PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yonjiro Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and yogo saghon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). yogo saghon struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 268.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hanma
vs
saghon

208 cm
22
251 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

225 cm
22
285 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yonjiro Hanma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, yogo saghon!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanma misses with a few strikes there.
Hanma tries to bum rush saghon with a series of wild strikes but saghon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
saghon tries to close the distance and clinch but Hanma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hanma throws a right hand that saghon ducks under and follows up with a left that saghon also avoids with ease.
saghon tries to clinch but Hanma moves out of range.
saghon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
saghon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
saghon fails to land the takedown.
No luck for saghon with that takedown attempt.

saghon gets caught flat footed, as Hanma shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Hanma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanma working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma postures up in saghon's guard and throws a big left but saghon blocks it.
Hanma landing with the ground and pound.
Hanma is looking to work some ground and pound but saghon has wrist control.
Hanma postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hanma works over saghon with some ground and pound from guard.
saghon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hanma manages to get himself to full guard.
Hanma bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in saghon's guard.
Hanma works over saghon with some ground and pound from guard.
saghon looks gassed!
Hanma connects with a couple of short punches.
Hanma throwing strikes from guard but saghon blocks nicely.
saghon wants to stand and escape but Hanma is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma chips away with some ground and pound.
Hanma scoring with some ground and pound.
Hanma trying to control the position from guard on top but saghon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanma stands and throws saghon's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hanma tries to score with some ground and pound. saghon controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Hanma decides to stand up, so the ref orders saghon to his feet.
Hanma misses with a wild combination.
No joy there for Hanma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
saghon with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hanma counters with a two punch combo.
Yonjiro Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of yogo saghon.
saghon misses with a takedown attempt
and Hanma counters with a series of strikes. saghon will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hanma throws a right and a left that saghon avoids nicely.
saghon closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hanma counters with a one-two to the body.

saghon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hanma sprawls well initially but saghon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hanma is trying to stand back up but saghon is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from saghon.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
saghon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. saghon lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanma looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hanma is looking for a sweep. saghon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
saghon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hanma manages to get to full guard.
saghon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
saghon advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yonjiro Hanma dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hanma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by saghon.
saghon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanma.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Hanma here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
saghon closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hanma counters with a nice leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - saghon scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Yonjiro Hanma has been cut.
saghon misses with a double jab
and Hanma counters with a series of strikes. saghon will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hanma looks to land a combination but saghon avoids it well.

saghon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
saghon is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma is refusing to be controlled, as saghon sits in half guard.
Hanma is trying to get back to full guard.
saghon is pressing down on Hanma's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hanma is holding on for now.
Hanma wants to get back to his feet.
Yonjiro Hanma overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hanma makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hanma.
Hanma 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.
Hanma bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in saghon's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

saghon is looking for a triangle but Hanma pushes his legs off easily.
Hanma cracks saghon with a solid left hand.
Hanma might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hanma thows a big elbow that misses.
saghon wants to sweep here but Hanma controlling him for the moment.
Hanma throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
saghon wants to sweep but no luck.
Hanma wants to pass the guard but saghon is keeping the position.
saghon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
saghon scores with a nice shot.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
saghon throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hanma counters with a series of strikes. saghon will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
saghon doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hanma counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
saghon is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hanma.
saghon misses with a takedown attempt
and Hanma counters with a left and a right that stings saghon.
A head kick by saghon misses
and Hanma counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hanma lands a jab-cross combination.
saghon tries for a takedown but Hanma circles away easily
and Hanma counters with a leg kick.
Yonjiro Hanma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of yogo saghon.
Hanma looks to land a combination. saghon sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A head kick by saghon misses
and Hanma counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
saghon misses with a takedown
and Hanma counters with a left and a right that stings saghon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yonjiro Hanma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hanma throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and saghon counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hanma!
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!
saghon tries to control but Hanma wriggling away.
Hanma flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hanma is trying desperately to improve position.

saghon looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hanma can't escape 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 Yonjiro Hanma will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yonjiro Hanma's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

saghon darts in trying to clinch
and Hanma counters with a good low kick that saghon was not able to check.
Hanma swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and saghon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hanma wants to improve his position but saghon is controlling well.
Hanma flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
saghon blocks the strikes from Hanma.
Hanma throws a strike from the bottom but saghon passes into side control!
saghon working the head with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
saghon advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

saghon has control of Hanma's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hanma regains control of the situation pretty easily.
saghon misses with a head shot.
saghon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
A nice elbow there by saghon.
Hanma tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hanma in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
saghon dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
saghon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hanma tries to reverse the position but saghon maintains control.
Hanma stops saghon from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Hanma is wriggling around trying to escape.
saghon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hanma tries to reverse the position but saghon maintains control.

saghon is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hanma has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

saghon working for a guillotine from mount but Hanma is in no mood to give up.
Hanma is trying to escape the mount.
saghon wants to control the pace but Hanma is squirming around nicely.

saghon working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Hanma turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips saghon off and cradles Hanma's limp body as saghon celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). yogo saghon!