PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaoru Hanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nalle Puh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puh has chosen Nalle Puhin uudet seikkailut as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Hanayama
vs
Puh

187 cm
31
199 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

185 cm
28
200 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kaoru Hanayama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nalle Puh!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puh checks a low kick from Hanayama.
Puh swings for the body but Hanayama moves out of range.
Puh lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hanayama looks for a takedown but Puh sprawls well.
Puh pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Puh throws a sloppy head kick and Hanayama moves out of range easily.
Puh throws a low kick, looking for Hanayama's leg but Hanayama calmly moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Puh looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanayama is just out of range.
Hanayama slips under a jab from Puh.
Puh checks a leg kick.
Hanayama turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hanayama takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Puh throws a body punch but Hanayama moves out of range.
Puh misses with a low kick.
Puh stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hanayama.
Nice straight punches there by Hanayama. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hanayama.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puh misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hanayama.
Puh stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hanayama.
Some wild striking there from Puh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puh stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Puh wants it to stay on the feet.
Puh throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hanayama.
Puh is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hanayama rather than just go for the knockout.
Puh lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hanayama's sensitive parts.
Hanayama takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hanayama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Puh.
Hanayama is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hanayama avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hanayama slips a straight right by Puh.
Puh goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Kaoru Hanayama has been cut.
Hanayama shoots in for a takedown but Puh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaoru Hanayama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hanayama. That's going to slow Puh down.
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!
Hanayama dives in and grabs Puh's left leg, looking for a takedown. Puh pushes down on Hanayama's head and hops out.
Puh cracks the inside of Hanayama's front leg.
Puh throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Hanayama.

Hanayama shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Puh keeping moving, preventing Hanayama from controlling successfully.
Puh wants to sweep but no luck.
Hanayama is working Puh over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Puh working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hanayama.
Hanayama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Puh avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hanayama lands a couple of digs.
Hanayama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hanayama wants to control from the top but Puh keeps moving.

Puh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hanayama trying to control but Puh is working from the bottom.
Hanayama 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.
Puh wants to stand up but Hanayama is controlling him.
Hanayama is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Puh keeping moving, preventing Hanayama from controlling successfully.
Hanayama engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hanayama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hanayama content to stall in guard here.
Puh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hanayama is one step ahead there.
Hanayama landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hanayama's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hanayama slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Puh wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kaoru Hanayama will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaoru Hanayama's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hanayama has a takedown stuffed.
Hanayama scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hanayama closes the distance and clinches up with Puh, looking for a takedown. Hanayama pushes Puh against the cage but Puh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Puh displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hanayama has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Puh finds it's way round the side to connect with Hanayama's head.
Puh swings for the body but Hanayama moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hanayama. That's going to slow Puh down.
Hanayama throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Puh's waist but Puh gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hanayama off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaoru Hanayama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Puh looking to land some kicks to the body here.
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!
Puh pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hanayama drives through with a takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Puh is on top in guard.
Hanayama keeping moving, preventing Puh from controlling successfully.
Hanayama looking for a sweep. Not yet Hanayama, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puh wants to control from the top but Hanayama keeps moving.
Hanayama has a closed guard, preventing Puh from standing up.
Hanayama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Puh is one step ahead there.
Puh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Puh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Puh trying to control but Hanayama is working from the bottom.
Hanayama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Puh's guard.
Hanayama engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Puh wants to stand and escape but Hanayama is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Puh is keeping the position for now.
Puh wants to sweep here but Hanayama controlling him for the moment.
Puh is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hanayama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hanayama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Puh keeping moving, preventing Hanayama from controlling successfully.
Hanayama lands a couple of digs.
Hanayama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puh looking for a sweep. Not yet Puh, not yet.
Hanayama looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Puh's head.
Hanayama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hanayama wants to control from the top but Puh keeps moving.
Puh avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hanayama controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Puh wants to stand up but Hanayama is controlling him.
Hanayama scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hanayama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hanayama forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puh is staying active underneath Hanayama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hanayama drops an elbow to the side of Puh's head.
Hanayama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Puh makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Puh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hanayama throws a big right hand that misses.
Hanayama lands a couple of digs.
Hanayama passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hanayama advances to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hanayama scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Hanayama looking for a guillotine from mount but Puh is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaoru Hanayama dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaoru Hanayama's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hanayama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hanayama 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.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Puh.
Good leg kick by Hanayama there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Puh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Puh tries a low kick but Hanayama avoids it.
Hanayama throws a head kick that misses.
Hanayama takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hanayama looks to throw the jab but Puh is out of range.

Hanayama dives in and scores a takedown into Puh's guard.
Puh keeping full guard, as Hanayama tries to pass.
Puh 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.
Puh pulls Hanayama in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hanayama controls the pace.
Hanayama is working Puh over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hanayama throwing strikes but missing.
Hanayama trying to control but Puh is working from the bottom.
Hanayama landing some decent shots from guard.
Hanayama preventing the sweep.
Nalle Puh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puh looking to control.
Hanayama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Puh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hanayama trying to control but Puh is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Puh is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Puh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hanayama.
Puh swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hanayama gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puh with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hanayama dives in and grabs Puh's left leg, looking for a takedown. Puh pushes down on Hanayama's head and hops out.
Good exchange - Puh coming out on top.

Hanayama shoots in and bounces Puh off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hanayama preventing the sweep.
Puh wants to get back to his feet but Hanayama is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hanayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Puh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanayama working some strikes from top position.
Hanayama postures up in Puh's guard and throws a big left but Puh blocks it.
Hanayama lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Puh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanayama advances position into side control!
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!
Puh is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hanayama is looking to take a break and control but Puh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hanayama scores with punches from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hanayama scoring with punches from side control.
Kaoru Hanayama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hanayama tries for a kimura but Puh is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaoru Hanayama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hanayama, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaoru Hanayama!
Kaoru Hanayama decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.