PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryo Sawamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Hannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sawamura
vs
Hannon

188 cm
25
250 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
275 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryo Sawamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Will Hannon!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hannon closes the distance and pushes Sawamura back into the ropes.
Sawamura could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hannon has hold of one of Sawamura's legs. Sawamura is fighting the takedown attempt but Hannon gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Hannon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hannon wants to get up but he can't break Sawamura's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sawamura keeping moving, preventing Hannon from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawamura trying to keep a closed guard but Hannon is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sawamura shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hannon as he jumps to the side.

Sawamura gets caught flat footed, as Hannon shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Hannon gets to his feet - Sawamura follows without any prompting.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sawamura.
Hannon regains half guard.
Hannon is trying to stand.

Sawamura is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hannon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sawamura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hannon trying to control here.
Sawamura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hannon keeps working.
Sawamura wants to pass to mount but Hannon is defending the position.
Hannon is not content to let Sawamura control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawamura is looking to advance position but Hannon won't allow it.
Hannon is looking to improve his position.
Sawamura prevents Hannon from standing back up.
Hannon is refusing to be controlled, as Sawamura sits in half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Sawamura seems to be looking for submissions.
Hannon is looking to control Sawamura's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hannon avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sawamura wants to pass to mount but Hannon is defending the position.
Hannon is refusing to be controlled, as Sawamura sits in half guard.
Hannon is looking to control Sawamura's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hannon avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sawamura keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Hannon throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sawamura tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hannon is in Sawamura's guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hannon working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Sawamura has a closed guard, preventing Hannon from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Hannon dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hannon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sawamura did well to prevent Hannon getting side control.
Hannon thows a huge punch but Sawamura dodges it nicely.
Hannon wants to take a breather but Sawamura is having none of it.
Hannon wants to stand up but Sawamura has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Hannon trying to control from Sawamura's half guard. Sawamura has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Sawamura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sawamura throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sawamura is looking for a triangle but Hannon pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hannon cracks Sawamura with a solid left hand.
Hannon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sawamura controls Hannon momentarily but Hannon frees himself.
Hannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hannon distracts Sawamura with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hannon connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sawamura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sawamura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hannon.
Hannon content to stall in guard here.
Hannon trying to control but Sawamura is working from the bottom.
Hannon is looking to stand up but Sawamura won't let him.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sawamura fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hannon gets a double leg takedown into Sawamura's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hannon chips away with some ground and pound.
Hannon is working Sawamura over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Hannon stands up from Sawamura's guard - Hannon perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sawamura gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sawamura keeping moving, preventing Hannon from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hannon postures up and lands a big shot to Sawamura's brow.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hannon sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hannon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sawamura is proving hard to escape from.

Hannon gets to his feet. Sawamura looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice shot by Hannon.

Hannon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Hannon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sawamura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck for Sawamura with that takedown attempt.
Hannon with the counter takedown but Sawamura avoids it easily.
Sawamura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hannon pinned against the ropes. Hannon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Will Hannon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sawamura blocks a head kick by Hannon.
Sawamura sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Hannon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sawamura prevents Hannon from improving position.

Hannon decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sawamura to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hannon clinches up against the ropes.

Hannon manages to break the clinch.
Sawamura takes one to the chin there.

It looks like Ryo Sawamura has been cut.
Sawamura avoids the head kick by Hannon.
An attempted straight right counter from Sawamura misses the target.

Hannon drives through and clinches with Sawamura against the ropes.
Sawamura wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryo Sawamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Hannon.

Hannon manages to break the clinch.

Hannon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sawamura sprawls well initially but Hannon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sawamura is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Hannon.

Hannon looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Still in half guard, Hannon seems content to control.

Hannon stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Sawamura to get to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hannon throws an overhand right that lands on Sawamura's shoulder, as Sawamura tries to avoid the shot.
Sawamura went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hannon moves into the clinch.

Hannon has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sawamura regains guard immediately.
Hannon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hannon throws a big right hand that misses.
Hannon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sawamura's guard.

Hannon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sawamura, up you get!
Hannon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sawamura slips a straight right by Hannon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hannon is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Hannon shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sawamura's guard.
Hannon wants to control from the top but Sawamura keeps moving.
Hannon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sawamura's head.
Hannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hannon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hannon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hannon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Hannon really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryo Sawamura's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hannon shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sawamura's guard.
Hannon wants to stand but Sawamura has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hannon is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sawamura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hannon.
Hannon wants to stand but Sawamura has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sawamura pulls Hannon in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sawamura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hannon.
Sawamura working a defensive guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Hannon trying to control but Sawamura is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hannon cracks Sawamura with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Ryo Sawamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hannon gets a clinch.

Hannon successfully pulls guard.
Sawamura forces his way into half guard.
Will Hannon has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sawamura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hannon is just riding it out for now. Sawamura eventually gives up the hold.
Hannon desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hannon is staying active underneath Sawamura, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Sawamura is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sawamura wants to advance to full mount but Hannon doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Hannon lands a decent punch to the body there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannon wants to sweep but no luck.

Hannon pushes Sawamura off and scrambles back to his feet.

Hannon feints and as Sawamura raises his hands in defense, Hannon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Hannon gets to his feet. Sawamura looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hannon connects with a single shot there.

Hannon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Sawamura is looking for a triangle but Hannon pushes his legs off easily.
Hannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hannon controlling from the top position.
Sawamura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sawamura not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hannon gets to his feet - Sawamura follows without any prompting.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hannon lands a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hannon changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Hannon rushes Sawamura and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Hannon dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ryo Sawamura's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sawamura misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Hannon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sawamura sprawls well initially but Hannon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sawamura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Sawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hannon wanted to stand there but Sawamura had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hannon throws a big right hand that misses.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Hannon gets to his feet - Sawamura follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hannon shoots in and gets a takedown into Sawamura's guard.
Sawamura has a closed guard, preventing Hannon from standing up.

Sawamura working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hannon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hannon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hannon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sawamura's guard.
Hannon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hannon throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hannon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hannon with a nice head shot there.
Hannon landing some decent shots from guard.
Hannon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sawamura is proving hard to escape from.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hannon stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hannon dips to his left and cracks Sawamura with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hannon is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sawamura's half guard.
Hannon is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sawamura is trying to control but can't.
Hannon is trying to control the action in half guard but Sawamura is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Hannon seems content to control.
Hannon trying to control from half guard but Sawamura is working away.

Hannon is trying to work for a kimura but Sawamura is defending well.
Hannon trying to mount his opponent but Sawamura defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hannon wants to control but Sawamura is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hannon shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Hannon is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sawamura defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hannon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Hannon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hannon 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 43:50
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 43:50
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 43:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Hannon!