PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zack Hitana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Just Case (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hitana
vs
Case

170 cm
27
140 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

181 cm
27
155 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zack Hitana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Just Case!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Case throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Case scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hitana in his tracks.
Hitana blocks a head kick by Case.

Case closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hitana did well to prevent Case getting side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hitana wants to control but Case is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Case performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Case prevents Hitana from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Case in particular looking to stall.
Hitana looks like he's trying to stand up.

Just Case has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Case takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Case circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Case keeps the fight on the outside.
Case looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hitana is fending him off so far but Case persists. Nope, Hitana circles away and we're back to standing.
Hitana avoids the body shot from Case.
Hitana moves in looking to clinch but Case pushes him off.
Case throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hitana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Case connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Case throws a nice head kick!
Case tries a head kick but it misses.
Hitana tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Case paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Hitana. No joy for Case on that attempt.
Hitana tries to clinch but Case is having none of it.

Hitana has managed to clinch.
Case avoids the elbow strike from Hitana, against the ropes.
Case is trying to push Hitana away but Hitana has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitana tries to score a body lock takedown but Case shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Case tries to break the clinch but Hitana is controlling the position.
Hitana misses with a knee to the head.
Hitana tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hitana misses with a knee to the head.

Case escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Case throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Case misses with a hook. Hitana ducked under it nicely.

Case closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Case prevents Hitana from standing back up.
Case throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Case perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hitana wants to improve his position but Case is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Case might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Just Case has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Case looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zack Hitana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Just Case.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hitana, right into the meat.
Case fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Case, as that shot connected.

Hitana takes the fight into the clinch.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Case avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitana tries to land knees in the clinch but Case avoids the damage to the body.
Case working hard to break the clinch.
Case pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Case continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Case blocks an elbow strike from Hitana.
Hitana with an attempt at a knee that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hitana trying to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Hitana.
Case wants to break free but Hitana has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Case.
Hitana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Case swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hitana throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Case.
Case fails with a takedown attempt.
Hitana on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hitana looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Case shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hitana seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hitana keeping moving, preventing Case from controlling successfully.
Case controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hitana keeping moving, preventing Case from controlling successfully.
Case looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Just Case wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hitana misses with a two punch combination.
Hitana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hitana is looking to clinch.
Case takes one to the side of the head.
Hitana moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jab from Case.
Hitana moves out of range of the strikes.
Hitana is looking to clinch but Case is avoiding it.
Hitana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Case fails with a takedown attempt.
Hitana takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Case rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hitana moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hitana is looking to clinch but Case is avoiding it.
Case looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zack Hitana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Just Case.
Case shoots in but no luck this time.
Case is breathing heavily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Case.
Case misses with a takedown
and Hitana counters with a slapping leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Case swats away the attempt to clinch by Hitana.
Zack Hitana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed right hand from Case misses the target.
Just Case seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Case does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Case misses with a takedown attempt - Hitana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hitana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hitana wants it to stay on the feet.
Zack Hitana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Case swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Case connects with a single shot there.
Hitana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Case swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters circling - Case throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Case bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hitana wants to get back to his feet.
Case is looking to take a break and control but Hitana is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Case might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hitana kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hitana tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Case wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hitana manages to get back to half guard.
Case stops Hitana from getting back to his feet.
Just Case has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hitana wants to control but Case passes into side.
Case wants to control but Hitana is keeping him busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Case working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hitana is trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Just Case showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Case swats away the attempt to clinch by Hitana.
Zack Hitana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Case closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hitana tries to clinch up but Case circles away and keeps his distance.
Hitana tries to clinch there but Case circles away.
Hitana tries to clinch up but Case circles away and keeps his distance.
Case throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hitana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Case lands a jab-cross combination.
Case fails with a takedown attempt.
Hitana moves in looking to clinch but Case pushes him off.
Hitana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hitana avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitana tries to clinch but Case moves away
and Case counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hitana keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Case takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Case.
Zack Hitana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Just Case.
Hitana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hitana wants it to stay on the feet.
Case with a poor takedown

and Hitana counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hitana.
Case wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hitana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Case.
Hitana landing knees to the head.
Hitana landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Case looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hitana scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitana with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Case takes a knee right on the jaw!
Case can't break the clinch.
Case has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Case escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hitana uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Case.
Hitana tries to clinch but Case moves out of range.
Case looks to land a left hand but Hitana moved out of range nicely.
Case misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Case lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hitana wants to clinch but Case slips to the side
and Case counters with a nice body shot.
Hitana takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hitana throws a body punch but Case moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitana stalks Case and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Case's face. Case staggers backwards, shaken.
Hitana tries to clinch but Case moves out of range.
Case misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hitana tries to clinch but Case moves away
and Case counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Case keeps the fight on the outside.
Hitana tries to clinch there but Case circles away.
Hitana fails with an attempt to clinch.
Case looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hitana is fending him off so far but Case persists. Nope, Hitana circles away and we're back to standing.
Hitana throws a sloppy head kick and Case moves out of range easily.
Hitana wants to clinch
and Case connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Case misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hitana with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Case to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Case throws out a loose jab but Hitana uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hitana closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Hitana misses with a punch to the body.
Hitana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Case is defending well for now.
Case managing to block the knees to the body from Hitana.
Hitana tries to land a knee to the head but Case blocks with his arms.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice elbow from Hitana.
Hitana misses with a knee strike.
Case on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Case blocks a body shot from Hitana.
Hitana is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Case is defending well.

Case has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hitana regains guard immediately.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zack Hitana.
I think Case has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight for Just Case!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Just Case!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Just Case!

Just Case wins by unanimous decision!
Just Case thanked the fans post fight for their support.