PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Katsuro Kazuhiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamish Gaffney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kazuhiro
vs
Gaffney

180 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
27
185 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Katsuro Kazuhiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Hamish Gaffney!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaffney scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gaffney has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kazuhiro.
Kazuhiro scores with a head kick. Gaffney tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A combination from Gaffney does no damage.
Kazuhiro moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Gaffney will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
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!
Kazuhiro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gaffney misses with a two punch combination.

Gaffney shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kazuhiro wants to control but Gaffney is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kazuhiro is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Gaffney throws a strike but Kazuhiro avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gaffney works over Kazuhiro with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuhiro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gaffney wants to pass the guard but Kazuhiro is keeping the position.
Gaffney landing with the ground and pound.
Kazuhiro has momentary wrist control but Gaffney slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaffney cracks Kazuhiro with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro is trying to keep Gaffney in close.
Kazuhiro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kazuhiro wants to sweep here but Gaffney controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaffney throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kazuhiro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kazuhiro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kazuhiro trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaffney wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gaffney controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Gaffney can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Kazuhiro go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Kazuhiro keeps control of the position as Gaffney tries to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kazuhiro tries to keep control of the position but Gaffney is staying busy.
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 Katsuro Kazuhiro will probably get the nod.
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.

Gaffney shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kazuhiro lands a leg kick that knocks Gaffney off balance momentarily.
Hamish Gaffney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaffney lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kazuhiro throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gaffney takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gaffney throws an overhand right that lands on Kazuhiro's shoulder, as Kazuhiro tries to avoid the shot.
No joy there for Kazuhiro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gaffney throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gaffney takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Kazuhiro takes the fight into the clinch.
Gaffney has Kazuhiro pressed against the cage, preventing Kazuhiro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gaffney keeps control of Kazuhiro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gaffney is trying to maintain a safe position but Kazuhiro gets an underhook and turns Gaffney into the cage.
Gaffney misses with an elbow over the top.
Gaffney has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kazuhiro after a bit of a struggle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaffney blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaffney gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kazuhiro holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gaffney throws a strike but Kazuhiro avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gaffney won't allow Kazuhiro to sweep him here.
Gaffney postures up and lands a big shot to Kazuhiro's brow.
Gaffney wants to pass the guard but Kazuhiro is keeping the position.
Gaffney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kazuhiro working a defensive guard here.
Gaffney throws a strike but Kazuhiro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro won't allow Gaffney to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Katsuro Kazuhiro.
Kazuhiro walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaffney avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gaffney gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kazuhiro tries to clinch there but Gaffney circles away.
Gaffney thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kazuhiro misses with an uppercut.
Kazuhiro lands a nice looking body kick.
Katsuro Kazuhiro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kazuhiro takes the fight into the clinch.
Kazuhiro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kazuhiro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Katsuro Kazuhiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamish Gaffney.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gaffney.
Kazuhiro trying to control the position but instead, Gaffney has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kazuhiro into the cage.
Kazuhiro with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kazuhiro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kazuhiro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Gaffney turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gaffney manages to end up in side control.
Gaffney with the ground and pound but Kazuhiro regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Gaffney prevents Kazuhiro from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuhiro is pressing down on Gaffney's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kazuhiro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gaffney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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!
Gaffney with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gaffney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gaffney pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kazuhiro is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaffney trying to control the position from guard on top but Kazuhiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gaffney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
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 Katsuro Kazuhiro will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Gaffney, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kazuhiro tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gaffney manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gaffney sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gaffney's corner calls for a 1-2. Gaffney obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Katsuro Kazuhiro has been cut.
Gaffney connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A jab lands there for Gaffney.
Gaffney throws a jab when Kazuhiro was well out of range.
Gaffney misses with a double jab
and Kazuhiro counters with a nice body kick.
Kazuhiro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gaffney misses the shot to the body.
Gaffney stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kazuhiro.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kazuhiro gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gaffney to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kazuhiro trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaffney lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kazuhiro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gaffney is in close to Kazuhiro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gaffney working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gaffney throws a big right hand that misses.
Gaffney throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kazuhiro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kazuhiro controls Gaffney momentarily but Gaffney frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaffney preventing the sweep.
Gaffney lands a couple of digs.
Gaffney landing some decent shots from guard.
Kazuhiro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gaffney working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaffney is working Kazuhiro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kazuhiro is trying to control the position but Gaffney postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaffney throwing strikes but missing.
Gaffney with a nice head shot there.
Gaffney throws an elbow that misses. Kazuhiro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gaffney's guard. Nice move by Kazuhiro!
Gaffney looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kazuhiro is one step ahead there.
Kazuhiro wants to control from the top but Gaffney keeps moving.
Katsuro Kazuhiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Katsuro Kazuhiro just wasn't active enough.
Gaffney misses with a series of wild punches.
Kazuhiro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kazuhiro misses with a body shot.
Hamish Gaffney is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kazuhiro gets caught napping as Gaffney dives in and scores a takedown. Kazuhiro manages to retain guard.
Gaffney throws an elbow that misses. Kazuhiro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gaffney's guard. Nice move by Kazuhiro!
Kazuhiro trying to control but Gaffney is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamish Gaffney comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kazuhiro 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!