PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Benson Hamaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Rotoras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rotoras's choice of entrance music: Remember the Name!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hamaka
vs
Rotoras

177 cm
19
164 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Non-Stop Nutrition

MMA's Best Nutrition
Nancy Botwin's Herbal Nutritions

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benson Hamaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Rotoras!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamaka tries to land a front kick but Rotoras steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hamaka just misses with a punch to the body.
Rotoras shoots in for a takedown but Hamaka shows good takedown defense.
Good work by Hamaka as he checks the leg kick.

Hamaka gets the takedown into side control.
Rotoras tries to buck Hamaka off but Hamaka is having none of it.
Hamaka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rotoras keeps working.
Rotoras tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hamaka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hamaka wants to stand but Rotoras is controlling his arm.
Rotoras struggling a bit here.
Rotoras trying his best to control but Hamaka has mounted him.
Rotoras slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rotoras wants to control but Hamaka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rotoras wants to control the action here but instead Hamaka manages to pass to full mount!
Hamaka controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotoras is trying desperately to improve position.
Hamaka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rotoras is squirming around, avoiding Hamaka's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rotoras tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rotoras bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rotoras stops Hamaka from standing up.
Rotoras trying to control but Hamaka is working from the bottom.
Rotoras passes Hamaka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hamaka wants to get back to his feet.
Hamaka works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rotoras passes Hamaka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rotoras is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hamaka has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rotoras is pressing down on Hamaka's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hamaka is holding on for now.
Rotoras wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hamaka keeps working.

Hamaka pushes Rotoras off and gets back to his feet.

Rotoras feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotoras wants to control from the top but Hamaka keeps moving.
Hamaka can't keep his opponent in guard - Rotoras advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hamaka wants to improve his position but Rotoras is controlling well.
Rotoras controlling the pace.

Hamaka makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hamaka is breathing heavily.
Hamaka misses with an uppercut.
Hamaka is looking to clinch but Rotoras is avoiding it.
Hamaka tries to clinch but Rotoras is having none of it.
Hamaka throws a hook to the side of Rotoras's head but Rotoras sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four 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.
Hamaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rotoras throws a head kick but Hamaka moves out of range.

Rotoras has Hamaka up against the cage in a clinch.
Rotoras wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rotoras looking for a takedown.

Rotoras breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rotoras tries to clinch there but Hamaka circles away.
Rotoras shoots in but no luck this time.
Benson Hamaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rotoras.
Hamaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hamaka lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rotoras backs up against the cage.

It looks like Ricardo Rotoras has been cut.
Rotoras avoids the head kick by Hamaka.
Hamaka misses the shot to the body.
Hamaka looks to land a combination but Rotoras avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Hamaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Rotoras's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hamaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hamaka goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hamaka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hamaka tries a head kick but it misses.
Hamaka slips a jab from Rotoras.
Rotoras looks for a takedown but Hamaka sprawls well.
Rotoras avoids the head kick by Hamaka.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rotoras.

Rotoras scores with a takedown into Hamaka's guard.
Hamaka can't keep his opponent in guard - Rotoras advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hamaka is refusing to be controlled, as Rotoras sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotoras wants to pass the guard but Hamaka is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rotoras moves nicely into side control.
Rotoras trying to control the action but Hamaka is working from the bottom.
Hamaka prevents Rotoras from improving position.

Rotoras is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hamaka has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rotoras is looking to take a break and control but Hamaka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rotoras is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hamaka has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rotoras wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hamaka, who protects the arm well.
Hamaka is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamaka is not content to let Rotoras control the position.
Hamaka is trying to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hamaka throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hamaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hamaka takes a swing at Rotoras's ribcage but misses.
Rotoras slips a jab and a cross from Hamaka.
Hamaka throws a jab when Rotoras was well out of range.
Rotoras looks for a takedown but Hamaka sprawls well.
Benson Hamaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rotoras.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Rotoras changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hamaka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rotoras working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Rotoras wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hamaka, who protects the arm well.
Rotoras trying to control the position but Hamaka is working away.
Hamaka gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Rotoras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Rotoras's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hamaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hamaka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hamaka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hamaka tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rotoras counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rotoras tries to pass to full mount but Hamaka defends it.
Rotoras looks to land a strike but Hamaka avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rotoras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hamaka is keeping the position for now.

Hamaka is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rotoras pushing down on Hamaka's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotoras stops Hamaka from getting back to his feet.
Rotoras has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Rotoras looking for a guillotine from mount but Hamaka is having none of it.

Rotoras looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rotoras trying to control but Hamaka is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rotoras goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hamaka turns into him and now he's in Rotoras's guard.
Rotoras pulls Hamaka in close to prevent any damage.
Rotoras lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hamaka!

Rotoras moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hamaka has worked his arm free - good work by Hamaka!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamaka is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rotoras has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hamaka is not content to let Rotoras control the position.
Rotoras tries to move to mount but Hamaka blocks the move with his legs.
Rotoras trying to control the position but Hamaka is working away.
Rotoras taking a break here but Hamaka is having none of it and regains half guard.
Hamaka tries to kick Rotoras off but Rotoras keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rotoras seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hamaka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hamaka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hamaka misses with a series of wild punches.
Hamaka throws a combination that misses

and Rotoras decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hamaka's guard.
Rotoras trying to control but Hamaka is working from the bottom.
Rotoras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hamaka is keeping the position for now.

Rotoras drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rotoras jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rotoras stops Hamaka from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Rotoras comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rotoras has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Rotoras!