PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Hirano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Santos
vs
Hirano

225 cm
27
300 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

194 cm
19
260 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bobby Hirano!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Roberts and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Antonio Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hirano scores with a push kick.
Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santos swinging wildly here.
Hirano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hirano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Santos tries to avoid it but Hirano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Santos to the ground. Santos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hirano moves out of range as Santos strikes.
Hirano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Santos circles away.
Santos slips a jab and a cross from Hirano.
Hirano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santos slips under a jab.
Hirano shoots in for a double leg but Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hirano's coach down at KPJ's Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Hirano's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Antonio Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Hirano.
Santos moves out of range of the body kick.
Santos tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch combination from Hirano misses.
Santos looks to clinch
and Hirano counters with a nice low kick that buckles Santos's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirano tries to clinch there but Santos circles away.
Hirano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santos tries to clinch up.

Hirano moves into the clinch.
Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hirano just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hirano successfully pulls guard.

Hirano working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Santos has passed into half guard!
Hirano looks winded!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Santos in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Antonio Santos wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Santos misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirano throws a head kick that misses.
Hirano throws a head kick that half lands.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hirano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hirano tries to clinch up but Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Santos throws out a leg kick but Hirano moves out of range and Santos only half commits.
Santos is looking to clinch.

Santos gets tackled into the cage by Hirano. Hirano maintains the clinch.
Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hirano.
Hirano gets underhooks to prevent Santos's takedown attempt.
Hirano crunches a lovely knee into Santos's ribcage.
Hirano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A knee to the head by Hirano.
Santos prevents the takedown attempt.

Hirano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Hirano. That one must have hurt.
Santos seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
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!
Santos tries to clinch up but Hirano circles away and keeps his distance.
Hirano keeps Santos at a distance using the push kick.
Santos blocks a head kick by Hirano.
Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hirano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hirano scores with a nice body kick.

Hirano shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hirano was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hirano trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hirano misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Hirano dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hirano digs a good body shot into Santos's ribs.
Santos tries to clinch up but Hirano circles away and keeps his distance.
Hirano is looking to clinch but Santos is avoiding it.
Hirano throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.

Hirano closes the distance and clinches.

Hirano drops Santos with a big knee straight up the middle! Santos is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

It looks like Antonio Santos has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hirano swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.
Hirano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hirano gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hirano putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Santos in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hirano lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirano lands a nice shot to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Hirano.
Bobby Hirano seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Hirano breaks the clinch.
Hirano lands a head kick!
Hirano closes the distance and clinches up with Santos, looking for a takedown. Hirano pushes Santos against the cage but Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Hirano rushes Santos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hirano gets control of Santos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hirano will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hirano is looking to sweep but instead, Santos has passed into half guard.
Hirano has his hands clasped together around Santos's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hirano wants to control but Santos is keeping busy.
Hirano wants to improve his position but Santos is controlling well.

Bobby Hirano has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Santos crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hirano - the referee stops the clock and Santos gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hirano. Santos manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to clinch but Hirano is having none of it.
Hirano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hirano tries to clinch there but Santos circles away.
Hirano tries to clinch up but Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Hirano closes the distance and clinches up with Santos, looking for a takedown. Hirano pushes Santos against the cage but Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hirano, as that shot connected.
Hirano shoots in and drives through. Santos sprawls well.
Antonio Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Hirano.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Hirano moves out of range easily.
Hirano bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hirano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santos tries to land a leg kick but Hirano saw it coming and moves away.
Santos misses with a hook.
Santos falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hirano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hirano throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirano has a takedown stuffed.
Santos takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hirano moves in looking to clinch but Santos pushes him off.

Santos gets tackled into the cage by Hirano. Hirano maintains the clinch.

Hirano breaks from the clinch.
Hirano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Antonio Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hirano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Antonio Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santos throws the kick towards the body but Hirano avoids it.
Hirano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hirano fails with an attempt to clinch.
Santos has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Santos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Santos will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hirano dives in for a single leg takedown but Santos sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hirano tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Santos just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

An inside leg kick from Hirano misses.
Hirano lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hirano.
Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hirano will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hirano swats away the attempt to clinch by Santos.
Hirano tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.
Santos pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Santos wants to clinch.
Hirano tries to clinch up.
Bobby Hirano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santos tries to clinch there but Hirano circles away.
Hirano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hirano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Santos fails in his attempt to clinch.

Santos closes the distance and pushes Hirano back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Santos walks away with a smile on his face. Hirano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hirano takes the fight into the clinch.
Santos tries to break free but Hirano pushes him back against the cage.

Hirano successfully pulls guard.
Hirano controls Santos momentarily but Santos frees himself.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Santos's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bobby Hirano was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Hirano moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hirano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hirano is looking to control Santos's arms but Santos gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hirano has his back to the cage.
Hirano tries to pull guard but Santos holds him up against the cage and eventually Hirano drops back down to his feet.
Antonio Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Hirano.
Hirano tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santos smiles and moves away.
Hirano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hirano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santos pinned against the cage. Santos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Santos moves in looking to clinch but Hirano pushes him off.
Santos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hirano was well out of range. Poor timing from Santos.
Hirano circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirano fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hirano throws a head kick that misses.
Hirano lands a high kick!
Nice defenses there by Hirano.
Santos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hirano moves away.
A head kick misses from Santos.
Santos tries to clinch up but Hirano circles away and keeps his distance.

Hirano closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Santos is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hirano to keep the fight standing.
Hirano is trying to pull guard but Santos has him pressed against the cage.

Hirano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Hirano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santos stuffs the takedown attempt from Hirano. Hirano gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirano shoots in looking for a takedown but Santos manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hirano's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hirano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hirano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Hirano moves out of range easily.
Santos is looking to clinch.
Santos moves in looking to clinch but Hirano pushes him off.
Santos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hirano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Santos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hirano can pounce on him.
Hirano throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hirano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hirano keeps the fight on the outside.
Santos misses with a body shot.
Hirano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Antonio Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bobby Hirano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Santos needs to keep his hands up - Hirano had a free shot at his head there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bobby Hirano.
Well Hirano has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Hirano!