PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Uruhara Hatake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenichi Shirahama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uruhara Hatake could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kenichi Shirahama's chin.

Hatake
vs
Shirahama

175 cm
33
145 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

178 cm
33
142 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uruhara Hatake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Kenichi Shirahama!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shirahama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hatake thinks about countering with a head kick.

Shirahama shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hatake's guard.
Shirahama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hatake is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hatake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shirahama.
Hatake throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Shirahama wants to control from the top but Hatake keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hatake is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hatake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shirahama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shirahama manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hatake throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirahama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Shirahama throws a big elbow that misses.
Shirahama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shirahama is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hatake keeping moving, preventing Shirahama from controlling successfully.

Hatake looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shirahama passes into half guard.

Hatake looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shirahama slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hatake looking for submissions off his back.
Hatake is looking to improve his position.
Shirahama drops an elbow to the side of Hatake's head.
Shirahama lands with a punch from half guard.
Shirahama working the head and body with strikes.
Hatake wants to improve his position but Shirahama is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hatake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hatake looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shirahama is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hatake reverses the position - he's now on top in Shirahama's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatake looking to pass the guard.
Shirahama 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.
Shirahama is trying to keep Hatake in close.
Shirahama looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hatake puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Shirahama pushes Hatake off looking to stand but Hatake dives back in and keeps control.
Shirahama manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hatake not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hatake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shirahama wants to stand but Hatake is controlling the position.
Hatake is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Shirahama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shirahama looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kenichi Shirahama will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shirahama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hatake circles away.
Shirahama has a takedown stuffed.
Shirahama shoots in looking for a takedown. Hatake tries to sprawl out of it but Shirahama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hatake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Uruhara Hatake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenichi Shirahama.
Shirahama shoots in and drives through. Hatake sprawls well.
A punch combination from Shirahama misses.
Uruhara Hatake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hatake fakes the leg kick and cracks Shirahama in the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shirahama shoots in and gets a takedown into Hatake's guard.
Shirahama won't allow Hatake to sweep him here.

Hatake working for a triangle but Shirahama defends it easily.

Hatake has his foot on Shirahama's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shirahama works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hatake not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shirahama works over Hatake with some ground and pound from guard.

Hatake is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shirahama lands a couple of digs.
Shirahama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hatake is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shirahama works over Hatake with some ground and pound from guard.

Hatake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shirahama trying to control the position from guard on top but Hatake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hatake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shirahama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hatake looking for a sweep. Not yet Hatake, not yet.
Shirahama keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hatake's head.
Shirahama working some strikes from top position.

Hatake looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shirahama passes into half guard.
Hatake trying to control here.
Shirahama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama lands strikes from half guard.
Hatake wants to get back to his feet.
Hatake on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hatake wants to get back to his feet.
Hatake has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shirahama is working away from the top position though.

Shirahama is working for a kimura but Hatake is defending it quite comfortably.
Shirahama scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kenichi Shirahama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hatake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shirahama.

Shirahama is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hatake sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four 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.
Shirahama works his way into full mount!
Hatake is working to get back to half guard.
Shirahama pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hatake is desperately trying to improve his position but Shirahama has a good base and remains in mount.
Shirahama looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Shirahama looking to finish Hatake with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hatake!
Shirahama lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hatake hang on?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shirahama lands a couple of good shots and Hatake has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Hatake tries to escape but Shirahama has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hatake is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenichi Shirahama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shirahama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hatake is fending him off so far but Shirahama persists. Nope, Hatake circles away and we're back to standing.
Shirahama tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hatake counters with a nice kick to the body.
Shirahama swinging wildly here.
Shirahama with a hook.
Shirahama moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Shirahama shoots in looking for a takedown but Hatake manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shirahama's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hatake went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shirahama tests Hatake's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shirahama takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Shirahama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shirahama clinches up against the cage.
Shirahama will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hatake up against the cage.
Shirahama goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hatake prevents it.
Uruhara Hatake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenichi Shirahama.
Shirahama is looking to control Hatake's arms but Hatake gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shirahama has his back to the cage.
Hatake wants to break free but Shirahama has control.

Hatake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shirahama goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shirahama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hatake as he avoids it easily.
Shirahama misses with a two punch combination.
Shirahama misses with an uppercut
and Hatake counters with a three punch combo that has Shirahama backing up. Shirahama nods at Hatake to acknowledge the strikes.

Shirahama is rocked!
Shirahama fails to land with a series of punches.
Shirahama is still on wobbly legs! Can Hatake finish him?
Shirahama dodges the punch combination from Hatake.
Shirahama looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shirahama seems to have recovered his senses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shirahama.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shirahama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Hatake has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Shirahama misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shirahama is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shirahama has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Hatake seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Shirahama can turn it around.
Shirahama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hatake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shirahama misses with a body shot.
Hatake fails with the takedown.

Shirahama darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hatake is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shirahama pulls his head out easily.
Uruhara Hatake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shirahama is nestled in close to Hatake, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hatake punching from the bottom.

Hatake actively working from the bottom here.
Hatake taking some punishment here, with Shirahama in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Shirahama.
Hatake is looking for a sweep. Shirahama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kenichi Shirahama is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hatake on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenichi Shirahama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shirahama winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenichi Shirahama!