PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Cranium (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuo Hanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cranium
vs
Hanayama

193 cm
28
250 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

180 cm
23
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

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 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Richard Cranium!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuo Hanayama!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cranium shoots in for a double leg but Hanayama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cranium doesn't manage to clinch there - Hanayama circles away.
Hanayama misses with a right hand
and Cranium cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hanayama scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hanayama lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
No luck for Cranium with that takedown attempt.

Cranium throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Hanayama stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Cranium follows into mount!

It looks like Kazuo Hanayama has been cut.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Cranium is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hanayama is surviving well by controlling Cranium's body position as best he can.
Hanayama is looking to get to half guard.
Hanayama swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hanayama really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cranium. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanayama tries to hold on but Cranium pushes him away.

Cranium is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Cranium shoots in looking for a takedown. Hanayama tries to sprawl out of it but Cranium keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hanayama manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Cranium. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hanayama decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hanayama seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cranium gets back to full guard.
Hanayama postures up and lands a big shot to Cranium's brow.
Hanayama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cranium wants to stand but Hanayama is controlling the position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Hanayama has eaten all the pies!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanayama is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanayama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hanayama working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cranium's head.
Hanayama landing with the ground and pound.
Cranium manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hanayama manages to get himself to full guard.
Cranium passes into half guard.
Cranium seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hanayama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cranium works his way into side control.

Cranium tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cranium has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Cranium looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cranium decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hanayama to his feet.
Cranium is looking to clinch but Hanayama is avoiding it.
Hanayama wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cranium shoots in for a takedown but Hanayama shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A slow jab from Hanayama misses its intended target.
Hanayama lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hanayama wants it to stay on the feet.
Cranium on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cranium doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hanayama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hanayama throws out a powerful jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cranium looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice defenses there by Cranium.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cranium tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cranium lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hanayama circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanayama misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cranium dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kazuo Hanayama's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hanayama throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hanayama stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hanayama, as that shot connected.
A big left from Hanayama misses.
Hanayama fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Cranium steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hanayama.
Cranium looks to land a combination but Hanayama avoids it well.
Cranium is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hanayama scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cranium doesn't seem bothered though.
Good shot there by Hanayama.
Cranium shoots and misses
and Hanayama counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranium on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cranium uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hanayama.
Hanayama thuds his right hand into Cranium's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hanayama misses with a straight left.
Cranium misses with a series of wild punches.
Cranium swinging wildly here.
Cranium uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hanayama.
Hanayama lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranium takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cranium shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hanayama lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hanayama throws a big shot that misses.
Nice body punch from Hanayama.
Hanayama fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hanayama shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hanayama showed some decent athleticism there.
Cranium is trying to stand up here but Hanayama is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cranium is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hanayama scores with a couple of nice shots.

Cranium manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A swing and a miss from Hanayama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranium defending well as Hanayama loads up on a big left hand.
Hanayama cracks Cranium with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hanayama lands a lovely overhand right.
Hanayama is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cranium.
Cranium moves away from the strike by Hanayama.
Hanayama misses with a wild body shot.
Hanayama throws a right hand that misses
and Cranium counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hanayama throws a jab when Cranium was well out of range.
Cranium shoots in looking for a takedown. Hanayama tries to sprawl out of it but Cranium keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hanayama manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Cranium. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cranium avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranium moves out of range of the strikes.
Cranium drops his hands momentarily and Hanayama takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cranium moves away from the strike by Hanayama.
Cranium tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hanayama paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cranium shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hanayama defends it nicely.
Hanayama stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Hanayama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kazuo Hanayama's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fighters circling - Hanayama throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hanayama misses with a straight left.
Cranium moves in looking to clinch but Hanayama pushes him off.
Kazuo Hanayama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hanayama swings widly with a right hand

and Cranium counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hanayama!

Cranium looking to isolate an arm here. Hanayama doesn't see it coming and as Cranium extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Cranium!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Richard Cranium!