PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hatsu Hioki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolad Kjeldsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hioki
vs
Kjeldsson

180 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hatsu Hioki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rolad Kjeldsson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hioki thows a body shot but no joy.
Hioki throws out a loose jab but Kjeldsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hioki throws a hook but Kjeldsson avoids it easily.
Kjeldsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kjeldsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hioki.
Kjeldsson slips a jab from Hioki.
Kjeldsson's corner calls for a 1-2. Kjeldsson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hioki misses with an uppercut
and Kjeldsson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hioki defending well as Kjeldsson loads up on a big left hand.
Hioki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fighters circling - Kjeldsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hioki scores with a body shot.
A slow jab from Hioki misses its intended target.
Kjeldsson misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Kjeldsson does it's job there.
Kjeldsson connects with a right hand. Hioki shakes it off.
No joy there for Kjeldsson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kjeldsson circles away quickly and effectively.

Hioki shoots in and gets a takedown into Kjeldsson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hioki stopping the sweep attempt from Kjeldsson.
Kjeldsson keeping full guard, as Hioki tries to pass.

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 wants to control from the top but Kjeldsson keeps moving.
Hioki preventing the sweep.
Hioki is stalling in the full guard.
Kjeldsson keeping full guard, as Hioki tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson wants to sweep here but Hioki controlling him for the moment.
Kjeldsson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kjeldsson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch combination from Kjeldsson misses.
Kjeldsson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hioki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kjeldsson.
Hioki misses with a looping right.
Kjeldsson lands a right hook to the body.
Kjeldsson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hioki thows a body shot but no joy.
Hioki is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kjeldsson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hioki takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kjeldsson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kjeldsson misses with a hook.
Kjeldsson throws a right hand that Hioki ducks under and follows up with a left that Hioki also avoids with ease.
Hioki thows a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hioki. Kjeldsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hioki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kjeldsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kjeldsson ducks under a wild hook from Hioki.
Kjeldsson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hioki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kjeldsson counters with a three punch combo that has Hioki backing up. Hioki nods at Kjeldsson to acknowledge the strikes.
Hioki misses with a takedown attempt - Kjeldsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kjeldsson.

Hioki closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kjeldsson quickly recovers to half guard.
Kjeldsson is looking for a sweep. Hioki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hioki is trying to work for a kimura but Kjeldsson is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hioki seems to be working for a kimura but Kjeldsson defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hioki is looking for a kimura but Kjeldsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hioki to get the leverage.
Kjeldsson is staying active underneath Hioki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kjeldsson moves into full guard.
Hioki looking to sit in guard and control but Kjeldsson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hioki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kjeldsson is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rolad Kjeldsson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kjeldsson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hioki. Hioki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kjeldsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Hioki stalks Kjeldsson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kjeldsson's face. Kjeldsson staggers backwards, shaken.
Kjeldsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hioki.
Kjeldsson lands a lovely overhand right.
Rolad Kjeldsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kjeldsson slips under a jab from Hioki.
Kjeldsson scores with the left hand. Hioki knows he should have avoided that one.
Hatsu Hioki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hioki throws a hook but Kjeldsson avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Hioki misses.
Kjeldsson slips a straight right by Hioki.
Kjeldsson staying out of range there.
Hioki fails to land with a series of punches.
Hioki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kjeldsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kjeldsson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kjeldsson!
Kjeldsson fails to land with a series of punches.
Hioki misses with a hook. Kjeldsson ducked under it nicely.
Hioki misses with a straight left.
Hioki slips a straight right by Kjeldsson.
A punch combination from Hioki misses.
Hioki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kjeldsson scores with a nice strike.
A big left from Kjeldsson misses.
Kjeldsson cracks Hioki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kjeldsson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hioki throws a right hand that misses
letting Kjeldsson counter with a right hand.
Kjeldsson throws a hook but Hioki avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson misses with a head kick.

Hioki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!
Hioki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kjeldsson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kjeldsson wants to improve his position but Hioki is controlling well.
Hioki trying to control the action but Kjeldsson is working from the bottom.

Hioki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hioki trying to pass the guard but Kjeldsson defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson trying to control here.

Hioki wants to work for an arm triangle but Kjeldsson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hioki is thwarting Kjeldsson's attempts to control the position.

Hioki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kjeldsson has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hioki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson is staying active underneath Hioki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hioki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hioki is keen to just control but Kjeldsson is a slippery customer.
Kjeldsson gets full guard.
Hioki throws a big right hand that misses.
Hioki looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hioki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hioki wants to pass the guard but Kjeldsson is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hatsu Hioki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kjeldsson is looking to land body kicks.
Kjeldsson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hioki's hands.
Hioki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kjeldsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hioki slips under a jab.
Hioki throws a shot from downtown. Kjeldsson moves away and avoids it.
Kjeldsson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hioki throws a body punch but Kjeldsson moves out of range.
Kjeldsson slips a jab and a cross from Hioki.

Hioki gets a double leg takedown into Kjeldsson's guard.
Hioki won't allow Kjeldsson to sweep him here.
Kjeldsson wants to stand up but Hioki is controlling him.
Kjeldsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Kjeldsson, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kjeldsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hioki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kjeldsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hioki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hioki advances position into side control!
Hioki tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
You can see the frustration on Kjeldsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hioki looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kjeldsson is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hioki.
Kjeldsson trying to control but Hioki flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Hioki is punishing Kjeldsson with some ground and pound.
Hioki scores with punches to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hioki is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Hioki working for a choke but Kjeldsson is defending well.
Kjeldsson just trying to survive but Hioki is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kjeldsson fending off the submission attempt from Hioki.
Hioki lands a shot to the head.
Hioki lands punches and elbows.

Kjeldsson fending off the submission attempt from Hioki.

Hioki patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

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

Hioki is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kjeldsson has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hioki looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Kjeldsson is controlling Hioki 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Kjeldsson content to stall in guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hioki keeping moving, preventing Kjeldsson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hatsu Hioki clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hioki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kjeldsson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hioki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kjeldsson misses with the combination.
Hioki misses with an uppercut. Kjeldsson saw that one coming.
Kjeldsson throws a nice looking combination but Hioki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kjeldsson misses with a few strikes there.
Hioki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kjeldsson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hioki on the side of the head.
Kjeldsson misses with a looping left.
Kjeldsson connects with a nice looking jab.
Hioki takes a swing at Kjeldsson's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kjeldsson missing with a left hand there. Hioki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kjeldsson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hioki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kjeldsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Kjeldsson dodges the punch combination from Hioki.
Kjeldsson moves out of range of the strikes.
Hioki throws a hook but Kjeldsson blocks it.
Hioki throws a body punch but Kjeldsson moves out of range.
Hioki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kjeldsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kjeldsson thuds his right hand into Hioki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hioki throws a shot from downtown. Kjeldsson moves away and avoids it.
Hioki slips a jab from Kjeldsson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioki misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kjeldsson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hioki takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kjeldsson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hioki takes a swing at Kjeldsson's ribcage but misses.
Hioki throws a hook but Kjeldsson avoids it easily.
Hioki throws an off balance right hand
and Kjeldsson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kjeldsson. Hioki does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Hioki misses.
Kjeldsson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kjeldsson throws a series of punches but Hioki avoids them all with ease.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hioki throws a right hand that misses
and Kjeldsson counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheers as Kjeldsson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hioki doesn't seem phased though.
Hioki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson misses with a two punch combination.
Kjeldsson is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Kjeldsson clobbers Hioki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kjeldsson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kjeldsson wants it to stay on the feet.
Hioki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rolad Kjeldsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Kjeldsson misses.
Hioki throws a series of punches but Kjeldsson avoids them all with ease.
Hioki looks to land a right hand but Kjeldsson moved out of range.
Hioki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kjeldsson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hioki throws a big shot that misses.
Hioki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hioki looks for a takedown but Kjeldsson sprawls well.
Kjeldsson scores with a one two! Hioki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hioki misses with a wild combination.
Hioki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hatsu Hioki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kjeldsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kjeldsson scores with a jab to the head.
Kjeldsson throws a hook but Hioki blocks it.
Kjeldsson lands a two punch combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice sprawl there from Kjeldsson as Hioki shoots in.
A punch combination from Hioki misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hioki throws a right and a left that Kjeldsson avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolad Kjeldsson dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Kjeldsson.
Hioki fails to land with a series of punches.
Kjeldsson lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kjeldsson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hioki throws a hook to the side of Kjeldsson's head but Kjeldsson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kjeldsson throws a right hand that Hioki ducks under and follows up with a left that Hioki also avoids with ease.
Hioki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kjeldsson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hioki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hioki shoots in but Kjeldsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hioki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioki misses with a takedown attempt
and Kjeldsson counters with a series of strikes. Hioki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hioki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kjeldsson moves into range and connects with a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hioki is defended easily by Kjeldsson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hatsu Hioki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kjeldsson tries to land a front kick but Hioki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kjeldsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hioki.
Hioki misses with a combination
enabling Kjeldsson to counter with a crisp jab.
Kjeldsson scores with a jab.
Hioki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hioki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioki throws a right hand that Kjeldsson ducks under and follows up with a left that Kjeldsson also avoids with ease.
Hioki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kjeldsson to score with a decent uppercut.
Hioki throws a right and a left that Kjeldsson avoids nicely.
Kjeldsson misses with a looping right.
Kjeldsson looks to land a right hand but Hioki moved out of range.

Kjeldsson gets caught napping as Hioki dives in and scores a takedown. Kjeldsson manages to retain guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kjeldsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hioki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kjeldsson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hioki, into his guard.
Kjeldsson wants to control from the top but Hioki keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson is stalling in the full guard.
Kjeldsson won't allow Hioki to sweep him here.
Kjeldsson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hioki controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kjeldsson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hioki.
Hioki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kjeldsson clobbers Hioki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Hioki gets a takedown into half guard.

Hioki wants to work for an arm triangle but Kjeldsson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kjeldsson is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hioki jumps into side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hioki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hioki looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kjeldsson is avoiding damage well.

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 Hatsu Hioki.
I think Hioki 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 48:47
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 48:47
Judge William Peck scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Hatsu Hioki!
Hatsu Hioki is the new featherweight champion!
After winning the bout, Hatsu Hioki thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.