PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jan Szczevnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hatsu Hioki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hioki has chosen Pussy by Rammstein as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Szczevnikov
vs
Hioki

182 cm
27
144 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

181 cm
29
142 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Jan Szczevnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Hatsu Hioki!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szczevnikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Hioki.
Szczevnikov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hioki counters with a head kick. That will keep Szczevnikov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hioki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Szczevnikov shoots in and bounces Hioki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hioki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Szczevnikov is one step ahead there.
Hioki is trying to keep Szczevnikov in close.
Szczevnikov won't allow Hioki to get back to his feet.

Szczevnikov drops back looking for a leg! Hioki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hioki manages to kick Szczevnikov off! Szczevnikov jumps back into Hioki's guard.
Hioki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hatsu Hioki was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Szczevnikov tries for a takedown but Hioki circles away easily
and Hioki counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Hioki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hioki lands in his opponent's guard.
Hioki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Szczevnikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Szczevnikov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hioki!

Szczevnikov working for a submission but Hioki is keeping him at bay.
Hioki can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioki tries to hold on but Szczevnikov pushes him away.

Szczevnikov swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hioki is now in Szczevnikov's guard. A big mistake from Szczevnikov there, giving up the dominant position!

Hioki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szczevnikov is trying to control the position but Hioki postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Szczevnikov holds on and takes a little breather.
Hioki wants to pass the guard but Szczevnikov is keeping the position.

Hioki drops back looking for a leg! Szczevnikov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Szczevnikov manages to kick Hioki off! Hioki jumps back into Szczevnikov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hioki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hioki pushing down on Szczevnikov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Hioki stands up from half guard.
Hioki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Szczevnikov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hioki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Szczevnikov somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Szczevnikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hioki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hioki cracks the inside of Szczevnikov's front leg.
Hatsu Hioki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szczevnikov has his takedown stuffed

and Hioki counters with a single leg into guard. Szczevnikov didn't expect that.
Szczevnikov is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hioki working some strikes from top position.

Hioki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hioki passes Szczevnikov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Szczevnikov wants to control but Hioki is keeping busy.

Hioki is looking for a kimura here.
Hioki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hioki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Szczevnikov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hioki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hioki's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hatsu Hioki dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hioki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Szczevnikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jan Szczevnikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hioki tries a head kick but it misses.
Hioki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hioki closes the distance looking to clinch

and Szczevnikov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hioki preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Szczevnikov wants to work for an arm triangle but Hioki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Szczevnikov is pressing down on Hioki's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hioki is holding on for now.
Hioki is looking to control Szczevnikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hioki avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Szczevnikov prevents Hioki from improving his position.
Hioki pushes Szczevnikov off looking to stand but Szczevnikov dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioki preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Szczevnikov seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hioki trying to control here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hioki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Szczevnikov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hioki is trying to stand up here but Szczevnikov is controlling him well.

Szczevnikov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Szczevnikov trying to mount his opponent but Hioki defends it.

Szczevnikov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hioki sees it coming and defends easily.

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.
Hioki wants to control but Szczevnikov is keeping busy.

Szczevnikov seems to be looking for submissions.
Szczevnikov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hioki is trying to maintain the position but Szczevnikov is very close to passing his half guard.

Szczevnikov seems to be working for a kimura but Hioki defends the submission attempt.
Hioki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Szczevnikov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Szczevnikov's back!
Szczevnikov trying to control the hands but Hioki breaks the grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hioki has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Hioki is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Szczevnikov is defending well though. Hioki let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Szczevnikov defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Hioki is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Hioki patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Hioki is trying to stick to Szczevnikov's back but Szczevnikov is turning into Hioki. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hioki's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Szczevnikov.
Szczevnikov looking to pass the guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szczevnikov wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Szczevnikov is on top in guard.

Hioki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Szczevnikov defends it easily.

Szczevnikov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hioki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Szczevnikov has Hioki in his guard.
Hioki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Szczevnikov is keeping the position for now.

Hioki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hatsu Hioki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Hioki lands with a slapping head kick.
Szczevnikov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hioki counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Szczevnikov has his takedown stuffed

and Hioki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hioki looking to throw knees to the head but Szczevnikov is blocking nicely.

Hioki has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Szczevnikov uses from the top position.

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

Szczevnikov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hioki pulls Szczevnikov in close to prevent any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Szczevnikov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hioki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Szczevnikov has Hioki in his guard.
Hioki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hioki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hioki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hioki trying to control but Szczevnikov is working from the bottom.
Szczevnikov looking for a sweep. Not yet Szczevnikov, not yet.
Hatsu Hioki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Szczevnikov is trying to keep Hioki in close.
Hioki passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Szczevnikov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hioki connects with a decent elbow.
Hioki works to advance to full mount. Szczevnikov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Szczevnikov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Szczevnikov has given up his back here. Will Hioki look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Szczevnikov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hioki's guard. Nice work there by Szczevnikov.

Szczevnikov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hioki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hioki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hioki!
Szczevnikov is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Hioki is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Hioki is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Szczevnikov is surviving well by controlling Hioki's body position as best he can.
Hioki lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szczevnikov can't escape the position.

Hioki is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Szczevnikov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Hioki prevents Szczevnikov from getting the reversal.
Hioki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Szczevnikov is looking to escape.
Szczevnikov is controlling an arm, preventing Hioki from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Szczevnikov is trying to escape the mount.

Hioki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

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.
Hioki wants to control the pace but Szczevnikov is squirming around nicely.
Hatsu Hioki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Szczevnikov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hioki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szczevnikov keeps working.
Szczevnikov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jan Szczevnikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hioki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hatsu Hioki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hioki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hatsu Hioki!