PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taka Hana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joze Mesar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joze Mesar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hana
vs
Mesar

188 cm
24
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

204 cm
27
270 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

MMA ANIMAL

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Taka Hana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joze Mesar!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mesar misses with a few strikes there.
Mesar throws a series of strikes that have Hana backpedaling.
Mesar looks to land a combination. Hana sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Mesar misses with a few strikes there.
Mesar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hana.
Mesar takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mesar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice straight punches there by Mesar. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mesar.
Mesar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hana throws a series of punches but Mesar moves out of range.
Hana takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hana looks for a takedown but Mesar sprawls well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hana tests Mesar's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mesar with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hana walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hana misses with a hook. Mesar ducked under it nicely.
Hana gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A punch combination from Mesar misses.
Hana misses with a hook. Mesar ducked under it nicely.
Mesar throws a combination. Hana tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hana wants to land a leg kick but Mesar is out of range.
Mesar throws a combination that misses

and Hana counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mesar won't be happy with that.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mesar is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hana connects with a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hana looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mesar is avoiding damage well.
Hana looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mesar is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hana misses with the ground and pound.
Hana is working Mesar over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hana working the ground and pound but Mesar is defending the strikes.
Hana prevents Mesar from escaping the position.
Mesar parries the strikes from Hana easily there. Hana is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mesar to escape.
Mesar being controlled for a moment.
An elbow from Hana crashes against the mat.
Hana landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesar parries the strikes from Hana easily there. Hana is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mesar to escape.
Hana content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Mesar defending against the ground and pound.
Hana wants to control but Mesar is keeping him busy.
Mesar is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Mesar is trying to control Hana's posture but Hana avoids it.
Hana throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hana misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mesar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hana. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mesar defending against the ground and pound.
Mesar is trying to get back to half guard.
Hana creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Mesar sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hana throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hana trying to control the action but Mesar is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hana in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Hana dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mesar has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hana looks to throw the jab but Mesar is out of range.
A jab from Hana does it's job there.
Mesar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hana.
Mesar throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hana on the side of the head.
Mesar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Joze Mesar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mesar throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hana tries to move into range but Mesar moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mesar bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hana's head backwards.
Mesar misses with a series of wild punches.
Mesar tries to clinch but Hana is having none of it.
Hana showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mesar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hana misses with a straight left.
Mesar takes one to the chin there.
Hana fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mesar misses with a looping right.
Joze Mesar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mesar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taka Hana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Mesar.
Mesar has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mesar lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mesar.
Mesar connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hana's hands.
Mesar lands with a right hand.
Mesar is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mesar throws a good cross that connects.
Joze Mesar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mesar doesn't manage to clinch there - Hana circles away.
Mesar moves out of range as Hana strikes.
Hana misses with a low kick.
Mesar tries to bum rush Hana with a series of wild strikes but Hana uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mesar lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hana fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab lands there for Mesar.
Hana looks to throw the jab but Mesar is out of range.
Mesar slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mesar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hana dodges the punch combination from Mesar.
Hana steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mesar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hana throws a hook but Mesar avoids it easily.
Mesar throws a one two combo.
Hana takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hana shoots in looking for a takedown. Mesar tries to sprawl out of it but Hana keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mesar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A jab from Hana misses.
Hana drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Danga de danga de dang - Mesar scores with a four punch combination!
Mesar looks to land a combination but Hana avoids it well.
Hana takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Mesar's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mesar duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hana dives in and grabs Mesar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mesar pushes down on Hana's head and hops out.
Hana throws a jab when Mesar was well out of range.
Hana throws a lazy uppercut
and Hana takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mesar misses with the combination.
Nice defenses there by Mesar.
Hana fails to land the takedown.
Mesar misses with a jab, cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mesar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mesar 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.
Hana shoots in looking for a takedown. Mesar tries to sprawl out of it but Hana keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mesar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A left lands for Mesar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joze Mesar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hana dives in and grabs Mesar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mesar pushes down on Hana's head and hops out.
Mesar scores with a hook to the body. Hana takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mesar misses with a few strikes there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hana wants to take the fight to the mat but Mesar manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hana is pushing Mesar up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Hana gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mesar regains guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hana accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hana trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hana accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hana passes into half guard.
Mesar is looking to escape.
Hana 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.
Mesar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hana.
Mesar wants to get back to his feet.
Hana thows a huge punch but Mesar dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hana throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hana looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mesar with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hana is trying to control. Mesar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hana not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mesar is trying to stand back up but Hana is controlling him
Hana working Mesar over with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mesar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hana scores with a couple of nice shots.
Taka Hana overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hana is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mesar!
Hana throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mesar wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hana landing shots from mount.
Hana trying to control but Mesar is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hana cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mesar taking shots to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hana landing strikes from the mount.
Hana breaks from Mesar's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hana looking to ground and pound but Mesar is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hana scoring with strikes but Mesar is staying in there.
Hana misses with a head shot.
Hana postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mesar looks a forlorn figure.
Hana throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hana has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mesar's face.

It looks like Joze Mesar has been cut.
Hana lands a nice shot to the head.

That has opened up Joze Mesar's cut even more.
Mesar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mesar is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hana pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taka Hana showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hana 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taka Hana!
Taka Hana took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, MMA ANIMAL for their support in the buildup to the fight.