawa is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tamigawa tries to hold on but Hakuza pushes him away.
Tamigawa is in all sorts of trouble here.

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.
Hakuza controlling his opponent.
Tamigawa wants to hold on but Hakuza pushes him away.
Hakuza controlling from mount.
Hakuza avoids the attempt from Tamigawa to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Yoshiro Tamigawa.
Tamigawa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hakuza counters with a single leg into guard. Tamigawa didn't expect that.
Hakuza is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tamigawa pulls Hakuza in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakuza engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Hakuza stands up from Tamigawa's guard - Hakuza perhaps looking for a knockout.
Tamigawa has his takedown stuffed

and Hakuza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tamigawa won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ico Hakuza dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hakuza drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tamigawa is trying to improve his position.
Hakuza misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hakuza sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tamigawa is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamigawa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hakuza tries to advance position but instead Tamigawa slips a leg back in to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tamigawa is staying active underneath Hakuza, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tamigawa is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tamigawa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hakuza trying to control the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Hakuza is working for a kimura but Tamigawa is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamigawa wants to control but Hakuza is keeping busy.

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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Yoshiro Tamigawa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tamigawa tries for a takedown but Hakuza circles away easily

and Hakuza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tamigawa is trying to maintain the position but Hakuza is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ico Hakuza dominated that second round.
That's time! Hakuza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tamigawa shoots in for a takedown but Hakuza shows good takedown defense.
Tamigawa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hakuza as he avoids it easily.
Tamigawa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hakuza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tamigawa won't be happy with that.
Ico Hakuza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshiro Tamigawa.
Tamigawa is trying to control Hakuza's posture but Hakuza avoids it.
Hakuza tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hakuza is trying to get an arm triangle but Tamigawa is defending well.
Tamigawa wants to control but Hakuza postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamigawa is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Hakuza is staying active.
Tamigawa is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hakuza trying to control the action but Tamigawa is working from the bottom.
Tamigawa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Tamigawa is trying to stand back up but Hakuza is controlling him
Hakuza is trying to control the action in half guard but Tamigawa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamigawa is trying to stand back up but Hakuza is controlling him

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tamigawa has his takedown stuffed

and Hakuza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hakuza wants to take a breather but Tamigawa is having none of it.
Ico Hakuza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tamigawa wants to control but Hakuza is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tamigawa is trying to stand up here but Hakuza is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hakuza stands up out of the half guard.
Ico Hakuza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tamigawa shoots in looking for a takedown. Hakuza tries to sprawl out of it but Tamigawa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hakuza manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tamigawa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hakuza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hakuza sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ico Hakuza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tamigawa looking for a sweep. Not yet Tamigawa, not yet.
Yoshiro Tamigawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tamigawa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ico Hakuza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hakuza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ico Hakuza!